WCSJ2011 Conference Venue

Qatar Foundation Student Center: main conference events (including exhibition)

Specifically designed to connect, engage, and create a sense of community, QFs magnificent, 350,000 square foot Student Center is one of the most impressive buildings of its kind in the world, featuring indoor recreation spaces, a black box theatre, an art gallery, a cinema, a business district, food and beverage services, QF student affairs staff offices and much more.

Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar: pre-conference workshops

The Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Qatar) is the only branch of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Since its formation in 1789, Georgetown has been committed to educating men and women to be reflective lifelong learners, responsible and active participants in civic life, and to live generously in service to others.

Creating leaders since 2005, SFS-Qatar Currently offers a four-year liberal arts program, with majors in International Politics, Culture and Politics, and International Economics, leading to a BSc in Foreign Service degree.

All students in the program take courses in a wide variety of topics, including government, economics, literature, philosophy and theology in order to prepare them for leadership positions in the diplomatic arena, business, or the non-profit sector.

Students embody Georgetown’s tradition of service to others and foster dialogue through their classwork, research, and involvement in community engagement programs locally and around the world.

qatar.sfs.georgetown.edu

Why Doha?

We are excited to call Doha the new home of WCSJ2011. In the spirit that our move evolved, we are re-naming the conference WCSJ2011 Cairo to Doha. Following the recent turbulent times in Cairo, our lead sponsor, the Qatar Foundation extended a neighborly hand of support and invited the conference to relocate to Doha, Qatar. We gratefully accepted their invitation and are confident that everyone who attends this year’s event will be forever changed by that same legendary Arab hospitality.

From the desert to the sea, this small nation is home to a multitude of exciting and innovative science projects. It is the birthplace of countless patents and the center of some of the worlds’ leading scientific innovation. From Biomedical advances to ground-breaking research in the areas of energy and environment to cutting edge robotics technology, Doha has so much to share with the international scientific community.

With a forward-looking belief that their human capital is more precious and indeed powerful than natural resources, the leadership of the country drew up a plan for their nation: Qatar National Vision 2030. This vision details how Qatar will deploy its vast revenues to become a knowledge economy – investing in its people to secure its future. It is doing that by focusing on three strategic pillars: Education, Science and Research, and Community Development.

Despite this rapid economic, human and social development, Qatar has maintained its cultural and traditional values as an Arab and Islamic nation. Its social warmth provides the foundation for the country’s endless hospitality, and its music and handicrafts are the inspiration of modern artists and artisans.

It is now a bustling metropolis, with globally renowned restaurants sitting side by side with traditional Arabic welcome, stylish and luxurious hotels as well as traditional souks.

What can science journalists discover in Doha?

In 2006, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah Al Thani, Amir of Qatar pledged 2.8 per cent of Qatar’s GDP on government-funded research, making it the highest investment in research of any country of the world. According to estimated GDP figures from 2010 that amounts to $3.5 billion annually.

Examples of Qatar’s investment in Science and Research include Qatar Research Institutes, Sidra Medical and Research Center and Hamad Medical Corporation. Qatar Science Leadership program, meanwhile, develops local scientists to lead Qatar based research.

Qatar Science and Technology Park provides a home for technology-based companies from around the world, helping to build Qatar’s innovation and technology capacity by developing and commercializing solutions in key sciences. Tenants here already include Virgin Health Bank, Total, Rolls-Royce, Williams Formula 1 and Microsoft.

'Stars of Science' is the first Pan-Arab reality-TV program dedicated to innovation. The aim of the show is to shine the spotlight on the next generation of young Arab scientists and innovators. There are all these projects and so much more.....stay tuned to the website for more information on tours and interview opportunities.

About Qatar

The Gulf state of Qatar is a peninsula surrounded by the waters of the Arabian Gulf and anchored to the mainland at its border with Saudi Arabia. The country is about 11,437 square kilometers, with archaeological evidence proving that the country was inhabited as early as the 4th century BC.

The population of Qatar is estimated at almost 1.5 million. Qataris account for less than 20% of the total population, with the remainder made up of expatriates, mostly from the Indian subcontinent, other Arab countries, Europe and the US.

The present Emir, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, has ruled since June 27th, 1995, during which Qatar emerged from relative obscurity to become a major player is both the economic and political development of the region.

In July 2008, the small state announced the Qatar National Vision 2030, a set of strategic goals that would reverberate around the world for years to come.

In July 2008, the small state announced the Qatar National Vision 2030, a set of strategic goals that would reverberate around the world for years to come.

The result of painstaking consultation and research, the Qatar National Vision 2030 managed to detail, in just 34 pages, exactly how this nation will direct vast revenues from its hydrocarbon resources for the next two decades.

Its brevity was its strength. Based on Qatar’s Permanent Constitution created only three years earlier, the National Vision 2030 sought to be a clear and efficient guide for both government institutions and the public to direct their energies.

Its impact was enormous, and not simply because of the size of wealth at stake. The Qatar National Vision 2030 put human capital – and its further development through science, research and first-rate education – at the heart of everything the country is trying to achieve.

Life in Qatar

For centuries, economic activity centered on camel breeding, fishing and pearl diving. In the twentieth century, the economy was transformed by the discovery of oil and, later on, of vast reserves of gas off the northeast coast. Qatar’s exports of liquefied natural gas and condensates, have given it the highest per capita GDP in the world.

Since 2008, however, Qatar has been investing in human capital, working to prepare itself for a post-carbon world by laying the foundations for a knowledge-based economy.

While Qatar is a progressive society – open, relaxed and slowly but surely becoming a regional hub for the arts – it also maintains its traditions and heritage. Islam is the official religion of Qatar and most inhabitants follow the religion, and Qatar’s culture is very much based on Islamic tradition which forms a way of life for Muslims.

In recent years Qatar has placed great emphasis on education. Qatar University was founded in 1973. More recently, Qatar Foundation has brought world-class education, work experience and career opportunities to Qatar so that young people can develop the attitudes and skills required for the knowledge economy.

The Qatari Riyal (QR) is the currency of the country and $1 U.S. purchases QR3.65 (fixed rate). Most major establishments accept all major credit cards and some will accept U.S. Dollars.

Qatar’s climate is characterized by mild winters and hot summers, with temperatures reaching over 40 degrees Celsius. Rain fall is scarce, mainly between November and March.

Qatar local time is GMT+3:00 hours.

Tourism

Desert Safari

A trip to the inland sea, in the middle of the desert, is a splendid way to spend the day. Experienced tour operators add to the adventure by expertly steering their four-wheel drive vehicles up and down 60-metre sand dunes along the way. Each air conditioned vehicle comes fully equipped with all necessary gear to ensure a safe but dramatic tour of the mysterious desert. As you travel over the sand dunes, you will get an unequalled view of the desert.

Cultural Village Katara

A trip to the inland sea, in the middle of the desert, is a splendid way to spend the day. Experienced tour operators add to the adventure by expertly steering their four-wheel drive vehicles up and down 60-metre sand dunes along the way. Each air conditioned vehicle comes fully equipped with all necessary gear to ensure a safe but dramatic tour of the mysterious desert. As you travel over the sand dunes, you will get an unequalled view of the desert.

Corniche

A stroll along the Corniche is a must during your stay. This seven-kilometer stretch of coastline runs parallel to the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf. It offers a relaxing environment for family picnics or a quiet walk.

Al-Zubarah

Situated just 100 km west of Doha lies the town of Al Zubara, an important archeological site famous for its old fort. This fort-turned-museum was constructed in 1938 during the reign of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani and was erected on the ruins of a neighboring fort.

Museum of Islamic Art

Established in 2009 under the patronage of His Highness the Emir, the Museum of Islamic Art has become a landmark in Qatar, praised for its extensive collection and stunning architecture. The museum’s collection is mapped to offer visitors the experience of a journey through time, across cultures, religions and eras.

Souk Waqif

Currently enjoying the last phase of a major make-over, Souq Waqif is a wonderful place to explore. There has been a souq on this site for centuries, as this was the spot where the Bedouin would bring their sheep, goats and wool to trade for essentials. It grew into a scruffy warren of concrete alleyways in recent years but now its tourist potential has been recognised and it's been cleverly redeveloped to look like a 19th-century souq, with mud-rendered shops and exposed timber beams.

The Pearl - Qatar

The Pearl – Qatar is a World-class waterfront project that will be home to three distinct retail precincts and will have over 2 million square feet of retail, leisure and restaurant areas. Porto Arabia, the first retail precinct open is home to a renowned mix of designer fashion brands, offerings and food & beverage outlets which are spread along a beautiful 2.5 km promenade.

Villagio Shopping Mall

The Villagio mall is the latest shopping mall in Doha, and is also hoped to be one of the largest malls. It has an Italian theme, with cool fake sky interiors, representing the dusk in Tuscany. Each portion of the mall signifies different times of the day, with a small canal running through the centre of the mall. There are a total of 220 stores, spread across 130,000 square meters of retail space including a Virgin Megastore and a selection of designer brands. There is also a range of restaurants and cafes apart from fast food joints offering international cuisine.