Community Community ABP students This Library participate Lovers' in a Rota Month, P6educational project P16 Mumtaz Moosa and off ering Arabic and Amy Andres talk English languages about what endears courses to workers. them to their jobs.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017 Jumada I 18, 1438 AH
DOHA 19°C—22°C TODAY LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 11 PUZZLES 12 & 13 TThehe newnew buzzbuzz
As bee populations dwindle, COVER robot bees may pick up some STORY of their pollination slack. P4-5
SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME: A prototype of a robot bee. 2 GULF TIMES Wednesday, February 15, 2017 COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT
PRAYER TIME Fajr 4.52am Shorooq (sunrise) 6.09am Zuhr (noon) 11.48am Asr (afternoon) 3.02pm Maghreb (sunset) 5.29pm Isha (night) 6.59pm
USEFUL NUMBERS
Emergency 999 Dalida fi lm about the life of singer and actress Dalida. It is written, Worldwide Emergency Number 112 DIRECTION: Lisa Azuelos directed and co-produced by Lisa Azuelos, and stars Sveva Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991 WRITTEN BY: Lisa Azuelos Alviti as Dalida. Local Directory 180 CAST: Sveva Alviti, Riccardo Scamarcio, Jean-Paul International Calls Enquires 150 SYNOPSIS: Dalida is a 2017 French biographical drama LOCATION: City Centre Hamad International Airport 40106666 Labor Department 44508111, 44406537 Mowasalat Taxi 44588888 Qatar Airways 44496000 Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333 Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464 Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050 Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333 Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444
Humanitarian Services Offi ce (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies) Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369 Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364 Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365 Qatar Airways 40253374 Split fi lm written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The fi lm DIRECTED BY: M. Night Shyamalan stars James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy and Betty Buckley and WRITTEN BY: M. Night Shyamalan follows a man with 23 diff erent personalities who kidnaps CAST: James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Haley Lu three girls. It is a thematic sequel to Shyamalan’s fi lm Richardson Unbreakable. Synopsis: Split is an American psychological horror LOCATIONS: Gulf Mall, Villaggio ote Unquo u te Q Mall Cinema (1): The Space Movie (2D) 7:15pm; Heartbeats Between Us (2D) 2pm; John Wick: (2D) 9pm; Singam 3 (Tamil) Just play. Have fun. Chapter 2 (2D) 4:45pm; Singam 10:45pm. Enjoy the game. 3 (Tamil) 6:45pm; Rings 3 (2D) Rings 3 (2D) 9:45pm; John Wick: Royal Plaza Cinema Palace 9:30pm; Singam 3 (Tamil) 11:15pm. Chapter 2 (2D) 11:30pm. (2): The Lego Batman Movie (2D) Mall Cinema (2): The Lego Landmark Cinema (2): The 2pm; The Lego Batman Movie – Michael Jordan Batman Movie (2D) 2:30pm; The Lego Batman Movie (2D) 3pm; (2D) 4pm; Singam 3 (Tamil) 6pm; Lego Batman Movie (2D) 4:30pm; The Lego Batman Movie (2D) John Wick: Chapter 2 (2D) 9pm; Jolly LLB2 (Hindi) 6:30pm; John 5pm; The Lego Batman Movie Jolly LLB2 (Hindi) 11:15pm. Wick: Chapter 2 (2D) 9pm; Jolly (2D) 7pm; Jolly LLB2 (Hindi) 9pm; Royal Plaza Cinema Palace LLB2 (Hindi) 11:15pm. Jolly LLB2 (Hindi) 11:15pm. (3): Balu Mahi (Urdu) 2:15pm; The Mall Cinema (3): Singam 3 Landmark Cinema (3): Balu Space Between Us (2D) 5pm; Balu (Tamil) 2:45pm; Kung Fu Yoga Mahi (Urdu) 2pm; The Space Mahi (Urdu) 7pm; Rings 3 (2D) (2D) 5pm; The Lego Batman Between Us (2D) 4:45pm; John 9:45pm; John Wick: Chapter 2 Community Editor Movie (2D) 6:45pm; Balu Mahi Wick: Chapter 2 (2D) 7pm; Kung (2D) 11:15pm. Kamran Rehmat (Urdu) 8:45m; John Wick: Chapter Fu Yoga (2D) 9:15pm; Singam 3 Asian Town Cinema: Singam e-mail: [email protected] 2 (2D) 11:30pm. (Tamil) 11pm. 3 (Tamil) 6, 7, 9 & 10pm; Jolly Telephone: 44466405 Landmark Cinema (1): Singam Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): LLB 2 (Hindi) 6:15pm; Jomonte 3 (Tamil) 2:15pm; Heartbeats Jolly LLB2 (Hindi) 2pm; Singam 3 Suvisheshangal (Malayalam) 6:15 Fax: 44350474 (2D) 5pm; Singam 3 (Tamil) 7pm; (Tamil) 4:30pm; The Lego Batman & 9:15pm. Wednesday, February 15, 2017 GULF TIMES 3 ROUND & ABOUT COMMUNITY
in Paris, as well as exceptional loans from Heritage and Qatari Folk Singing Programme’ bill it as “a great chance for every competitor French and other international collections, is in line with Katara’s continuous eff orts to to test themselves and fi ght for the title in covering paintings, sculptures, sketches, preserve the heritage of Qatar’s ancestors. fair racing conditions and in a professional photographs and interviews with the artists. Some sideline activities at the event environment”. The exhibition refl ects two years of include training sessions, competitions, Grandstand and Paddock area are open for research undertaken by the Fondation exhibitions, documentary research, free to all the spectators. Giacometti and the Musée national Picasso- publications, and lectures and seminars. Paris, which reveals for the fi rst time the Al Gannas previously unknown relationship between (For school students) these two artists, who, despite an age gap of Until March 31, 2017 twenty years, shared many moments, both 9am–Noon personal and professional. Al Gannas Society The exhibition is organised in six sections, Free ( For boys only, requires evoking diff erent aspects of each artist’s registration) production, including the development Al Gannas association is participating in of their work as young artists through to the “Our culture is a school” programme, by their modernist creations, showing the organising many activities for the students correspondences between their works, the every Monday and Wednesday of the week. infl uence of the surrealist movement, and the These activities include explanations on return to realism during the post-war period. hunting and related items tools, kinds of The exhibition will be accompanied by a falcons and preys, in addition to workshop series of lectures and an extensive education on how to carry a falcon, set a traditional programme, as well as a self-guided Chamber Music at MIA: Telemann tent (made of goat & camel hair), prepare EVENTS handbook for the visitors. Concerto for Four Violins traditional Arabic coff ee and start a fire. For A richly illustrated catalogue published as WHEN: March 2 further details, visit katara.net co-edition with Flammarion will accompany TIME: 6pm Seminar on India’s National Eligibility the exhibition, featuring new essays by art WHERE: Museum of Islamic Art cum Entrance Test historians and the curators of the exhibition. The monthly free chamber music concert WHEN: February 16 onwards (Tomorrow) by members of the Qatar Philharmonic WHERE: Mark Plus Education Centre, Al Orchestra in the atrium of Museum of Sadd/Selected schools Islamic Art will be on March 2, with the West Bay skyline as a backdrop. No tickets Mark Plus Education Centre is off ering or reservations required. All ages welcome. entrance coaching for professional courses, Seating will be on a fi rst-come fi rst-serve medicine and engineering, for India’s basis. National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The resource person of the seminar Secrets of the Simpsons is Dr P R V Venkitarman, a well-known WHEN: March 5 educationalist and a recognised expert in TIME: 7:30pm to 9:30pm NEET. He is a regular columnist in the Time WHERE: Shangri-La Hotel of India and Malayalam Manorama and In this fun-fi lled PG13-rated presentation writes on education. He is a guru in career loaded with cartoon clips, Mike Reiss, a guidance and counselling. An interactive four-time Emmy Award winning writer of Muhammad Ali: Tribute to a Legend session will be part of the seminar at the end Dia al-Azzawi: A Retrospective (from the Simpsons show, tells you the stories DATE: Until February 25, 2017 of each session. Students and their parents 1963 until tomorrow) and secrets from behind the show: dealing WHERE: Eastern Gallery, 4th Floor, are welcome to attend the seminar. Entry to WHERE: Mathaf: Arab Museum of with celebrity guests, surprising critics Museum of Islamic Art the venue is free. Details of venue and timings Modern Art and QM Gallery Al Riwaq (including George HW Bush) and even more The temporary exhibition is curated by can be had from Mark Plus offi ce on phone WHEN: Until April 16 surprising fans (Pope Benedict). Qatar Museums’ 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports 7044-3392 or 4468-5878. Qatar Museums presents a monograph of You do not have to love The Simpsons, Museum and presents a unique collection one of the most renowned modern artists or even have seen the show, to enjoy this of artefacts from the boxing legend’s career, FCC’s Women’s Sport Festival of the Arab world: Dia al-Azzawi. The presentation. including photography from Ali’s outdoor WHEN: February 17 exhibition, showcasing over 500 works Mike Reiss has won some of the exhibition bout at the Doha Stadium in 1971 Vanitha Sports Fest is being organised by across fi fty years and a range of media, aims most prestigious awards in the world of and memorabilia spanning his journey to Friends Cultural Centre Vanithavedi on the at mapping an itinerary of modernism and entertainment, including four Emmys and a the 1960 Rome Olympics; Ali’s world title occasion of Qatar Sport Day on February profi les the practice of the Iraqi artist. The Peabody Award, during his twenty-six years winning bout against Sonny Liston in 1964 17. The competitions are in the following exhibition is curated by Catherine David, writing for The Simpsons. He ran the show in and his fi nal world title winning fi ght against categories for individuals: walking– Deputy Director of Musée National d’Art Season 4, which Entertainment Weekly called Leon Spinks in New Orleans in 1978. 1.5kms; skipping race–100metres; sack Moderne at the Centre Georges Pompidou, “the greatest season of the greatest show race–50metres; running race–100metres; Paris. in history.” In 2006, Mike received a Lifetime Qatar Music Academy running race–200metres; lemon running Achievement Award from the Animation (For school students) race; shot put; and long jump. For groups, Motocross World Championship Writers Caucus. Until March 28, 2017 the competitions are 4 x 50metres relay race; WHEN: February 24, 25 Reiss has written jokes for such comedy 11am–2pm tug-of-war; Three legged race–50metres; WHERE: Losail Motocross Track legends as Johnny Carson, Joan Rivers, Garry Free (Requires registration) and throw ball. The opening round of the 2017 FIM MXGP Shandling and Pope Francis! Qatar Music Academy focuses on teaching For registration and more details, please World Championship will take place at the He is also an award-winning its students the principles of Arab and contact telephone numbers: 55643799, Losail Motocross Track for fi fth time in a mystery writer, children’s book author and Western music. As part of the “Our Culture 66787007, or 55271038. row. General access is free-of-charge, while playwright. is a School” programme, Qatar Music a Paddock ticket costs QR100 for the two A limited number of tickets are on sale Academy has off ered interested schools the Nagham days. VIP tickets are going for QR1,000 for at the American Chamber of Commerce in opportunity to attend various workshops. WHERE: The Backyard at Sheraton Grand the two days. For details of what’s included Qatar offi ces in West Bay. The price is QR280 These workshops will include an introduction Hotel in the Paddock and VIP tickets, please visit for adults and QR180 for children under 15, to Arab and Western music and instruments, WHEN: Thursdays the Losail Circuit Sports Club website. The which includes dinner. as well as the teachers giving a brief overview TIME: 8pm onwards tickets will be available at the Welcome of the educational music programmes at the After the success of The Backyard, a Centre of the Losail Circuit Sports Club Qatar Superstock 600 Championship Academy. For further details, visit katara.net concept is born to introduce Arabic music during the week of the event. Round 3 adding a twist of International tunes. Live WHERE: Losail International Circuit Fitness Training band music by Nagham’s offi cial band and Revival of Qatar’s musical heritage and TIME: 10am DATE: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday guest artists every week. The entrance fee is Qatari Folk singing programme WHEN: March 23, 24 and 25 TIME: 6pm-7pm QR100. For details, call 44853000. WHEN: Thursday, Friday until April 28 Qatar SuperStock 600 is a new road racing VENUE: MIA Park WHERE: Beach 15, Katara championship organised by Qatar Motor There are fi tness classes in the park on Picasso-Giacometti TIME: 6pm to 10pm Motorcycle Federation and Losail Circuit Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights WHEN: February 22 to May 21 Residents will have the opportunity to Sports Club. between 6 and 7pm. Open to all levels of WHERE: Fire Station Artist In Residence watch and enjoy authentic Qatari musical arts The championship will have 12 races over 6 fi tness, Bootcamp is an intensive and fun This exhibition brings together more than and folk singing every weekend until April 28, rounds at the Losail International Circuit. way to train and also meet new people in the 120 works by Picasso and Giacometti, drawn 2017 at Katara. The riders are competing using one-make open and friendly group atmosphere. More from the collections of the Musée national The second edition of this cultural show bikes that will be used for the rest of the information, from Bootcamp, Qatar or info@ Picasso-Paris and the Fondation Giacometti dubbed as ‘The Revival of Qatar’s Musical season, a stocked 600cc bike. The organisers bootcampqatar.com
E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change 4 GULF TIMES Wednesday, February 15, 2017 COMMUNITY COVER STORY Buzz of bees, and the whirr of robots Scientists in Japan say they’ve managed to turn an unassuming drone into a remote-controlled pollinator by attaching horsehairs coated with a special, sticky gel to its underbelly, writes Amina Khan
Animal pollinators are needed for the reproduction of 90 percent of fl owering plants and one-third of human food crops, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Chief among those are bees — but many bee populations in the United States have been in steep decline in recent decades, likely due to a combination of factors, including agricultural chemicals, invasive species and climate change. Just last month, the rusty patched bumblebee became the fi rst wild bee in the United States to be listed as an endangered species (although the Trump administration just put a halt on that designation). Thus, the decline of bees isn’t just worrisome because it could disrupt ecosystems, but also because it could disrupt agriculture and the economy. People have been trying to come up with replacement techniques, the study authors say, but none of them are especially eff ective yet — and some might do more harm than good. “One pollination technique requires the physical transfer of pollen with an artist’s brush or cotton swab from male to female fl owers,” the authors wrote. “Unfortunately, this requires much time and eff ort. Another approach uses a spray machine, such as a gun barrel and pneumatic ejector. However, this machine pollination has a low pollination success rate because it is likely to cause severe denaturing of pollens and fl ower pistils as a result of strong mechanical contact as the pollens bursts out of the machine.” Scientists have thought about using WHAT WILL BE, WILL BEE: This illustration shows a remote-controlled, bio-inspired flying robot that can pollinate flowers, much like a bee. drones, but scientists haven’t fi gured out how to make free-fl ying robot insects that ne day, gardeners might not can rely on their own power source without just hear the buzz of bees being attached to a wire. among their fl owers, but the Eijiro Miyako, a chemist “It’s very tough work,” said senior author whirr of robots, too. Scientists at the National Institute Eijiro Miyako, a chemist at the National in Japan say they’ve managed Institute of Advanced Industrial Science toO turn an unassuming drone into a of Advanced Industrial and Technology in Japan. remote-controlled pollinator by attaching Miyako’s particular contribution to the horsehairs coated with a special, sticky gel Science and Technology fi eld involves a gel, one he had considered a to its underbelly. in Japan, does not think mistake 10 years before. The scientist had The system, described in the journal been attempting to make fl uids that could be Chem, is nowhere near ready to be sent to such drones would used to conduct electricity, and one attempt agricultural fi elds, but it could help pave the left him with a gel that was as sticky as way to developing automated pollination replace bees altogether, hair wax. Clearly this wouldn’t do, and so techniques at a time when bee colonies are Miyako stuck it in a storage cabinet in an suff ering precipitous declines. but could simply uncapped bottle. When it was rediscovered Flowers looking to get the pollen from help bees with their a decade later, it looked exactly the same — their male parts into another bloom’s female the gel hadn’t dried up or degraded at all. parts need an envoy to carry it from one to pollinating duties. “In “I was so surprised, because it still had a the other. Those third players are animals very high viscosity,” Miyako said. known as pollinators — a diverse group of combination is the best The chemist noticed that when dropped, critters that includes bees, butterfl ies, birds the gel absorbed an impressive amount of and bats, among others. way,” he says dust from the fl oor. Miyako realised this Wednesday, February 15, 2017 GULF TIMES 5 COVER STORY COMMUNITY
The decline of bees isn’t just worrisome because it could disrupt ecosystems, but also because it could disrupt agriculture and the economy. People have been trying to come up with replacement techniques, the study authors say, but none of them are especially effective yet — and some might do more harm than good material could be very useful for picking a four-propeller drone whose retail value up the pollen grains attached to the surface. help bees with their pollinating duties. up pollen grains. He took ants, slathered was $100, and attached horsehairs to its They found that the robots whose horsehairs “In combination is the best way,” he said. the ionic gel on some of them and let both smooth surface to mimic a bee’s fuzzy body. had been coated with the gel had on the There’s a lot of work to be done before the gelled and un-gelled insects wander They coated those horsehairs in the gel, and order of 10 times more pollen than those that’s a reality, however. Small drones will through a box of tulips. Those ants with then manoeuvred the drones over Japanese hairs that had not been coated with the gel. need to become more manoeuvrable and the gel were far more likely to end up with lilies, where they would pick up the pollen “A certain amount of practice with energy effi cient, as well as smarter, he said a dusting of pollen than those that were from one fl ower and then deposit the pollen remote control of the artifi cial pollinator is — with better GPS and artifi cial intelligence, free of the sticky substance. The next step at another bloom, thus fertilising it. necessary,” the study authors noted. programmed to travel in highly eff ective search- was to see if this worked with mechanical The scientists looked at the hairs under a Miyako does not think such drones would and-pollinate patterns. —Los Angeles Times/ movers, as well. He and his colleagues chose scanning electron microscope and counted replace bees altogether, but could simply TNS Dinosaur surprise: Scientists find collagen inside a 195 million-year-old bone which make up soft tissues, could fellow long-necked cousins, the By Amina Khan only last about 4 million years sauropods). Rather than removing or so; only hard tissues like bone the sample from the bone, and thus and teeth could be preserved over risk damaging or contaminating it, inosaur palaeontology longer geologic time scales. Soft the scientists used confocal Raman has long been the tissues like cartilage and muscle spectroscopy and a type of infrared domain of bones typically decay long before they spectroscopy to study the insides and teeth — but now can be preserved. of the bones in detail. soft tissues could be Recent studies have begun to Within a rib, the scientists found Dchanging the game. Scientists challenge that notion. A study in fragments of proteins, likely from say they have discovered collagen 2015 found evidence of collagen the collagen in the bone’s vascular preserved in a 195-million- fi bres and red blood cells within canals. Those canals were also year-old rib from a long-necked a 75-million-year-old claw polka-dotted with collections Lufengosaurus. from a carnivorous dinosaur. of haematite — an iron oxide The protein fragments, That fi nding met with no small that may have come in part from described in the journal Nature amount of scepticism, said haemoglobin and other iron-rich Communications, are more than Susannah Maidment, a vertebrate proteins in the dinosaur’s red blood FIND: A piece of the 195-million-year-old Lufengosaurus rib, where bits of 100 million years older than the palaeontologist at the University cells. It’s possible that this iron collagen were found. previous record-holder, shattering of Brighton who was not involved may have acted as an antioxidant, the notion that such soft tissues in the current study but who co- the authors wrote, preventing the proteins in collagen are closely tied were able to extract collagen and are short-lived and cannot be authored that 2015 paper. proteins from decaying further. to their particular animal group — carry out collagen fi ngerprinting preserved. These kinds of samples “Now, the weight of evidence “The characteristic infrared which could allow scientists to use on these bones, then we would could off er palaeontologists a has really shifted,” she said. “There absorption spectra of collagen and the samples almost like soft-tissue have a whole independent line of whole new window through which are instances in the fossil record protein provide undeniable, clear “fi ngerprints.” evidence.” to study these long-gone creatures. where protein can be preserved evidence that collagen and protein “As palaeontologists, the only For now, scientists are still “This fi nding extends the record over really quite long geologic remains were preserved inside the thing we have to build a family tree trying to fi gure out how these of preserved organic remains timescales, and we haven’t hit osteonal central vascular canals of the dinosaurs is their bones,” protein fragments really managed more than 100 million years, and the boundary yet of what those of this early dinosaur,” the study she explained. “Now biologists to last so long in the fi rst place. highlights the importance of using geologic timescales are.” authors wrote. of course have DNA, but we don’t And the next challenge, Maidment in situ approaches to these types of The new fossil evidence comes Comparing the collagen locked have DNA so we only look at the said, will likely be fi guring out how investigations,” the study authors from a Lufengosaurus, a genus of in the bones of diff erent species bones. Our family tree is very much to safely extract these collagen wrote. early sauropodomorph dinosaurs could compel researchers to redraw restricted to looking at the hard remnants so they can be studied in For a long time, scientists that probably walked on two parts of the dinosaur family tree, parts — and that might be swaying even greater detail. —Los Angeles believed that protein molecules, legs instead of four (unlike their Maidment said. That’s because the our calculations a little bit. If we Times/TNS 6 GULF TIMES Wednesday, February 15, 2017 COMMUNITY ABP students teach Arabic, English to workers
BP Social Services & Volunteering Club students participated in a Rota educational project offering Arabic and English languages coursesA to workers recently. The students were “excited to teach the workers Arabic and English, providing an opportunity to them to communicate better with the community they live in,” according to the institute. Moza al-Boainain, Assistant Director of Student Services, said that the Social Services & Volunteering Club aims to provide volunteering opportunities to students to serve their community, contribute to the development of their personal skills and knowledge and equip them with new experiences as well as a sense of psychological satisfaction when they provide services to others who are in need. One of the sessions in which the ABP students taught the workers Arabic and English. She said, “Volunteerism is a great way to show universities’ admission committees that the students not only care about the community but are able to manage their time well enough to balance a volunteer job with their other commitments.” She added that the club co-operates with the local charity organisations such as Qatar Charity and Rota to participate in their projects. One of the successful projects with Qatar Charity was the construction of a primary school in Somalia and the drilling of a water well to serve the school and the neighbourhood where it is located. Other activities include visiting patients at Rumaila Hospital, and visiting sick children at Hamad General Hospital and giving gifts to them. The mission of the Academic Bridge Program (ABP), a centre of Qatar Foundation, is to provide high school graduates from Qatari schools and other for the universities in Qatar Foundation’s holding a broad range of activities including Accreditation (CEA) in the United States. similar schools with the academic and Education City. Since its launch in 2001, debates, a Model United Nations, school This makes it easier to fast-track ABP personal skills for success in reputable the programme has adapted model clubs and newspaper, sports teams, and graduates into universities in the United English-language universities, with approach in teaching English, math, students’ union. The ABP is accredited States without the need for them to special emphasis on preparing students science, and computer skills, along with by the Commission on English Language complete a university foundation year.
IIS celebrates Qatar National Sport Day
The Ideal Indian School celebrated Qatar National Sport Day with a wide range of sports and fitness activities for its students. The students of Class 8 participated in a mass stretching exercise. The school also organised a football tournament featuring teams from diff erent classes. The school also hosted several outdoor sports and recreational activities for its female students. Wednesday, February 15, 2017 GULF TIMES 7 COMMUNITY
Forty participants contest in TI Qatar Chapter Area 53 annual contest
Toastmasters International Qatar Chapter Area 53 Annual Contest 2017 was conducted at the Olive International School recently. Almost 40 contestants from five clubs in the area participated in four categories: International Speech, Humorous Speech, Table Topics and Speech Evaluation. Area 53 Director Shainy Kabeer opened and adjourned the event. Many notable Toastmasters attended the event. Indian embassy First Secretary Dinesh Udenia was a special guest. The first and second place winners will represent Area 53 in Division S Annual contest on March 24 at Qatar Youth Hostels in Al Gharafa.
Over 160 Aligarh Muslim University alumni attend monthly AMUAAQ meeting
The Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Qatar (AMUAAQ) recently organised their first alumni meet in 2017, under the new working committee presided by Jawed Ahmad. The members were served home-made vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. The organisers had also arranged for a number of musical games for kids and ladies. Senior Aligs gave speeches during the tea that was served after the lunch. 8 GULF TIMES Wednesday, February 15, 2017 COMMUNITY
Thirty-two teams participate in third BOTC Cricket Tournament
A total of 32 teams participated in the third BOTC Cricket Tournament. The tournament was organised in Labor City and drew a large crowd of cricket lover and sports fans. Prizes were distributed to the winning teams and top performers after the final. The tournament was organised under the patronage of Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
Birla Public School marks Qatar National Sport Day
Birla Public School celebrated the Qatar National Sport Day with a ‘Health Walk.’ The entire staff , including senior management, participated in the walk. A variety of games were also organised on the occasion, including tug-of-war, musical chairs, arm wrestling, basketball, throwball and volleyball. Wednesday, February 15, 2017 GULF TIMES 9 COMMUNITY
Qatar National Sport Day celebrations in Asian Town
Ibn Ajayan Projects, the managers of Asian Town and Labour City Projects, celebrated Qatar tug-of-war, basketball, and volleyball for men and women. The organisers had also arranged for a National Sport Day at Asian Town yesterday. The activities began with a fun race at 8am in front of drawing competition for the children. Asian Town Cricket Stadium. Following the initial fun race, there were sports competitions including Qatar-UAE Exchange and Al Mirqab Exchange were the co-sponsors of the event.
Ensrv Group holds Sport Day at Aspire Zone Park
Despite the rainy weather, Ensrv Group organised their Sport Day at Aspire Zone Park yesterday. Activities like basketball, football, volleyball and cricket were played and trophies were distributed to winning team. In addition, an area was dedicated to families. 10 GULF TIMES Wednesday, February 15, 2017 COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC
BRUCE POWER: The site of the Bruce nuclear plant in Canada. Wednesday, February 15, 2017 GULF TIMES 11 LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE COMMUNITY 5 facts about radiation you never knew
adiation – it’s not something z Radiation comes in multiple forms. most people think about very Non-ionising radiation, like that found often, and when they do, in microwaves, radio waves and visible or their thoughts usually turn to infrared light, is largely harmless due to its radiation’s eff ects as they are low energy levels. Ionising radiation (found portrayedR in the movies. These being namely in gamma rays, X-rays and other sources) that exposure to radiation will either turn has higher energy levels and can be harmful them into a hideous monster or a superhero. to the body if you are exposed to large doses The truth is, however, that while radiation or for a long period of time. is great fuel for any Hollywood script, it’s more than sci-fi fodder. It’s part of your z You can track radiation levels around real world. And while it is not something you. Radiation is invisible, but that to be feared – as it is in the movies – it is doesn’t mean you have to be blind to it. something you should be aware of. To that The Dosime device is a hybrid smart home end, here are fi ve things you may not know and wearable personal dosimeter that about radiation. captures real-time radiation exposure in the environment. The accompanying app z You are exposed to radiation every day. provides an immediate assessment of the Many people are also exposed to radiation ionising radiation present in the homes, every day through their work as dental buildings and spaces you live, work and assistants, medical practitioners, radiology play that can potentially impact your health technicians, chiropractors, etc. without your knowledge. Dosime allows you to access accurate, reliable, easy-to- z Radiation can come from man- understand radiation information in real made, terrestrial or cosmic sources. Not time to manage potential health risks and all radiation comes from man-made ensure peace of mind. technology. Naturally occurring radiation is present in Earth’s crust as well as in the z You bring radiation into your home that shine. The glaze used to decorate those that doesn’t mean you have to fear it. fl oors and walls of our homes, schools and every day with things you purchase. Your antique jars could be radioactive if the Remember, most radiation is naturally places of work. It is even found in the food cat’s litter box is a common radiation source uranium levels are high enough. Even your occurring and your exposure to it won’t we eat and drink, and the air we breathe. in your home, while some nuts and bananas new granite countertops are a source of turn you into a monster, even if a super Our own bodies – muscle, bones and tissue also give off small levels of radiation. The radiation as granite is one of the best rock power would be pretty cool. – contain naturally occurring radioactive glossy paper appearing in the magazines you sources for retaining natural radiation. elements as well. read requires a radioactive fi nish to achieve Radiation is around you every day, but ©Brandpoint
ARIES TAURUS GEMINI March 21 — April 19 April 20 — May 20 May 21 — June 20
The Moon remains in Libra today, your opposite sign and There is nothing wrong with speaking up and standing up for Don’t let something minor become something major today twins. relationship zone making today a great time for you to reach out to yourself today bulls. You are a grounded earthy sign and tell it like it It’s silly to make more drama for yourself when there is always someone you haven’t seen or spoken to in a while. is – or at least you should do! something dramatic going on, right?
CANCER LEO VIRGO June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22
There is nothing worse than feeling as if other people are talking If you have doubts about something or someone today, question If you feel you’re well and truly out of options today Virgos, think about you behind your back, is there? If you feel as if this is why that is. Is it something they have said or done or is it your own again. There is no such thing – ever. Sometimes not doing anything happening today, ignore it. Unfortunately, it’s part of life and to buy insecurity acting up Leos? at all is an option. into it is only to encourage it.
LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21
The Moon remains in your sign and allows you to tap into your You can’t help yourself sometimes Scorpios. You form an opinion If you don’t feel up to doing something today, say so. People always emotional agenda today. People and their moods and vibes of someone new in 1 second flat and find it diff icult to change that assume you have endless energy and abilities and you do, but every are aff ecting you more than ever right now. Choose the right opinion. “Never judge a book by its cover’ is your slogan today. now and again you have to have a quick oil change, right? companions.
CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20
Don’t let your imagination play tricks on you today goats. You know Be choosy with your words today. The Moon in Libra, your Being loved and giving love is something you Pisces thrive on and what’s real and what’s not so stick to your plan. Even if it flies in the philosophical zone could have you spouting off without thinking appreciate more than anything in life. Sometimes you have to go face of convention. about the repercussions. out of your way to receive love but that’s okay – as long as you are setting a shining example. 12 GULF TIMES Wednesday, February 15, 2017 COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES
Wordsearch Adam
Poetry Pooch Cafe ALLEGORY IAMB SIMILE BALLAD IMAGERY SONNET BATHOS IRONY SPONDEE CESURA LYRIC STANZA COUPLET METAPHOR STRESS DACTYL PASTORAL STYLE ELEGY QUATRAIN TROCHEE ELISION RHYME VERSE EPIC SATIRE FOOT SCANSION
Codeword Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. Squares with the same number in have the same letter in. Work out which number represents which letter.
Garfield Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com courtesy: Puzzles
Sudoku
Bound And Gagged
Sudoku is a puzzle based on a 9x9 grid. The grid is also divided into nine (3x3) boxes. You are given a selection of values and to complete the puzzle, you must fill the grid so that every column, every anone is repeated. Wednesday, February 15, 2017 GULF TIMES 13 PUZZLES COMMUNITY
Quick Clues Colouring
ACROSS DOWN 1. Trail (5) 1. Circus performer (7-6) 4. Long-necked animal (7) 2. Astonish (5) 8. Versus (7) 3. Monarch (4) 9. Contort (5) 4. Conduit (6) 10. Always (4) 5. Sane (8) 11. Elegant (8) 6. Warship (7) 13. Expensive (4) 7. Amusement (13) 14. Speed (4) 12. Ancient language (8) 16. Rereading (8) 13. Unfold (7) 17. Sacred portrait (4) 15. Previous (6) 20. Drone (5) 18. Beverage (5) 21. Marvel (7) 19. Cupid (4) 22. Barman (7) 23. Begin (5) Cryptic Clues
Answers
Wordsearch Codeword
ACROSS DOWN 1. Clean down (5) 1. Acts spiritedly, but courts disaster (5,4,4) 4. Naming a price - in inverted commas? (7) 2. Happen to come later (5) 8. The attendant’s not responsible for it (7) 3. Women in retreat (4) Yesterday’s Solutions 9. I shut up about the demand (5) 4. After a quick start it’s simple to be 10. Twist killed? (4) unsettled (6) 11. Spare men (8) 5. One way to obtain goods without paying QUICK CRYPTIC 13. Dog - or part of one (4) (2,6) Across: 3 Applicant; 8 Over; 9 Atonement; Across: 3 Ordinance; 8 Eats; 9 Interpose; 10 14. Shipping service used by fishermen (4) 6. Fancy one taking a drink in the Middle 10 Though; 11 Greed; 14 Tinge; 15 Lead; 16 So-long; 11 Using; 14 Get-up; 15 Deaf; 16 Trams; 16. Mainly a dance? (8) East (7) Evade; 18 Deem; 20 Still; 21 Raise; 24 Vacant; 25 18 Nick; 20 Tithe; 21 Snipe; 24 Anklet; 25 17. Become engaged in some shady 7. You’ll be lucky to win one of them (5,2,6) business (4) 12. Word that might be mis-spelt, though the Roundelay; 26 Slur; 27 Brutality. Timepiece; 26 Otto; 27 Red setter. 20. In dire need of a name (5) easiest (8) Down: 1 Fortitude; 2 Rejoinder; 4 Path; 5 Down: 1 Newsagent; 2 Athletics; 4 Rung; 5 21. Reduce the charge (7) 13. It’s wrong to take chaps in to torture (7) Lunar; 6 Compel; 7 None; 9 Agree; 11 Grave; 12 Ideas; 6 Append; 7 Cast; 9 Inapt; 11 Usage; 12 22. Give one the right to call (7) 15. Red Indian dancer? (6) Desirable; 13 Adulatory; 17 Essay; 19 Magnet; 22 Gentility; 13 Affection; 17 Stone; 19 Kneels; 22 23. Only about five to do this puzzle? (5) 18. Turn out a bad scholar? (5) 19. The French ship is smaller (4) Steal; 23 Poor; 24 Vast. Paint; 23 Side; 24 Ache. 14 GULF TIMES Wednesday, February 15, 2017 COMMUNITY CINEMA
Surya in Si 3.
Kumar just did not gel here. Durai Singam – that is the full name of the The casting also suff ers because of Kapoor. character which the actor portrays – has grown Anu was brilliant as a fertility doctor in Vicky since his fi rst appearance in Singam 1 – which Donor. Nobody can forget the man, eating strove to weave a balance between his family’s “gol-gappas” on the street, and describing sentiments and his own arrival into the big city to his clients the path of the sperms in their of Chennai. Singam chooses the khaki as his mating game. I liked the way he convinces the sole identity and principle in life. Singam 2 saw lead actor, Ayushmann Khurrana, to become Surya chasing criminals across the Tamil Nadu a sperm donor. But as the defence counsel, border – in what was a clear indication of his Sachin Kantilal Mathur, in Jolly LLB 2, Kapoor rising powers and expanding turf. really did not come up to Irani’s calibre. Boman In the third of the series, shortened was fantastic as the slimy, arrogant advocate stylistically to Si 3, Surya’s Durai Singam is a who treats any opposition with utter contempt. Deputy Commissioner of Police in Chennai Even Saurabh Shukla, who is the judge in who is asked to help solve the murder of the both editions, is not as memorable in the sequel Andhra Pradesh Commissioner of Police. as he was in the fi rst edition. It looks downright When someone quips why ask a Tamil Nadu silly for a judge to enter the hallowed premises policeman to come over, pat comes the reply: Jolly LLB 2 fails to live up to the standards that its predecessor set. of a court singing and dancing! The desperation Because Singam is forthright, dedicated to give a new look to part two appears to have and unimaginably daring. And may I add, pushed the writer-director to think up of unbelievably strong, so strong that he can race something totally ridiculous. past a racing truck, jump down several storeys Jolly LLB 2 – missing Jolly LLB 2’s plot was not great either – of with not a scratch to his body and take on a missing terrorist and a fake encounter. Part dozens of pistol-totting and knife-wielding one had a story which had a universal appeal – men, each looking more evil than the other. that of drunken driving. A rich young man in Singam lands in Vishakhpatnam, the scene Arshad Warsi and a sozzled state drives his fancy car on sleeping of the murder, and soon smells a huge racket pavement dwellers, killing some and maiming involving an Indian businessman (with an others. An unethical policeman, who double Australian passport and an Indian Minister for crosses Tejpal defending the youth, takes a father) – who dumps into the Indian backyard Boman Irani money from the sole witness to the accident Australian medical waste and medicines past and lets him go. Many of us could easily identify their expiry. Children die when they inhale in recent years from being a character frivolous with the case – for we have seen that happen in the smoke from the waste that is burnt. A By Gautaman Bhaskaran and funny to one we saw in Special 26 (I really New Delhi and in Mumbai among the wealthy policeman faints when he takes a spurious liked him here), and in Airlift, where he plays class. pill from Australia. The culprit of this game a businessman rescuing hundreds of Indians Jolly LLB was one of the best movies of 2013, is Vittal, and Singam – with the help of a t is never easy to create a sequel – from Kuwait in what was arguably the biggest a rare attempt to peep into the working of few honest cops – breaks into a seemingly whether for a novel or for a fi lm. And military operation in peacetime history. He was the judiciary. There was drama all right, but impregnable fortress of crime and corruption, since cinema is a visual medium, it easily also impressive in Rustom – based on the life of nothing exaggerated. The script was believable, greed and inhuman callousness. attracts the comparative eye. The Tamil decorated Naval Commander Nanavati, who the story plausible. The movie is one long chase of 156 minutes movie franchise called Singam – whose murders his British wife, Sylvia’s lover and rich But, in comparison, the writing in Jolly LLB 2 – punctuated for brief moments by a night thirdI edition I saw the other day – seemed so playboy businessman, Prem Ahuja. is inconsistent. Is a polygraph test admissible in club dance number and a Shruti Haasan as an ridiculously jaded. Even its hero, the lion of a But as Jagdishwar Mishra or Jolly, Mr Kumar court? Can an escaped prisoner be brought into investigative reporter, Vidya, in love with a policeman played by Surya, looked tired and paled in comparison to Mr Warsi, who as the a witness stand? Singam, happily married to Anushka Shetty’s positively disinterested. And director Hari had bumbling small-town lawyer in Mathura moves Subhash Kapoor needs to refl ect on his Kavya. These romantic or marital interludes nothing, nothing new to off er, except a lot of to New Delhi to try his failing luck. And lady decision to pick Akshay and Anu in the place of appear more like an excuse to attract women to sound and din. I developed a splitting headache luck does smile on him, when he gets a chance Arshad and Boman. the fi lm, which is otherwise tryingly violent, after watching Singam 3, stylistically re-titled to take on the corrupt and conceited big-time with a camera that could well put to shame Si 3. advocate, Tejinder Rajpal, brilliantly essayed by * * * an overly hyperactive kid. The only time the Also, one must remember that a fi lm is Irani. Warsi too did a splendid job of infusing his camera breathes easy is when Singam gets into as good as its cast. One may have a gripping character in black coat with a certain adorable Si 3: his preachy best – forcefully reminding the story, a marvellous script and a renowned innocence, a certain likeable foolhardiness that Much like when you walk into a fi lm villains and the traitors that India is a great director, but if these are not supported by a made Jolly unforgettable. Kumar has not been screening a James Bond adventure or, closer country. Not one huge garbage bin that men good set of actors, the entire show crumbles. able to achieve these. And obviously so. home, a Rajinikanth starrer, you would know like Vittal treat, dumping into it the poisonous This is precisely where the sequel to Jolly LLB, For, Akshay is a star today, and one cannot exactly what to expect when you troop into a fi lth and dirt from another nation, Australia in produced by Fox Star Studios and helmed by expect him to shed his star trappings. Even in movie that has Surya. And a Surya as Singam this case. (As I walked out of the cinema, I was Subhash Kapoor, falters and falls down. some of his most vulnerable scenes, he looks or Lion – and that too as a cop – can only push wondering whether the Australian government Fox and perhaps Kapoor – who were also on invincible – while Warsi seemed so helpless. the fi lm in a singularly unilateral direction. The would take umbrage over this.) board part one – made a wrong move in Jolly Remember the scene where he gets beaten up man has to be squeaky clean, putting to shame a Honestly, Si 3 seems quite jaded with LLB 2 by replacing the arresting Arshad Warsi by Rajpal’s henchman, and he looks almost force where corruption rules with unbelievably nothing really diff erent to off er from the earlier and the equally remarkable Boman Irani with frightened. Cut to the scene in Lucknow high-handedness. Not only is Singam honest, editions. And Surya looks positively tired, a tad Akshay Kumar and Anu Kapoor respectively. (part two unfolds in Kanpur, Lucknow and sincere and dedicated, but he is also so strong uninterested and mechanical as well. After all, Both Kumar and Kapoor really did not match up in Kashmir), where Jolly is shot by lumpen that he is equated with a lion – with the actor there was nothing refreshing about this roar. to their predecessors. elements hired by a villainous cop, who kills an ever so often leaping into the air before he Obviously, Fox must have imagined that it innocent man a day after his marriage. (It is a bangs his opponent with his outstretched palm. z Gautaman Bhaskaran has been writing on could get more footfalls in theatres if the sequel fake encounter carried out by the policeman, Just like the king of the forest, Singam is the Indian and world cinema for close to had a star – and obviously Warsi is not a star who wants to close the case of a missing undisputed monarch in his territory. Which has four decades and may be e-mailed at like Kumar. Admittedly, Akshay has changed terrorist and thus get his bribe and promotion.) been expanding. [email protected] Wednesday, February 15, 2017 GULF TIMES 15 SHOWBIZ COMMUNITY Music has never been more vital: Clive Davis
growth of the arts,” Davis said in and fi lm and ballet and elsewhere, By Randy Lewis deliberately chosen words. that we keep the arts strong,” he “I hope that political expediency said. “I’m terrifi ed that there will does not override this and that be any lack of appreciation as to know Donald.” the lawmakers stand up and the impact of art and music and our The statement protect the arts, which are a artists, and how they fl ourish and from music mogul fundamental part of our lives, and grow … . I hope that the rumours Clive Davis was a fundamental part of the infl uence of cutting back (federal) funding of an attention- that America has had throughout the creative artistic community are “Icommanding moment, even the world,” he said. untrue.” knowing his proclivity to punctuate It was part of a wide-ranging Davis’ own contributions to whatever point he’s making with conversation about the state of nurturing the arts and pop music references to the galaxy of pop the music business in 2017, and a are legion and are at the heart of the music stars he’s on a fi rst-name forthcoming documentary on his documentary on his career that will basis with, “be it an Aretha, be it life based on his 2013 bestselling open the Tribeca Film Festival on a Whitney, be it an Adele, be it a autobiography, Clive Davis: The April 19. Britney.” Soundtrack of My Life. Starting with his tenure at Davis was talking at his But the topic of the dramatic Columbia Records in the 1960s, temporary West Coast headquarters change in political atmosphere was fi rst as a corporate lawyer, then at the Beverly Hills Hotel, in the the one subject that stopped him as head of the label, Davis signed, midst of preparations for his annual cold. Only after a long, measured produced or signifi cantly guided pre-Grammy Awards gala. pause, his head resting on his left the careers of Janis Joplin, Bruce He was responding to a hand as he carefully chose his Springsteen, Patti Smith, Aretha question about whether, given his words, did he elaborate. Franklin, the Grateful Dead, Barry background as a quintessential “I certainly believe that the Manilow, Alicia Keys, Santana, New Yorker — born 84 years ago artistic community does have a Aerosmith, Jennifer Hudson in Brooklyn — and high-profi le responsibility and a right to speak and countless others, including businessman himself, Davis has out,” he said, “not just to protect probably his most celebrated a sense yet of how Donald Trump their profession, but to protect discovery, Whitney Houston. and his quickly forming cabinet are the foundation of what makes He was quick to underscore that likely to view, and treat the nation’s the United States as a country so “I have had absolutely no control artistes and creative community. unique in history and what should over the fi lm” by director Chris “I know Donald,” he said. “I know be the future as well.” Perkel but said he saw the fi nal cut personally that he would want to Davis considers it vital to support in a private screening and “was foster a creative community, to “our great artistes in every area of very, very moved.” —Los Angeles CONCERNED: “I hope the lawmakers stand up and protect the arts, which foster the infl uence of arts and the music and drama and spoken word Times/TNS are a fundamental part of our lives”, says Davis.
Varun, Alia share great chemistry, says Sidharth Amitabh respects young the fi lm’s director, Amit Roy. generation, says Sircar Sharing his experience about working with Amitabh Actor Sidharth Malhotra says his Student Of The Year co-stars Alia in Sarkar 3, Amit Sadh said: “For the fi rst time when I Bhatt and Varun Dhawan share a great chemistry in their forthcoming Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar, who has worked with faced him, was when we were shooting for Sarkar 3. fi lm Badrinath Ki Dulhania. megastar Amitabh Bachchan in fi lms like Piku and Pink, “For fi rst 5-10 days, I was very petrifi ed. After that, Asked if he liked Varun-Alia’s on-screen chemistry from whatever is says the best thing about the megastar — who is often on the eleventh day, I started talking to him and was seen in the fi lm’s trailer, Sidharth said: “They share a great chemistry. I childlike — respects young talent in the movie industry just clueless as I didn’t know what to talk. I just thought liked the trailer and the album as well. All the songs are very melodious.” a lot. that I may say something and will sound so stupid.” Sidharth was speaking to media at the inauguration of the National “Every time working with him is like a big Taapsee, who shared screen space with Big B in Pink, Inclusion Cup, a CSR initiative. opportunity. I would defi nitely want to work with added: “It’s unbelievable to receive a text message from The trailer of Badrinath Ki Dulhania and the songs, including a reprised him again,” Sircar said during his visit to the IANS Mr Bachchan. That feeling is something.” version of 1990s’ hit Tamma Tamma have been receiving quite a positive headquarter to promote his forthcoming production Even Roy joined in the peppy chat to say, “The only response since its release. venture Running Shaadi. thing common between all of us is that we are all huge “The fi lm seems to be good and amazing,” said Sidharth, who has “Now he (Amitabh) has become very easy with us. He fans of Mr Bachchan.” wrapped up his forthcoming movie Reload with Jacqueline Fernandez. gives us a lot of space to talk to. Earlier we were scared Running Shaadi is slated to release on Friday. — IANS “We have of him, but now he has come down to our level and he completed the fi lm. talks like that,” added Sircar. We had loads of He fi nds the 74-year-old to be like a “child”. fun while shooting. “He is like a 14-year-old boy. The most important Though it is quite thing about him is that he respects the young early to talk about it, generation of fi lmmakers, writers or actors. He is not I am really excited to like, ‘I belong to an older generation’,” he said. present the movie. It “We have learned a lot from him and keep doing so. is an action, fun fi lm He is a fantastic artiste to work with,” he added. that will come out this Earlier, Sircar was rumoured to be making a August.” documentary on the Agneepath star. However, Reload is directed he clarifi ed that the fi lm he is making is not a by duo Raj Nidimoru documentary. and Krishna DK. “It’s not a documentary. I have spent almost 11 years In addition to that, with him. I have been working with him since 2006. Sidharth will star in This is like a memorabilia which includes his and my a remake of the 1969 interactions. It will take some time to compile it. It’s mystery fi lm Ittefaq not a documentary,” he said. with Sonakshi Sinha. During his visit, Sircar was joined by the lead pair of SANGUINE: Sidharth Malhotra. — IANS Running Shaadi — Amit Sadh and Taapsee Pannu, and ICON: Amitabh Bachchan. 16 GULF TIMES Wednesday, February 15, 2017 COMMUNITY The glint of print In part two of Community’s series on Library Lovers’ Month, librarians Mumtaz Moosa and Amy Andres talk about what endears them to their jobs. By Anand Holla
ith February being Library Lovers’ Month, the entire month is dedicated to the people who Wlove whole buildings devoted to the reading, housing, organising, categorising, fi nding, studying, and otherwise loving books. Community caught up with four of the top librarians in Qatar for a talk in a two-part series. Here are excerpts from chats with Mumtaz Moosa, Primary Librarian, Al Jazeera School, and Amy Andres, Director of Libraries, Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCU-Q).
What special role does the library you head play for the community it serves, and how? Mumtaz: I believe that the school library is central to learning and plays a key role as a place for encouraging innovation, curiosity, and problem-solving. A library is a place where the students can expand their classroom learning by reading creative works by authors from around the world. Amy Andres, Director of Libraries, Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar. We, at Al Jazeera, aim to enable our students to think creatively knowledge building, deep thinking school’s students and faculty – as etc. It teaches you to be on top of Mumtaz: In this digital sphere, and expand their skills by exposing and lively discussion. I am working well as for the Doha community. your game all the time. My favourite more and more books are migrating them to works by diff erent authors. in the primary school library where They provide a wealth of resources quote is: online. I do believe that digitisation We also celebrate Reading Week I serve and cater to the need of to inform and inspire their users. “Ben wished the world is the future. We are becoming more every year to further foster our younger students ranging from While the core of the collection was organized by the Dewey and more tech-savvy. The young student’s interaction with the the ages of 4 to 12. The students provides direct support for artists, decimal system. That way children spend more time with their creative world. During this week, enhance their vocabulary through designers, and art historians, we you’d be able to fi nd whatever digital gadgets than with their toys. we hold book review competitions our library books. In my library, you also aim to cultivate collections you were looking for.” – Brian However, I still believe that the to get students to think critically will fi nd a collection of books that that encourage exploration and Selznick, Wonderstruck library represents a physical space about the creative work. Our cater to the needs of all age year innovation in interdisciplinary Amy: Libraries have that contains incredible knowledge. library is a catalyst for literacy groups. For years 1-3, the books that studies. VCUQatar Libraries transformed signifi cantly in the The feeling of holding a physical and reading. Our school libraries are available have more illustration also have special collections that past 50 years, and so has the book is more personal and intimate make a diff erence in students’ and moral stories. For key stage two include artists’ books and rare profession. Unfortunately, the than holding on to an iPad. Walking understanding and achievement. group, we have non-fi ction books. books on the history and culture image of librarians surrounded around the library browsing the We provide support for teaching Even the parents of the students of Qatar. The VCUQatar library by books is a stereotype that books is more intricate than and learning throughout the school. are highly involved and make visits culture is also unique and special continues to persist. But this scrolling down a screen. Despite Our library is an important part to the library to pick out books for to our school. Our libraries are less image is outdated and does not the digitisation, the library would of the academic community and their children. traditional and clearly refl ect the well represent the profession in remain a signifi cant physical refl ects the Islamic values. It can Amy: The libraries at Virginia learning and working practices of the 21st century. Librarians are space that allows for promoting be a central point for engagement Commonwealth University in Qatar artists and designers. expert at managing a complex literacy and reading. In addition, with all kinds of reading, cultural serve as an icon for the intellectual, range of institutional resources – digital media is cluttered with activities, access to information, artistic, and creative pursuits of the What is the best part about not just books. Depending upon inconsistencies and inaccuracies. being a librarian and getting to the needs of their respective The books published and present spend endless hours with books institutions, librarians may also in the library are usually well- all around you? provide leadership in areas related proof read and evaluated. The Mumtaz: I love reading books. to digital technologies, pedagogy, information available online can be Thus, being surrounded by books data curation, intellectual more or less modifi ed by anyone but is a wonderful gift to me. We have property, copyright, publishing, the information within the library several books in the library that will and bibliometrics. The profession is accurate. engage and interest you for hours of librarianship requires one to Amy: Libraries were early and hours. You would not want to possess in-depth knowledge in adopters of digital technologies put these books down. Working many subject areas. and librarians have led the way in in a space that allows students transitioning their institutions to to expand their intellect through What do you think makes the the digital age. As the digital age the books is also a rewarding library a bastion of knowledge evolves, so too will the paradigms experience. It also pushes you to and wisdom even as digital of how information is produced think of creative ways to make media and devices take over and retrieved. Libraries will reading fun and exciting for the our lives? Also, is integrating remain as positive change agents students. Also, this is a profession into the digital platform the in this evolution and keep pace that teaches you to organise way ahead for the traditional by expanding the ways in which A library user browses the Gulf architecture section of VCU-Q print collection. yourself, your schedule, your day, libraries? information is made accessible.