MONDAY 10 APRIL 2017 CAMPUS | 4 FOOD | 9 BOLLYWOOD | 11 ASDAS students raise How to turn asparagus Baahubali directorector ffundsunds to build school into a bowl of pasta Rajamouli getsts in Kenya that sings of spring 3 million followersowers Email: [email protected] IN SEARCH OF LIFE... Scientists are busy searching Chile’s Atacama desert for clues to life in a P | 2-3 place it much resembles; Mars. 02 COVER STORY MONDAY 10 APRIL 2017 Chile desert combed for clues to life on Mars Chile evidence,” she adds, as she breaks AFP up bits of rock salt in an area of the desert known as Yungay Station. hile’s Atacama desert “But if we manage to under- may seem to contain stand how these micro-organisms little besides red-grey live, how they obtain moisture rocks and sand -- but and how they adapt to these con- scientists are busy ditions, then probably very soon, Csearching here for clues to life in when we have more information a place it much resembles: Mars. about life forms on other planets, This desert in northern Chile, we will have something here on like the red planet, is hot, dusty Earth to compare it with.” and extremely dry. Dorador will analyse the frag- Yet life exists here: tiny algae ments in a mobile laboratory and bacteria that have evolved to which she drives around the survive in the parched earth on desert in search of tiny life forms. little more than sunlight. She is one of dozens of scien- If they have done it here, then tists from various countries why not on Mars, 225 million kil- working on different Mars- ometers (140 million miles) away? related projects in the Atacama “If life existed there, it would desert. probably be very similar to life Separately, US space agency here,” says biologist Cristina Nasa in February carried out its Dorador from the nearby Univer- second phase of practice-drilling sity of Antofagasta. for samples in the earth of Ata- “We do not know if that is the cama with specially designed case, because we do not have any rovers. MONDAY 10 APRIL 2017 COVER STORY 03 “If life exists or ever existed has had a robot, Curiosity, on on Mars, the planet’s surface the planet searching for life. dryness and extensive (sunlight) It has sent back photographs radiation exposure would likely of the planet’s surface whose drive it underground,” Nasa said grey rocks look much like those in a report. of Atacama. “That makes locations like NASA plans to send a sec- the Atacama good places to ond robot there in 2018. In 2020, practice looking for life on Russia and the European Space Mars.” Agency also aim to send one to If fossil life on Mars resem- drill the Martian soil. bled Atacama, it could shed light US President Donald Trump on our own origins. has taken up his predecessor “Studying Mars may help Barack Obama’s pledge to send understand how life started on humans to Mars in the 2030s. Earth,” says Christian Nitschelm, Scientists have detected a French astronomer at Antof- traces of water and methane gas agasta University. on Mars, raising hopes of find- Space agencies and science ing life there. fiction writers alike have long Within our solar system, been fascinated by Mars -- one there is nowhere but Mars with of the closest planets to Earth. such conditions for life, The Soviet Union and United Nitschelm says. States started aiming probes “If there is no life on Mars, there in the 1960s. there is none anywhere” but on For the past four years NASA Earth, he says. 04 CAMPUS MONDAY 10 APRIL 2017 ASD students raise funds to build school in Kenya s part of the American in the morning and one hour in the School of Doha’s (ASD) afternoon. Afocus on global citizenship “One of our values is compas- and community service learning, sion,” said fifth grade student Payton, fifth grade students recently con- “and we are putting it into action by tributed funds to help build a sharing the experience of walking school in Kenya. to school. The money raised will The Machakos Education help students in Kenya have a Center is an ongoing project of ASD school that is closer, and this will and students were thrilled to con- increase their learning time.” tribute by raising funds. Students, parents and other Many children in Africa walk members of the ASD community an hour or more each way in order came out to walk, run, and have to attend school. To understand fun in an engaging event that has them connect to others,” explained the kids understand the world what that is like, and to show them become a tradition. “Fifth grade Walk-a-thon Teacher-Sponsor Alli around them. It’s a week that support, fifth grade students and students have organised this fund Farmer. “The walk is supported extends their learning and encour- others walked the track one hour raiser for several years and it helps with classroom activities that help ages them to be global citizens.” Georgetown University students return from study trip welve Georgetown Univer- case studies that are interesting to sity in Qatar students our students and tie in to what they Treturned from an intensive study in the classroom,” explained nine-day trip to Cambodia to learn Uday Rosario, assistant director for about the role of education in the student programs at GU-Q. “We development of the Southeast Asian decided on Cambodia because of nation. the role education played in the The students were in the coun- genocide, and the role that educa- try as part of the University’s tion has played in the growth of the community education programme, state.” which aims to provide them with This year, the programme real-world experience of theoret- included input from student lead- ical concepts discussed in class. ers, who worked with GU-Q staff Through workshops both before to select the destination and focus and during the trip, students were of the trip. Students spent 10-12 briefed onthe state of education in hours in the classroom before Cambodia and the impact of the departing to Cambodia, and spent genocide orchestrated by the Khmer three days meeting withdevelop- Rouge regime, where vast numbers ment actors, academics, students, of intellectuals and academics were and government officials on the killed. They were then able to meet ground to learn about their with local community members to experiences. gather their own understanding of “A lot of the things we were how the country is dealing with the exposed to came back to the Khmer effects of this tragedy, more than Rouge and their history,” said GU-Q three decades later. student Farah Mazen Mahfouz “Every year we look at different (SFS ’18). MONDAY 10 APRIL 2017 MARKETPLACE 05 Anantara Spa introduces ‘ladies or gents day’ ot only do ladies get pam- relaxation room, ice fountain and pered at Anantara Spa, liquid sound pool, and rehydrate NGentleman can make their with a choice of chilled refresh- day a total indulgence. Soaking up ments and healthy snacks, while centuries of cleansing wellness in leaving the spa with a nice gift from our Moroccan or Turkish Hammam, Anantara Spa. let the expert therapist tease out Ladies and gents can revive and knots and tension in a deeply relax- refresh at Anantara Spa’s dazzling ing massage. ladies or gents day and treat them- Unwind with a 45 minute selves to a refreshing experience at Moroccan or Turkish Hammam, Banana Island Resort Doha by followed by a neck, back and shoul- Anantara. Price per person – der massage. Chill out before and QR450. For more information or to after your treatments with full make a reservation, call Anantara access to Anantara Spa’s calming Spa at Banana Island Resort Doha facilities, including a crystal stone by Anantara on 40405158, email steam room, sauna, Jacuzzi, [email protected]. ICC conducts Annual Karate Tournament he Indian Cultural Centre Karate Instructors NM Ashraf and Al Madha Group. Shakeed K Abbas Musthafa M were also present dur- (ICC) conducted 4th Annual CK Abdul Jaleel, participated in the CEO of Al Madha Group and ing the inaugural function. ` TKarate Tournament at ICC competition which enthralled the Ashoka Hall on April 7. audience. The programme was ICC President, Milan Arun, gave attended by more than 200 people. the welcome address for the day by The tournament Judges were greeting students, instructors, ref- Prajesh Anand, Vigil Poyyara, Man- erees and parents and Head of uprabha, Abdul Latheef, Mahindra, Sports in charge, Jaffar Khan of ICC, KrithiSreshta, Shalima Anwar, Nim- conducted the proceedings. itaShanavas, Rishi Dhansigh. Chief Guest, Rajesh Kamble, The programme was coordi- Coordinating Officer of ICC, from nated by the head of in-house Indian Embassy inaugurated the activities, Anjan Kumar Ganguli; tournament. In his message, he Manikantan, Vice-President of ICC; lauded the efforts of ICC in conduct- Managing Committee Members K ing the Karate Tournament and S Prasad, Dr.Nayna Wagh, Raja especially appreciated the Karate Vijayan, Niyaz Ahmed. Vishal Mehta. students and their parents for their The tournament was supported by wholehearted participation of this kind of programme. He also applauded the efforts of students and parents for finding time out to learn the various mod- ules of Karate. During the function, Chief Guest, Sponsors, ICC MC Members, Karate Instructors and Judges were felici- tated by the Tournament Organizing Committee. Tournament started with Dem- onstration of Kathas and Kumithe formsof Karate by two students and subsequently it continued with competition in various categories.