As a continuation of the success achieved by the Physics Department in conducting graduation projects outside the University, six female students from the Department completed their scientific research and training at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre. They started working at the Research Centre at the beginning of the second semester of the academic year 1436/1437 AH, under the supervision of Dr. Raed Al-Hathlool, Vice-Dean of the College of Science for Development and Quality and Faculty Member in the Physics Department.
This project is the second of its kind at the Department and College level after the success of the Department first project where ten female students from the Department completed their graduation projects in the first semester of this academic year 1436/1437 AH at the National Center for Nanotechnology in King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), under the supervision of Dr. Raed Al-Hathlool from the Physics Department and Dr. Marzouk Al-Shammari from KACST (News Link). At the same time, the third project with eight students from the Department was underway at the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization. These students conducted their graduation projects under the supervision of Dr. Raed Al-Hathlool (News Link).
The preparation for this project began in the first semester of this year, at the initiative of Ms. Mervat Al-Zumia, Deputy Head of the Physics Department when a delegation from the Department headed by Ms. Mervat accompanied by a group of students visited the Research Centre (News Link). This was followed by bilateral meetings between Dr. Raed Al-Hathlool, representing the College and Physics Department, and Dr. Refaat Al-Mazrou and Eng. Saad Al-Jamaan, representing the Research Centre. These efforts were successful thanks to Allah.
In an interview with Dr. Raed Al-Hathlool by the College Website, Dr. Al-Hathlool thanked Dr. Muhammad Babtain, Dean of the College of Science, Dr. Ahmad Al-Qaoud, Head of the Physics Department, and Ms. Mervat Al-Zumia, Deputy Head of the Physics Department, for encouraging and supporting this project. He also thanked Dr. Sultan Al-Sedairy, Research Centre Executive Director, Dr. Belal Moftah, Chairman of the Biomedical Physics Department, Dr. Refaat Al-Mazrou, Deputy Chairman of the Biomedical Physics Department, and Eng. Saad Al-Jamaan, Office Manager and Researcher at the Biomedical Physics Department, for their support and help to overcome the obstacles for the success of this project which benefit students of the Department. Dr. Raed also thanked Dr. Shada wadi Al-Ramahi and Dr. Muhana Areeb, Supervisors from the Research Centre, for accepting to supervise the students.
It is worth mentioning that this project lasted throughout the second semester of this academic year 1436/1437 AH. The participants were six students, who were nominated on the basis of their GPA and seriousness in research, according to Ms. Mervat Al-Zumia, Deputy Head of the Physics Department. The total training hours spent by the students at the Research Centre were about 50 hours of training, as well as additional educational hours outside the Centre.
The students from the Physics Department who participated in this project, and who formed the second batch of graduation projects that took place outside the University, were: Afnan Al-Salman, Hessah Al-Zahrani, Shorouq Al-Nefaie, Shaikah Al-Hajiri, Awatef Al-Anzi, and Maryam Al-Qudhaibi.
Dr. Al-Hathlool noted that the research topics conducted at the Research Centre were:
1. Comparison between brachytherapy radiation treatment and external beam radiation treatment.
2. Calibration of ionization chambers in 60Co gamma unit: Quality assurance and comparative study.
2. Calibration of radiation protection contamination meters: Establishment of optimum procedure.
It is worth mentioning that the student researchers received training in security and safety of medical research laboratories before working on the projects in order to ensure their safety and the safety of researchers, research laboratories, and patients alike.
On the other hand, the application (Google – Classroom) was used to monitor the progress of the researchers in their projects on the academic level, as well as to coordinate between the Physics Department and Research Centre. The training programs included training in how to analyze results and charts and solve mathematical equations using Excel and Origin, as well as training in how to write scientific research and research reports. In addition, Endnote program was used to write, manage, and index the references.
On the other hand, for the Physics Department the aim of this project is to have an important positive impact on the academic and practical experiences of the students in addition to other clear benefits. Some of which are:
· Increasing students' knowledge of physics and applying it in the real world.
· Caring about time and project management professionally.
· Gaining experience in dealing with members of the research team and teamwork.
· Working collectively in a team consisting of two students for each project, who collaborate to complete a specific work. This is the most distinctive feature of the graduation projects.
· Learning new technical skills, such as research writing skills and presentation skills.
· Gaining experience by dealing with advanced research devices at the Research Centre unlike theoretical projects which usually characterize graduation projects within the University, due to the inadequate research capacity.
· Learning to read scientific papers and developing the skill to use data analysis programs.
Members of the Physics Department showed their admiration for this rich and beneficial experience for everyone. It has given the students the experience which will open great prospects after graduation and give the opportunity for other students to join similar projects in subsequent semesters. The Department also thanked all those in charge of the program and those who contributed to the success of this initiative, especially Dr. Ahmad Al-Qaoud, Head of the Physics Department, Ms. Mervat Al-Zumia, Deputy Head of the Department, and Dr. Raed Al-Hathlool, Supervisor of the project, for their encouragement, support, and efforts to overcome the obstacles for the success of this unique experience. Thanks also go to the supervisors at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, especially Dr. Shada wadi Al-Ramahi and Dr. Muhana Areeb. The Physics Department also thanked Dr. Refaat Al-Mazrou and Eng. Saad Al-Jamaan for their outstanding contribution in the success of this project. Finally, the Department thanked the Training Department at the Research Centre, represented by Mrs. Lama Mansour Sultan.
Finally, the Department thanked Physics student researchers for their tangible efforts to represent the Department and the seriousness and discipline they showed since the first day of the project. The Department also wished them a bright future.
Dr. Raed Al-Hathlool thanked the Physics students for their obvious excellence. He also pointed out that the students were given credit by the supervisors at the Research Centre and its members who attended the final presentation and discussion of the students.
On the other hand, the student researchers were honored in the Final Ceremony held by the Physics Department for its students, under the auspices of Ms. Mervat Al-Zumia, Deputy Head of the Physics Department.
The students showed their happiness to have been part of this project and to have gained such a rich and distinguished scientific and practical experience. The student Awatef Al-Anzi explained how the Centre cooperated perfectly with them and welcomed all their questions. She also mentioned that this project has increased her self-confidence, taught her different ways to search for information, and taught her to continue to ask about all information precisely.
While the researcher Maryam Al-Qudhaibi stated that this project has given her the opportunity to engage in a new enjoyable scientific environment, completely different from the University environment and society. She had the opportunity to acquire expertise and many skills on the scientific and personal level. It has contributed to make her as a scientist more positive, especially that the experience allowed the researchers to apply what they have learned from the University in real life. This has all contributed to reinforce their admiration for the Physics specialization. Maryam added that her research experience at the Centre has benefited her with respect to information summary skills, scientific research methodology, fast methods to search for information, and using references effectively.
In another statement the researcher Hessah Al-Zahrani said that the scientific benefit that she has gained in Medical Physics was great. She also praised the way of acquiring knowledge and information through experiment compared with learning from abstract theory, as the information is better assimilated and acquired. She also added that her experience at the Centre is new and unique. It has allowed her to identify the physicist job and efforts in radiation therapy. She also said that developing her English vocabulary was one of the benefits of this project.
The Physics researcher Afnan Al-Salman gave credit to the experience of dealing with the work environment before graduation and considered it an important first step towards the labor market. As she acquired a lot of experiences, most important of which is that achievement depends on giving and seriousness. She also mentioned that one of the fruits of this project is applying theoretical information practically in order to memorize and assimilate the information. As well as learning supportive skills, such as organizing and managing time for research. Finally, she added that she benefited greatly in scientific research methodology and linking information serially, and in an academic manner. She also acquired super skills in employing computer programs in scientific research.
The researchers' statements were concluded by the physicist Shorouq Al-Nefaie. She was pleased to learn new skills and information and apply physics in the real world. She also gained experiences and changed the studying routine within the University. This project taught her self-reliance in writing scientific research, which had a positive impact on increasing her confidence that she has the ability to do more, and attain excellence and be creative. She concluded her statement saying that this project is the cornerstone in building teamwork skills.
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Below is a brief overview of the three research projects:
1. Comparison between Brachytherapy Radiation Treatment and External Beam Radiation Treatment
By: Hessah Al-Zahrani and Shaikhah Al-Hajiri.
Supervised by: Dr. Shada Wadi Al-Ramahi
Objectives: The students learn about two major radiation therapy techniques, external beam and brachytherapy. The project will compare and contrast both techniques; Machines used, tumor treated, patient positioning, parameters of treatment planning, quality assurance type and tests. The project will have some clinical interaction and show-and-tell.
2. Calibration of Ionization Chambers in 60Co Gamma Unit: Quality Assurance and Comparative Study
By: Awatef Al-Anzi and Shurouq Al-Nufaie.
Supervised by: Dr. Muhana Areeb
Objectives: To learn how to perform the quality control of therapy level 60Co gamma unit and calibration results and how to calibrate radiotherapy ionization chambers.
Method: The students will assist the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory staff in performing the quality control of the therapy level 60Co gamma unit, determining the optimum parameters for measuring the absorbed dose to water and calibrating several ionization chambers in terms of absorbed dose to water. They will compare the measurement performed in water and solid phantoms (RW3 and PMMA).
3. Calibration of Radiation Protection Contamination Meters: Establishment of Optimum Procedure
By: Afnan Al-Salman and Maryam Al-Qudhaibi.
Supervised by: Dr. Muhana Areeb
Objectives: To learn how to calibrate and use contamination meters for radiation protection measurements.
Method: The students will first get familiar with the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory activities regarding the calibration of radiation protection instruments. Then they will focus on the instruments used for measuring the contamination of a surface using contamination meters. The students will have to learn how to calculate the updated activity of the sources and will study the optimum parameters for operating this king of instruments (attenuation of betas in different media, variation of response with distance, energy dependence...). The outcome will be the establishment of a procedure for calibrating survey meters using different reference beta sources. This procedure will be used by the staff of the SSDL in the future.
