The Physics Department (Female Section) in the College of Science at Al Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University organized a scientific field visit to King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) as a part of visiting programs for the second semester of the academic year 1436/1437 AH. The visit was on Wednesday, 06/21/1437 AH, corresponding to 03/30/2016 AD, from 09:00 to 11:30 a.m. The delegation consisted of a group of Physics students from different levels, headed by Ms. Mervat Al-Zumia, Deputy Head of the Department, and accompanied by Ms. Nawal Madkhali, Faculty Member in the Department.
The program of the visit began with a welcome speech delivered by Mr. Hussein Al-Shihri in the presence of Mr. Faisal Sabaan, in charge of the Directorate of Media and Public Relation in KACST, in which he welcomed all those who attended and gave an idea about the aim and the detailed program of the visit. In addition, the delegation was accompanied by both Mr. Khalid Al-Ghamdi and Mr. Ahmad Al-Zahrani from the Administration of Security and Safety in KACST.
The visit started at the National Center of Applied Physics, where the delegation met Dr. Abdulrahman Maghrabi, Assistant Supervisor of the Center for Scientific Affairs. The program began with providing explanations by the research team in the Applied Physics Group, Condensed Matter Physics Group, and Atomic Physics Group. The presentation was headed by Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Harbi, scientific researcher. In addition, they presented the most important applications of these groups in the areas of detectors of toxic gases and Hydrogen sensors in factories, in addition to using them to detect gas of Acetone in medical applications. Furthermore, the most important research activities of the magnetic thin films group in the spin field-effect transistors applications. Afterwards, a scientific and practical tour of these applications, which characterized the research groups in the laboratories, was held. Dr. Muhammad Al-Maliki presented the Storage Ring Unit, which includes a giant unit that represents the most important electrostatic applications. It will serve multiple applications in different areas regarding the production of high-speed electrically charged particles and storage within the Storage Ring, which can be controlled by a huge electrostatic field.
The Physical Detectors Group in the field of studying cosmic radiation in the layers of atmosphere presented the most important devices used in the measurement of cosmic radiation, such as Neon monitor and copper strip sensors. In addition, how these devices work and some of the fields that use them to conduct valuable research projects by some researchers and graduate students were presented.
Afterwards, the delegation moved to the National Center for Robotics Technologies and Intelligent Systems. They started by reviewing the smart computing laboratory, where Ms. Nada Al-Olaiwi presented the most important innovations of Arduino device and reviewed its various applications which can be changed according to the requirements of the device, such as using it as a temperature sensor or an electric circuit operates with a multi-use generator system. Furthermore, Ms. Muneera Al-Qahtani and Ms. Lulu Al-Sam presented a robot which operates by reading the map and removing the barriers, in addition to drawing a map of the central area surrounding it.
In the section of Intelligent Robots, the delegation was received by Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Khurshid, where the two researchers Malik Al-Sharif and Thamer Al-Hazza presented their most important inventions in the field of intelligent robots. A detailed explanation was given about how the robot works to detect explosive materials and its mechanism in detecting the material and transferring it into a safe place. The students also learned about another type of robots, which destroys explosive materials by using water extrusion technology towards the target in high speed and energy that enable it to destroy the explosives materials without causing any damage to the surrounding environment. Moreover, they also learned about fire detector robot, which obtained two patents and global medals in South Korea and America, and the patents granted to researchers at KACST who developed the insulation material inside the fire detector robot, to reach the tolerance degree of 600 Celsius. Researchers presented its operation mechanism in details to the students, as well as the insulation materials used in its manufacturing with a full valuable review of this robot which was adopted by the Ministry of National Defense in South Korea.
Then, the delegation moved to the Nuclear Sciences Research Institute, where Dr. Majed Bukhari welcomed them and gave them an idea about the importance and danger of nuclear studies. Afterwards, Dr. Turki Al-Khuraiji headed the laboratories tour. They began with nanoparticles and radioactive materials laboratories and accelerator neutrino, which contributed to presenting the most important research fields of radioactive materials in the medical and industrial fields and improving the properties of plastic materials. The delegation also visited the Institute's laboratories and learned how devices work and their importance in the measurement of mechanical and thermal changes of materials after exposure to nuclear radiation, which would improve the properties of materials in various fields, whether medical, agricultural, or other fields. Additionally, Dr. Aqla Al-Hurais received the students in the neutrino laboratory, where they took a close look at the Unit and understood the mechanism of the huge device and its importance in different applications.
Finally, the Physics Department delegation visited the National Remote Sensing Technology Center, where Eng. Abdulaziz Al-Hanaya presented the Section of Astronomy to the delegation. The most important scientific applications of space imaging field to monitor the progress of development projects in all regions, such as the expansion of the Two Holy Mosques and the Saudi universities and others in the field of public transport, such as monitoring traffic in the main streets and estimating the intensity of vehicle movement in major cities.
At the end of the visit, Ms. Mervat Al-Zumia thanked Mr. Hussein Al-Shihri and Mr. Faisal Sabaan for the warm reception. In addition, Mr. Al-Shihri handed bags and gifts from KACST to the delegation.
Students expressed their happiness due to this valuable scientific tour, which gave them the opportunity to learn about the various research fields at KACST.
Students of the Department that participated in the visit are: Heyam Al Salem, Maryam Al-Farraj, Ghaida Al-Ruwaished, Alaa Al-Basheer, Reema Al-Ali, Hanadi Qarqour, Rabab Al-Khathaami, Sarah Al-Nashmi, Ghizayel Al-Yami, Shorouq Al-Asmari, Mawaheb Al-Dahhas, Hanadi Al-Dosari, and Rawan Al-Dhufayyan.
Dr. Ahmad Al-Qaoud, Head of the Physics Department, thanked Ms. Mervat Al-Zumia, Deputy Head of the Department, for her blessed efforts and the success of the visit. On the other hand, Ms. Mervat Al-Zumia thanked both Dr. Raed Hussein Al-Hathlool, Vice-Dean of the College for Development and Quality, and Mr. Abdullah Al-Funaisan, Secretary of the Vice-Deanship of the College for Development and Quality, for their help in organizing and coordinating this successful visit.
