AL JABAL AL AKHDHAR: The Geological Society of Oman (GSO) recently organised the 8th Geo Challengers competition in the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdhar from October 12 to 14 to groom earth sciences and petroleum engineering in Oman. This year's competition featured 48 participants, meticulously grouped into eight teams, each comprising six students. These promising talents hailed from Sultan Qaboos University, the German University, and the College of Technology in Nizwa.
This year's competition included mapping and modelling geological formations and structures using different tools. The breathtaking terrain of Al Jabal Al Akhdhar provided the perfect canvas for their explorations.
Zaid al Kindi, a geologist at OQ, said, "One of the primary goals of the Omani Geological Society is to disseminate geological knowledge among diverse segments of society. This competition, in particular, is dedicated to students of petroleum engineering and earth sciences. The main objective of the competition is to provide students with the opportunity to develop their scientific and practical skills in geological settings, especially the oil and gas sector."
Al Kindi said Al Jabal Al Akhdhar was chosen as it has rock layers, which are the best for study. “We selected these rock layers because they are the same layers found in oil and gas fields. Students here have the opportunity to study the rocks, observe the types of fossils present in these rocks, and understand the sedimentary characteristics of these layers. When we come here, we see prominent fossils that can be touched by hand, offering students the chance to study these layers and compare them with the information available about the same layers deep within the earth's crust."
The initiative included many activities including an insightful overview of the unique geological features of Al Jabal Al Akhdhar, field trips and project presentations. The local school, Rubue Al Jabal Al Akhdhar, hosted the participants, providing classrooms and facilitating collaborative work and presentations.
The final presentations will take place at the Oil and Gas Institute of Sultan Qaboos University. Each team will present their projects in the presence of industry managers and experts from various oil and gas companies. The participants will be assessed, and three winners will be selected from the eight teams.
Fatima al Tubi, a participant from German University of Technology in Oman, said, "I saw this as an opportunity to immerse myself in fieldwork. This has been a great opportunity for me to develop soft skills such as teamwork, effective communication, problem-solving and presentation skills. Each team comprises geologists, geophysicists, and oil and gas engineers from various universities. The collaborative nature of this competition allowed us to learn from each other. Al Jabal Al Akhdhar is not only suitable for the competition, but also an ideal environment for studying geology. Oman in general is rich in geological features, which makes it a paradise for geologists, offering numerous advantages. I thank the Geological Society for providing us with this opportunity, and I wholeheartedly recommend that everyone seize the chance to participate in such an enriching experience."
Geo Challengers not only provided a valuable learning experience for these young talents, but also showcased the commitment of GSO to the wider dissemination of geological knowledge, fostering the future leaders in earth sciences and petroleum engineering.
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