Professor Hassan Ugail, PhD is a mathematician and a computer scientist at the School of Informatics; the University of Bradford. He is the first Maldivian to obtain a PhD in Mathematics. He is also the first Maldivian to receive professorship in the field of Science.

The Maldives Science Society has made plans to hold a science presentation on 30 May 2010. The presentation will be held at the MCSE Seminar Room at 8:30 pm.

The presentation, which is in fact a lecture, is centered around the recent scientific advances in the development of realistic computer based simulations that mimic natural phenomena.

The lecture is delivered by the mathematician and computer scientist Professor Hassan Ugail from the School of Informatics, University of Bradford.

Professor Ugail’s principal interests are in the areas of geometric design, computer-based physical analysis and design optimisation that falls under Simulation Based Design. He is a member of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [EPSRC] peer review college and also a peer reviewer for the several related journals and conferences in his field of research. This is what Professor Ugail has to say on the forthcoming lecture:

‘This lecture will focus on the recent scientific advances in developing realistic computer-based simulations to mimic various phenomena that occur in the real world. A major issue associated in creating truly believable computer-based simulations is related to a phenomenon called the “Uncanny Valley” which relates to how humans observe and react to such simulations. Climbing out of the Uncanny Valley _ and towards perfect realism in a virtual world _ is the biggest challenge to overcome in such computer simulations [e.g. Computer graphics and animation]. In fact this is now considered to be one of the holy grails in computer science. The lecture will present how Visual Computing techniques will help to climb out of the Uncanny Valley, and will discuss some of the major ground-breaking scientific discoveries that would follow.’

Manta ray is the new official common name for the species of manta we see in the Maldives. The bigger ones that occasionally pass through the Maldives are the Giant Mantas.

This presentation also features an explanation on how mantas evolved from sharks and how their anatomies compare.

Anne-Marie Kitchen-Wheeler has individually identified over 1800 mantas and estimate there may be as many as 25000 mantas throughout the Maldives. Her research on migration activity by mantas within the Maldives was presented to the American Elasmobranch Society Devil Ray Symposium in July 2008 which was the largest meeting of manta specialists ever held.

Manta ray is the new official common name for the species of manta we see in the Maldives. The bigger ones that occasionally pass through the Maldives are the Giant Mantas.

This presentation also features an explanation on how mantas evolved from sharks and how their anatomies compare.

Location: Hiriyaa School, Maafannu
Date: 14 March 2010
Time: 2000 hrs – 2130 hrs

Credit & Copyright: Stefan Seip

A presentation given on what the scientists were researching on during the eclipse by Ed Oberg and Prof. Hector Munera .

Edward Oberg, mechanical engineer / project manager (retired), Sydney, Australia
He is here to observe the progress of the pendulum experiments during the solar eclipse and to correlate the results with the Iasoberg Model (www.iasoberg.com), a proposed pattern which he has developed for the pattern of the Allais effect across the Earth’s surface, that makes predictions for severe weather events and earthquakes. He is also coordinating data collection during the eclipse from a number of gravimeter stations around the Indian Ocean, for integration into his model.

Hector Munera, professor of physics (Newtonian mechanics), National University, Bogota, Colombia (retired)
Currently, Prof. Munera is devoted full-time to his main passion: research into the foundations of classical physics. He is in Maldives to witness the operation of the various pendulums that will be gathering data during the solar eclipse. He will use that data to determine if there are aspects of the dynamical behaviour of the pendulums during the eclipse that cannot be explained by current gravitational theory, and, if the answer is positive, to try develop an appropriate theoretical model.

Come and listen to Bill McKibben on how Maldives is more powerful than India, China & the US.

SAVE THE MALDIVES
SAVE THE WORLD

Date:    Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Time:    8:30pm – 10:30pm
Location:    Dhoshimeyna Hall, Dharubaaruge
Street:    Ameenee Magu

We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Dr. Norman Quinn is a Marine Ecologist with a wide range of experience in the management of conservation projects, scientific research studies, and university level teaching. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Queensland in 1984. Presently, Dr Quinn is a J.W. Fulbright Fellow assisting in the capacity building at the Maldives Marine Research Center. Previously, he was employed by the University of the West Indies as the Director of the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory.

The presentation, whose theme is ‘the coral reefs of the Maldives’, is given by Verena Wiesbauer who holds Master of Science degrees in both Marine Biology and Zoology. A graduate of the famed University of Vienna, she is also a specialist on coral propagation and artificial reefs.

Verena was the Resident Marine Biologist at Huvafen Fushi island resort and was a key contributor to the realization of an artificial reef around the world’s first underwater spa at this resort. She also set up a coral nursery there.

Verena works closely with the tourists in the Maldives and her work includes guided snorkel tours, lectures, presentations etc.

Verena Wiesbauer – Marine Biologist/Zoologist

An event to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009)
Hosted by the Maldives Science Society

Date: Wednesday, 11th February 2009
Time: 8:30 PM
Venue: MCSE Seminar Room

Launched in April of 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope has been providing scientists and the public with spectacular images of deep space. One of the most technologically advanced pieces of equipment that humans have put into orbit, Hubble has helped researchers make important discoveries about our universe, ranging from planets and stars to galaxies and cosmology. Thanks to incredible efforts of scientists and engineers, the telescope has also given astronomers insight into the history and fate of our universe.

Hubble Facts
• The Hubble Space Telescope was named after Edwin Hubble (1889-1953) who discovered the expansion of the universe and formulated what is now known as Hubble’s Law.

• Hubble is 13.2 meters (43.5 ft.) long and its maximum diameter is 4.2 meters (14 ft.) It is about the size of a large tractor-trailer truck.

• Provided that Hubble passes closely enough overhead, it is relatively dark, and the skies are clear enough, Hubble can be seen with the naked eye.

• Hubble completes one orbit around the Earth (crossing over the same longitude line) every 96 minutes. Its speed is approximately 8 km per second (5 miles per second).

• On August 11, 2008 the Hubble Space Telescope completed its 100,000th orbit.

Dr. Kavan Ratnatunga
Dr Kavan Ratnatunga’s 25 year career included research at Institute of Advanced Study in Princeton (1984/86), Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria Canada (1986/88), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt (1989/91), Space Telescope Science Institute and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (1992/96), and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh (1996/2004). Highlights of over 50 publications in refereed Journals included the First in-situ sample of Field Halo K-giants in Galactic Halo (1983), and the First Quad Gravitational Lens discovered with NASA Hubble Space Telescope (1995).

On behalf of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), he is the chairman of the International Year of Astronomy IYA2009 committee for Sri Lanka.