Newton Khalidi fund project
The Centre commenced work on a ground-breaking collaborative project with academic partners in Jordan.
Background - The Launch of the Project
The Newton funded project with Jordan was launched in 2019 following a successful UCL Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science (CDT DIS) programme. The project, modelled on the CDT DIS, enabled collaboration and networking with interested groups in the Middle East. The Newton project, which the STFC awarded £300k, enhances research links between Jordan and the UK by helping train the next generation of Jordanian students in Data Intensive Science using the CDT’s established training expertise.
The Launch Event
A launch event for the UCL-Jordan Data Intensive Science (DIS) collaborative programme was held on 18 Feb 2020. Professor Ofer Lahav, Vice-Dean (International) for MAPS, hosted the event over Zoom. Presenters included Pro-Vice-Provost (International) Deenan Pillay and Pro-Vice-Provost (Africa and Middle East) Ijeoma Uchegbu.
Our students could join the Machine Learning course remotely. The course was designed in a very useful way, which made our students manage understanding easily. Also the planned workshops and Remote Tutorials are expected to enhance the students' understanding.
The launch event brought together Jordanian partners from the Royal Scientific Society and the University of Jordan, AstroJo, UCL senior leadership, representatives from the Science and Technology Facilities Council and the British Embassy in Amman, CDT students and other interested parties. Below are some comments from Dr Ala’a Azzam and Prof Ofer Lahav.
For me, this project with Jordan is a ‘real life’ experience of how to continue external engagement in the Covid-19 situation.
UCL CDT Jordan DIS Capacity Building Programme
Prof Ofer Lahav (co-director of the UCL CDT DIS) and Prof Jonathan Tennyson (UCL CDT DIS), director of training, lead the project along with Dr Ala’a Azzam, assistant professor in the Physics department at the UCL of Jordan and the director of AstroJo institute and Dr Elizabeth De-Ben Rockson (UCL CDT DIS), project manager. We also work closely with Dr Nabeel Al-Fayoumi, Chief of Knowledge for Development at the Jordanian Royal Scientific Society, also work closlely with us to ensure that the project aligns with Jordan’s development goals.
The cohorts of the Jordanian students consist of 29 postgraduate students, with more than 60 per cent females - our firm commitment to EDI. Activities on this project have included workshops with Jordanian MSc students led by UCL CDT academics and a further collaborative distance learning module on Exoplanets led by Prof. Giovanna Tinetti.
In July 2022, twenty-seven of Jordanian students attended and participated in a Summer School Programme at UCL. Seven students stayed for a full month at UCL for Astrophysics and HEP group projects. Whilst we have been actively engaging with the students online since the pandemic’s start, we can now hold an in-person collaboration. During the workshop in London, we were also invited by the Jordanian Ambassador to a reception at the embassy. We look forward to continuous face-to-face interaction over the coming months. Those interested in hearing more about the UCL-Jordan DIS collaboration are encouraged to contact Prof. Ofer Lahav, Dr Ala’a Azzam or Dr Elizabeth De-Ben Rockson.