Ajman: A group of 4th year MBBS student of the College of Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman stood first in the “Education & Instructional Technologies” category of the 7th Undergraduate Research Competition (URC), held recently at Abu Dhabi University under the Patronage of His Excellency Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education.

The submissions from local and regional academic institutions were judged by a panel of judges comprised of leading scientists, researchers, academicians and medical professionals in the country. Participants included students of 44 prestigious universities from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman

Ms. Kushboo Badi Uz Zaman, who presented the project before the jury, received the first prize of AED.5000. The Research project titled "Factors Distracting Learning Among Health Science Students" was also supported by Ms. Khadeeja Hala Ibrahim, Ms. Hasna Mohamed Ali, Ms. Shamreena Kolayakkarakath and Ms. Fathimathul Nazha; all 4th year MBBS students. The students worked under the supervision of Prof. Shatha Al Sharbatti, HOD of the Community Medicine Dept.

Speaking about the accomplishment, Ms. Kushboo said, “To be one among the 261 projects accepted from 44 universities itself was a great honour; and to go on to win, it still feels surreal to me. I would like to thank my university for giving me this wonderful opportunity to present my work in front of a great platform. I believe we couldn't have done this without help from Prof. Shatha Al Sharbatti, our mentor.”

Prof. Hossam Hamdy, the Chancellor of GMU said that the University was always committed to creating professionals of the future, with a strong foundation of research and innovation.

“GMU is proud of our accomplishment at the Undergraduate Research Competition. At GMU, our students, researchers and faculty are engaged in shaping the future of healthcare. The high quality of education, state-of-the-art training and research facilities, and exposure that the students receive towards research quite early on, are some of the reasons we have a student community motivated by the relentless pursuit of excellence in academics,” he said, adding, “Research is an important strategic direction of the Gulf Medical University Academic Health System. GMU students benefit immensely from the university’s global partnerships with over 60 international universities as well as some of the top research institutions in the world” he said.

Prof. Shatha Al Sharbatti, HOD - Community Medicine, College of Medicine, said: “I am proud of all MBBS students Research Projects. Their hard work, dedication and enthusiasm are reflected in the high-quality projects they submit every year to the Community Medicine Department. I congratulate the research group and specifically the student Ms. Kushboo who had presented the project. Further, I invite all MBBS Students to participate in all possible conferences and other scientific forum to share their research findings with others, gaining greater visibility for their research projects.”

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New Delhi (PTI): CPI(M) MP John Brittas on Tuesday cited Parliament's 2003 unanimous resolution under then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee condemning the Iraq war, to urge the government to move a similar motion on the Iran conflict.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during zero hour, Brittas called for a "united and unanimous voice" of Parliament against what he described as unilateral and illegal wars by the US and Israel on Iran, saying India should not remain silent.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address in the Lok Sabha on Monday, he said key economic concerns and diaspora issues were raised but there was no reference to the broader conflict, which he said warranted a clear position from India.

"What was missing was the silence on this unilateral, immoral, illegal war that has been unleashed by the United States and Israel," he said.

The Prime Minister, he said, called for a unanimous and united voice from the Parliament.

Addressing chairman C P Radhakrishnan who was a member of the Lok Sabha in 2003, he said at that time, both the Houses of Parliament when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister, passed joint, unanimous resolution condemning the war against Iraq by the United States.

"I wish that Indian Parliament, as the Prime Minister said, should express unanimously a united voice," he said. "Let the government bring a resolution which should be passed by both the Houses."

Brittas said India has termed the attacks on Gulf countries by Iran as egregious.

"But what about the genesis of this crisis?" he asked. "I wish that the government does not go by the advice of (Congress leader) Shashi Tharoor who said that silence is statecraft. I wish that they should be guided by the advice from (Congress president) Mallikarjun Kharge not from Shahi Tharoor."

Kharge has repeatedly demanded an immediate short-duration discussion on the Iran war and its fallout on India.

"I wish that India, being a leader of the non-alignment nations, should feel that silence is not a solution. We have to make sure that our voice is heard. And it is not only for the selfish interest of the nation but for the interest of the larger humanity. So I call on the government to come with a resolution," Brittas said.

He also flagged concerns over Indians affected by the situation, including around 700 seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, and urged the government to put in place a mechanism to facilitate communication with their families.

Brittas sought a rehabilitation package for Gulf returnees, highlighting the scale of remittances to India and their importance to Kerala's economy.

Kerala gets almost Rs 2.2 lakh crore - one third of the state's gross domestic product - in remittances, he said.

Prime Minister Modi in his address in Lok Sabha on Monday talked about economic fall out of the war in Iran, disruptions in supply chain, impact on daily lives of people, serious situation on the LPG front and the condition of the Indian diaspora but was silent on military strikes launched by the US and Israel on Iran on February 28, which triggered a wider conflict in the region.