Qatar Foundation: how it revolutionized education in ... - Qatar Tribune

Issue No. 22
Thursday, 1 December 2011
Qatar Foundation: how it
revolutionized education in Qatar
The Qatar Foundation for
Education, Science and
Community Development
was founded in 1995 by
decree of His Highness
Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa
Al-Thani, Emir of the State
of Qatar.
Indeed, the creation
of Qatar Foundation was
among the Emir’s early
initiatives, a testament
to the importance of the
Foundation’s mission both
to him and to its chair, Her
Highness Sheikha Mozah
Bint Nasser Al-Missned.
From the beginning
the mission of the Qatar
Foundation has been
to provide educational
opportunities and to
improve quality of life for
the people of Qatar and the
region.
The activities of Qatar
Foundation for Education,
Science and Community
Development are numerous
and wide ranging, driven
by an unwavering focus on
developing human capital
in Qatar and the Middle
East to benefit the region
and the world.
Qatar Foundation, in
turn, is supporting the
country in its transition
from a carbon economy to
a knowledge economy by
unlocking human potential,
building a platform for
innovation, and fostering
a culture of quality and
excellence.
Based at the 6,200-
acre suburban Doha
campus, Qatar Foundation
operates across three
fields: education, research
and development, and
community development.
Sixteen years after
its founding, Qatar
Foundation’s mission has
never changed. They remain
committed to improving
quality of life and providing
excellent educational
opportunities to the people
of Qatar and the region.
Their vision, on the
other hand, has become
progressively more farreaching.
As they reach
out to new partners, both
their capabilities and their
ambitions expand. A visit
to Education City reveals a
burgeoning community of
institutions.
Qatar Foundation’s
three focus areas provide
a continuum of knowledge
development that in
turn leads to world–
class opportunities for
learning, research, product
commercialization and
entrepreneurial prospects.
This continuum begins
with a well-structured
educational system, and is
furthered by well-endowed
research institutes
operating in the fields of
biomedicine, energy and
environment; computing;
an R&D park; and a national
research fund. It also
extends into the important
area of social development
and enrichment.
In education, Qatar
Foundation is working with
eight strategically selected
elite universities from the
U.S., the U.K. and France
to provide Qatari and other
young people with the skills
required by a knowledge
economy. These universities
include: Georgetown
University, Weill Cornell
Medical College, Texas
A&M University, Carnegie
Mellon University, Virginia
Commonwealth University,
Northwestern University,
University College London
and HEC Paris.
Qatar Foundation is also
working to further deepen
the emirate’s innovation
and technology capacity. Its
strategy is to complement
Qatar-based research
efforts with expertise from
abroad that will result in
home-grown solutions for
the region.
In addition, Qatar
Foundation has enabled or
supported dozens of other
advancements in the fields
of medicine—specifically,
abdominal
organ
transplants—renewable
energy, e-commerce and
Arab fashion design, to
name a few. The Foundation
also addresses immediate
social needs.
While Qatar Foundation
is committed to supporting
Qatari traditions and
heritage, it also operates
with the understanding
that Qataris must adapt
to the evolving global
economy, as well as to the
emirate’s own transition
to knowledge-intensive
industries.
The foundation is a
unique entity which has
revolutionized education in
the State of Qatar.
It has altogether
changed the face of the
education sector in the
State of Qatar with firstclass
educational programs
and organizations.
Learning!
Education is without question that
very important and vital part of our
lives without which our lives would
practically have no meaning.
The need for education has not
changed since the dawn of history.
Education is the process of learning
and knowing, which is not restricted
to our school text-books. It is a holistic
process and continues through our
life. Even the regular happenings and
events around us educate us, in one or
the other way.
We all know that Education
empowers. Particularly, education
offers the most disadvantaged & the
most underprivileged the opportunity
to influence the very fabric of society.
It enables them to participate in the
economy & it enables livelihoods. It
gives them the only real opportunity
to participate in individual, societal
& national growth. It encourages
them to demand equity and justice.
In essence, what education does is to
offer everyone the promise of a better
life, which is indeed of the utmost
importance.
Education is perhaps the most
powerful enabler of human life &
equity. It expands our notions of who
we are, of what society should be, and
how to live in harmony with each other
and with nature.
This issue highlights the role of
education in our lives and how it has
altered in all these years.
Well there’s a lot more waiting for
you. Flip through the pages to find out!
Keep writing and suggesting how
you would desire Bloom to shape up
in the coming days. Drop us a word
at bloom@qimqatar.com. Your
feedback is always welcomed. So be it
science, technology, lifestyle or fashion
take your pick right away. We will be
eagerly waiting for your reply.
Follow us on

2 Thursday, 1 December 2011
Health
10 foods to boost your brainpower
Between exams, papers and maintaining an active social life, many college
students feel they can’t really find the time to keep up on their brain health
and wellness.
Infact, many aren’t aware of the right foods that increase mental agility
and improve memory.
So to ensure they have a healthy brain throughout their education keeping
their mind sharp and nourished, here are 10 highly effective brain foods
that will improve memory, mood, concentration, and overall clarity.
How to maintain a healthy
body and mind in college
College is a time known for young adults spreading their wings and developing
their minds. Unfortunately, many often develop unhealthy habits that can last much
longer than the four years of college.
We all know that a healthy mind can make the difference between success and
failure in any venture, whether you’re trying to lose weight, study for exams, trying
out for a sports team or making new friends your efforts can be doomed to failure if
you do not have a good attitude.
So, in order to live a healthy college lifestyle, follow these simple tips:
Get plenty of rest: With studying and social obligations, college students pull allnighters
and still make it to early class. To function properly, your body and mind
need at least eight hours of sleep each night. Go to sleep early enough to get your
full requirement, and encourage your roommate to respect your need for adequate
sleep. It’s essential to take enough rest to develop a healthy mind.
Eat a well-balanced diet: College students are known for living on a diet of junk
food and hard drinks. Drink plenty of water and eat whole grains and vegetables
daily. If you have the benefit of a meal plan in the college cafeteria, make good
use of the salad bar and watch out for huge portions and treats such as soft serve
ice cream. The occasional indulgence won’t affect your weight and health if you
eat healthy most of the time. When you eat nutritious, healthy food you will feel
refreshed both mentally and physically.
Avoid taking hard drinks: College students often spend more hours devoted to
keg parties than to studying. Over indulging in hard drinks is dangerous, unhealthy
and possibly illegal. It can lead to other dangerous activities as well. So avoid the
intake of such drinks and if not, then know your limits and stick to them.
Exercise regularly: Exercise is a critical component of good health, especially as
you age. Physical activity helps build a strong body and mind. College students who
exercise regularly benefit from a healthy physique and a mind that is more at ease
with less stress. Make use of the college gym or pool, which are typically available
to students free of charge.
Manage your stress level: A very effective way to develop a healthier mind is
to learn how to manage stress more effectively. College can bring on a myriad of
stressful situations. Aim for balance in your life between your social and academic
activities. Only take as many classes as you can handle successfully. Some people
find that writing in a blog or a journal each day relieves stress. Others find that
chatting with friends or joining a support group helps them.
Make positive Affirmations: It’s good to start the day by making positive
affirmations so that you make a good start to the day but you can make affirmations
at any time. It’s especially good to make positive affirmations in a moment of
weakness, when you’re tempted to do something wrong, for example if you’re
tempted to respond negatively to a situation, binge on junk food or watch a late
night movie instead of going to bed.
1 Blueberries
Blueberries
serve a wide
range of
functions for
improving
mental function.
Most notably, regular blueberry
consumption has been shown to improve
memory function. Furthermore,
blueberries are rich in antioxidants,
helping to prevent free radical damage.
Moreover, research has found that
blueberries can also reverse age related
declines in motor function, balance, and
coordination.
3Flax seeds -
Flax seeds are
crammed with
ALA- a healthy
fat that aids the
cerebral cortex
in functioning
better. This is the portion of the brain
responsible for processing sensory
information. Keeping it sharp is vital.
9Eggs- Egg
yolks are rich
in choline, an
essential nutrient
to improving
memory function.
Salmon—Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids,
2 salmon helps your brain develop tissue for
increasing your brain power. Furthermore,
salmon also plays a key role in fighting
Alzheimer’s and other age-related cognitive
disorders.
4Coffee
Regular coffee
drinking has
been shown to
reduce the risk
of Alzheimer’s,
Dementia, and
other mental disorders. That’s because caffeine
is good for the brain (in moderation), and it
contains antioxidants. The important thing
to note is you shouldn’t add in all the other
junk to your coffee (like sweeteners and fatty
products).
5Mixed nuts- Peanuts, walnuts,
pecans, and other nuts contain
properties that help with everything
from fighting insomnia to promoting
mental clarity and strong memory.
Walnuts are rich in Omega-3 fatty
acids while almonds contain natural
mood-enhancing neurotransmitters.
6Avocados- Don’t let the avocado’s fat
content fool you. It’s a healthy fat that
promotes blood flow, keeping your mind
functioning at its peak. That’s not all.
Avocados have also been shown to reduce
blood pressure.
8Broccoli- Broccoli
has been shown
to improve memory
function as well as
slow the aging process.
This means a broccolirich
diet will keep you
young and sharp.
7Whole grains-
From oatmeal
to whole grain
bread, whole grains
are excellent brain
foods as they
improve circulation
and contain
essential fibres,
vitamins, and even
some Omega-3.
Just make your
sandwiches from
whole grain breads
to enjoy the
benefits.
Chocolate- This is the
10yummiest brain food of all. Dark
chocolate is antioxidant-rich, and it
also improves focus and concentration.
Milk chocolate, on the other hand,
improves memory and reaction time.
Health Tips Giving kids medicine
It’s often a challenge to convince kids to take
much-needed medicine when they’re sick.
The American Academy of Family Physicians
offers these suggestions to make medicine
more palatable for children:
Refrigerate liquid medicines before giving
them to a child.
If the doctor or pharmacist says it’s ok, mix
the medication with a bit of juice or pudding.
Ask your pharmacist to mix flavouring into
the medication before you take it home.
Explain to the child that the medicine will
help him or her feel better.

Fine Living
Thursday, 1 December 2011
3
ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence
Established in 2004, ASPIRE-
Qatar’s visionary sports academy
is a unique learning environment
comprised of the world’s best
facilities and most comprehensive
sports education programs.
Its vision is to discover the best
young sporting talent from the
region and transform them into
world-renowned champions.
Here in Qatar, ASPIRE has
become a shining example of the
extent to which sport and sports
facilities can make a positive social
and cultural impact on a local,
national and even international
level. As larger numbers of people
travel to Qatar to learn more
about this unique facility, ASPIRE
has transformed into a global
ambassador for Qatar’s sporting
ambitions.
The initial vision for the
ASPIRE Academy was very
simple: to create a unique
facility that would discover and
develop talented athletes from
a young age and provide them
with a total balance of sporting
and educational opportunities.
Central to achieving that vision
was deploying Qatar’s resources
to create an Academy that could
support such an ambitious
goal. Plans were put in place to
create a major indoor sports
dome that could host a full
schedule of competitive
events simultaneously,
a comprehensive sports
education program and
international-calibre
facilities.
ASPIRE began recruiting
experts from across the
spectrum of sports education,
including specialists in sportsspecific
training, physiology,
biomechanics, physiotherapy,
nutrition and sports psychology.
These experts were able to create
fully integrated programs that
were built around the needs of
young athletes and deployed the
kind of technology and training
mechanisms used by athletes at
the highest levels.
Sports development was
matched with a high-quality
education ASPIRE’s state-ofthe-art
main structure features
lecture halls, classrooms,
science laboratories, a library,
an amphitheatre, dormitories
and a medical centre as well as
numerous recreational facilities
for the students.
ASPIRE welcomed its first
students in 2004 and today
provides education and sports
training to 200 students.
Approximately 70% of the
students are Qataris, and the
rest of the student community is
made up from other nationalities
in Qatar and scholarship pupils
from Asia, South America and
Africa.
The opportunity to study and
train within the ASPIRE Academy
does not come easily. Students
are evaluated through a number
of factors, from body shape to
talent, to determine how hard
they work and how quickly they
pick up new skills. The three-stage
specialized program holds testing
at schools and sports clubs across
the nation in partnership with
the Ministry of Education and
Supreme Council of Education
before a final round of testing
is held at the ASPIRE Academy
itself.
ASPIRE also has a clear
mission to encourage the broader
population to be healthy and
active and has achieved it by
opening its doors to the local
community.
The ASPIRE Dome has evolved
into a true community resource
and is one of the most widely
used facilities for fitness classes
and sports practice groups in the
entire Middle East region, with
over 4,000 people regularly taking
part. Its busy events calendar
has earned ASPIRE praise from
sporting luminaries ranging
from Diego Maradona and Pele
to President of the International
Olympic Committee
Jacques Rogge
and President
of FIFA Sepp
Blatter.
The growing
stature of
ASPIRE will
undoubtedly
make it one
of the most
sought-after
sporting
destinations
by students
and athletes
alike, and
will continue
to develop
tomorrow’s
sports
heroes.
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4 Thursday, 1 December 2011
Lifestyle
Closets and Drawers
Organizing Dresser Drawers:
Organizing Your Closets:
Storing your clothes well means they’ll always look their best. And if you organize
your closets and drawers, you’ll find you wear more of your clothes more often.
Divide the closet into zones, and use three short rods rather than a single
long one. Hang dresses, robes, and coats from one high rod; hang blouses and
short items from another high rod, and skirts and folded slacks from a low
rod below.
Group clothes by colour.
Stack cubbies across the closet floor to create space for shoes.
Make sure shelves are adjustable, and line them with smooth vinyl matting,
usually used to protect drafting tables. Cut the matting to fit each shelf, and
fasten it with double-sided tape.
Clean garments before storing them for the season. Sugar stains (such as
wine) can set and spread over time. View our stain chart for information
about treating stains.
Remove dry-cleaning bags, which trap moisture; use fabric bags instead. And
don’t store wool or silk in airtight containers -- they need to breathe.
Line very light garments with acid-free tissue.
Fibres can dry out if the closet temperature is consistently above 75 degrees.
Never let mothballs touch clothing; hang them in old socks or hosiery. If you
suspect moth infestation, dry-clean clothes, and wash closet with mild soap
and water.
Before storing heavy coats, stuff the arms with acid-free tissue.
These strategies will help you organize your dresser drawers:
Accessories Drawer: Line shallow top drawers with velvet (use archival glue to back the velvet with poster board). This will provide plush
support for delicate items such as scarves and jewellery.
Sweater Drawer: Use a deep drawer for sweaters -- never hang knits -- and place cedar blocks inside to fend off moths.
Knitwear, Stockings, and T-shirts: Create removable compartments that fit your clothes (place small boxes inside drawers for items such
as underwear and socks) and make the fewest folds possible in order to reduce creasing. Line the drawer with acid-free tissue paper.
Pants Drawer: Save a drawer for khakis and jeans. Acid-free paper will protect them from splinters and acids in the wood.
A funky dorm
Want to brighten up your boring dorm room without
spending lots of money? Here are some inexpensive and
creative ideas for bringing your lame room to life.
With a little imagination, you can make yourself a cosy
college environment on the cheap and make yourself feel
less homesick.
The key to successfully decorating a dorm room on a dime
not only involves finding inexpensive items, it also includes
having those items serve more than one purpose while
creating a more comfortable room.
Get a quick start to decorating
with these ideas.
Postcard murals
Postcards are cheap,
colourful, and fun. Collect
postcards from places
you’ve been and places
your friends (or roomie)
have been and turn them
into unique posters.
Plants
Living things make
a room feel much
more like home, and
since pets aren’t
allowed, why not get
a plant? Unless you
have a green thumb,
it’s probably a good
idea to stick with
low-maintenance
varieties.
Window decorations
You probably don’t have
much of a view, so why not
brighten up the window?
Affix some simple suction
cup decorations, and if
you’re crafty, make your
own.
Bookends
One thing you’re
definitely going to need
is books! So why not add
some colour to the room
with cool bookends?
Awesome bookends
can be purchased at
bookstores. Buy some
cheap ones and decorate
them yourself.
Lamps
Fluorescent dorm
lights are bad for the
soul and not good
for your eyes either.
Lamp light will make
your room feel much
more like a home.
Sports
memorabilia
If you’re a fan,
decorate your walls
with pennants and
such; just don’t bring
in any expensive
memorabilia.
Maps
Wall maps are
colourful, cheap,
and scholarly in
kind of a hip way.
Globes are a nice
touch as well.
Drawer knobs
If your boring dorm dresser
comes with knobs, replace
them cute decorator knobs.
Purchase them in a craft
or hardware store, or make
your own.
Throw pillows
There’s no better way
to add a quick splash
of colour and comfort
to your drab room. You
can spend a fortune
on designer throw
pillows, but don’t. Cheap
ones are available just
about anywhere. A big
comfortable reading
pillow will come in handy
as well.
Junk-Food Makeovers
Well there’s actually no
need to swear off fries,
burgers, and ice cream
treats. Yes, give up
swearing off. Reasons-
First, you’ll eventually
crave for it anyway.
Second, when your taste
buds are demanding a
little, well, junk food,
just healthy-up those
cravings instead so you
can indulge occasionally without busting your good
eating intentions or tipping your scales.
Here’s how-
Perfect Pizza: With more and more pizza places
offering healthier options, all you really have to do
is order smart. Ask for a thin, whole-wheat crust —
the thinner, the fewer the fat grams and calories, plus
whole wheat ups the fibre and protein. Then ask for
half the cheese (cuts saturated fat) and extra chicken
and heart-friendly veggies, like artichokes, onions,
and red and green peppers. Just before eating, blot
any pools of extra grease with napkins to knock off
another 3-5 grams of fat. Then dig in!
Fine Fries: A medium fries from a junk food outlet has
460 calories and 22 grams of fat. So just forget about
them and make a batch of Oven Fries for Two, and
snarf up your share. At 103 calories and 1 gram of fat,
you can. In fact, eat them all if you’re in the mood.
You just can’t do real damage with these. And they’re
good.
Go-for-it Banana Split: Fancy vanilla ice cream can
have a yikes-inducing 17 grams of fat in just one halfcup.
So start with a version that has half the fat, like
many of the slow-churned ice creams. Top with sliced
bananas, fat-free chocolate, and walnuts or slivered
almonds. They are yum. And off course, the nutrients
in the banana and the good fats in the nuts take the
guilty edge off!
Fizzy Drinks: If you loathe sugar substitutes (and
thus diet sodas) but hate the calories of regular soda
even more — not to mention the high fructose corn
syrup (HFCS) that’s often in them and may fuel
obesity — make your own vitamin C-filled fizzy fruit
concoctions. Start with one or two favourite juices
(try combos of cranberry and o r a n g e ,
or pomegranate a n d
pineapple). Halve
their calories by
fizzing them up
with an equal
amount of club
soda. Add a
wedge of lime
or lemon if one’s
handy. Put your
feet up.

Science
Thursday, 1 December 2011
5
The
schools
of early education
The BB school is perhaps
the most extraordinary,
exceptional and exclusive
school for early education in
the world
Vinodh K. Pisharom
The BB school is perhaps the most extraordinary, exceptional and
exclusive school for early education in the world. The core curriculum
is barely consistent, and the settings would hardly evoke interest
in an outsider, yet admission is restricted to one, two, or a few
more in special cases. The consent of the parents, affirmed through
the union of their respective gametes, is a strict precondition, but it
takes a stroke of luck as well to gain admission.
All its students are literally senseless and primitive on admission,
but the system instinctively develops them into sensible beings in a
matter of weeks. The architect being the same, all classrooms have
the same design, which hasn’t changed for ages. Nevertheless, the
environment is safe and secure, and it provides a serene atmosphere
for physical and mental development. The purists may not agree to
the system of education wherein the pupils are tied with a cord and
confined to the classrooms for the entire term; but who would question
the wisdom of the supreme administrator.
All BB schools are functionally the same and there is no discrimination
in the basic amenities provided. However, the external environment,
and supplemental inputs and care do vary from one to
another, influencing the development of the child. In spite of a minimum
guarantee these Schools provide, the weak may drop out before
term, some barely make it, and those who pass out may or may
not conform to the set quality standards. If the BB school does not
induce interest in you for early education, please note that it is the
alma mater of each one of us, i.e. the Before Birth or prenatal school
of our mother’s womb.
After the chance union of the parents’ gametes, the dramatic
transformation of the zygote into a foetus, with recognizable features
and sense organs, remained a mystery until the advent of the
four-dimensional ultrasound technology. Thanks to technology, we
now can observe the foetal development in real time and see that
there is far more to the baby’s time in the womb than simply growing
physically. The development of the baby’s senses and their response
to various stimuli, have been studied to precision. We now
understand that mother’s womb is actually a BB or prenatal school,
where the stimuli of sound, touch, vision, taste and even smell, help
the baby’s brain to grow and he begins learning about his parents
and the outside world that will soon be his new home.
Mothers, being sole owners of the prenatal schools, have the
principal control over the syllabi, the learning environment and the
nourishment provided for physical development of the pupil. Nevertheless,
some mothers fail to assume the principal role in total,
while others remain blissfully ignorant about the scope of their control
in begetting a brighter baby.
What can mothers do during pregnancy to give the baby the best
possible start in life? Naturally, the physical environment of the
womb, and the whole of the mother’s body is critical to a baby’s
growth and development. So, the very first thing to pay attention to
is Mom’s health. Mom, this is the time to look after your health as
never before, with some of the suggestions as follows:
Get plenty of rest: As a new life is sprouting
inside the need for sleep may increase exponentially
during early pregnancy. Get as much
rest as you can, and make the most of the chance
to sleep well during the first two trimesters, as it
may become physically uncomfortable to sleep
during the third trimester.
Eat healthy: For a healthy pregnancy, eat a
balanced diet, with plenty of fresh vegetables and
fruits. Avoid fast food, processed food, and foods
high in sugar and saturated fats. Junk food may
result in piling on pounds, making delivery and
recovery more challenging.
Take supplements: Folic acid, calcium,
Iron, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) etc. may be
taken as per the recommendations of the obstetrician.
Remain happy: Happy, healthy mothers
produce happy, healthy babies! High levels of
cortisol (stress hormone) in pregnancy are associated
with babies who cry more and sleep less
after birth. Chronic stress in pregnancy has also
been linked with low birth weight in babies. Do
something that is soothing, be it yoga, meditation,
listening to music, watching the favourite
TV shows etc. This is the time for the whole family
to pull together and help Mom and the baby to be
as healthy and happy as possible. Encourage the
Mom to eat well, get plenty of rest and remind her
to take her pregnancy supplements.
Having taken care of Mom’s physical and emotional
well-being, which have a direct impact on the health of
the baby; it’s time to find out how we can stimulate the
baby’s awakening senses.
Taste and smell stimulation: The
foetus can taste the amniotic fluid which surrounds
her. Mothers can stimulate the little one
with as many tastes and smell sensations as possible.
Experts believe that babies who experience
a variety of taste-smells in the womb are likely to
be more accepting of a variety of foods after birth.
Touch stimulation: You may engage in
touch stimulation when you feel the baby pushing
against the belly with her hand or foot. It’s fun
to feel the reactions of the baby when you gently
massage her over the belly.
Light stimulation: Experts are divided
over the idea of shining a torch over the pregnant
belly. Some believe it’s a harmless fun, while others
caution that bright lights can damage the baby’s
eyes. To be on the safe side, use a flashlight
only during the last month of pregnancy, and
when the baby is awake and active.
Sound stimulation: This is the number
one source of foetal stimulation, though the
baby does not hear particularly well through the
ears, which are filled with amniotic fluid. As lowpitched
frequencies travel best through liquids,
listening to classical music is good if mom enjoys
it. However, mom’s voice stands out as the most
soothing, both before and after birth. Dads too
can be happy because low frequencies travel well
through water, their deeper voice should be audible
and recognizable to the baby, as long as they
are close enough to Mom’s pregnant belly.
Read and sing: Talk, read and sing to your
baby every day, and let him get to know you long
before he is born. Studies have shown that newborns
are soothed by hearing the same stories and
songs they used to listen in the womb. This will
help him feel more secure during his first days in
the strange new world after birth.
Mothers should enjoy this special term as the owner,
principal Academic Coordinator, Chief Nutritionist
and Welfare Officer of BB schools. In the prospectus,
you may not find well-defined roles for dads and family
members as external teaching or non-teaching staff of
these exclusive schools. But, it is up to them to abide
by the code of conduct of their conscience, and assist
the moms in bringing forth physically and intellectually
developed babies into this beautiful world. In reward,
when the baby leaves the sanctuary of the BB school,
you will be overjoyed to learn that she already recognizes,
and is comforted by the voices of the two of you,
the two people who love her more than anyone else in
this world.
Babies like bad guys punished
Vinodh K. Pisharom
Babies are such wonderful beings
that they habitually like kind acts.
Until recently they were believed
to dislike cruel or negative behaviour
under all circumstances. But a
recent study led by a University of
British Columbia psychologist suggests
that eight month old infants
support negative behaviour if it is
directed at those who act antisocially,
and dislike those who are nice to
bad guys.
“We find that, by eight months,
babies have developed nuanced
views of reciprocity and can conduct
these complex social evaluations
much earlier than previously
thought,” says Prof. Kiley Hamlin,
UBC Dept. of Psychology, who coauthored
the study with colleagues
from Yale University and Temple
University.
For the study, researchers presented
four scenarios to 100 babies
using animal hand puppets. After
watching puppets act negatively or
positively towards other characters,
the babies were shown puppets either
giving or taking toys from these
“good” or “bad” puppets. When
prompted to choose their favourite
characters, babies preferred puppets
that mistreated the bad characters
from the original scene, compared
to those that treated them nicely.
They also examined how older infants
treated good and bad puppets.
Sixty four babies aged 21 months,
were asked to give a treat to, or
take a treat away from one of two
puppets; one who had previously
helped another puppet, and another
who had harmed the other puppet.
These babies physically took treats
away from the “bad” puppets, and
gave treats to the “good” ones. These
findings provide new insights into
the protective mechanisms humans
use to choose social alliances, which
are rooted in self-preservation.
These infant responses may be
early forms of the complex behaviours
and emotions that get expressed
later in life, such as when
school children tattle on kids who
break the rules, the rush people
feel when movie villains get their
due, and the phenomenon of people
cheering at public executions. The
findings also suggest that, from as
early as eight months, we are watching
out for people who might put us
in danger and prefer to see antisocial
behaviour regulated. This might
explain how we have survived as social
beings in spite of the vulnerability
to being cheated and exploited.

6 Thursday, 1 December 2011
Technology
e-ducation
Object awareness Making it
easy to interact
The object awareness feature of the SMART Boards generates
a completely intuitive learning experience. In other words, the
underlying technology used is almost invisible to the user as
it allows for natural gestures and control. There’s no need to
press buttons or access on-screen menus. Students can switch
seamlessly from writing with a pen, erasing with the palm of
their hand and moving objects with their finger.
A world of information
The most incredible feature of these interactive boards is their
ability to become an encyclopedia of knowledge with unlimited
potential. Teachers and students can access free, ready-touse
educational resources which contain a massive archive
of information. This gives educators a great opportunity to
enhance the learning experience of students by using the power
of the Internet and its endless sources of information to visually
and interactively inject current and relevant learning material
into their student’s daily learning experience. In addition to
the Internet, the SMART Boards include thousands of lesson
activities and pre-set lesson plans which are routinely updated
and enhanced to conform to the latest educational norms and
policies.
Nawras R Diaa
SMART Boards
The fun way to learn
Move over “blackboard jungle”,
education has just upgraded its
dusty blackboards to the cool
new interactive SMART Boards
that promise an entirely new
approach to e-ducation. The
21st Century classrooms will
never be boring again thanks to
the introduction of stimulating
graphical learning, interactive
touch features, online video and
data libraries, and a plethora of
features that have been cleverly
designed to get students off
their chairs and into the heart
of the learning process.
Who among us old-timers doesn’t remember those eerie winter
mornings where you walk into class, and the teacher selects a poor
victim to wipe the blackboard clean to make room for the lesson of the
day? I, for one, can still taste the toxic white chalk dust as it floods off
the gloomy black surface and straight into my lungs!
Students now don’t have to fear the dreaded chalk dust of death, not
the intoxicating fumes of magic markers which are closer to gateway drugs than
teaching tools! Although SMART Boards were introduced back in the 1990’s,
they recently shone into the limelight as more and more focus was being placed
on technology and the need to educate future generations with a more solid
technological infrastructure.
In a nutshell, SMART Boards are basically giant computer touch-screens that
allow its users to visually and physically interact with whatever is being projected
onto its screen. The integrated system combines an interactive whiteboard with an
ultra-short-throw projector, a multiuser Pen Tray and a control panel that enables
teachers to manage all classroom technology products from the front of the
classroom. The projector is also a handy innovation as it virtually
eliminates shadows and glare as it projects images from
the top of the board with minimal blockage caused from
whoever is using the board.
Multitouch – Taking
collaboration to new
heights
With these interactive boards, teachers can increase the
opportunities for classroom collaboration thanks to their multitouch
capabilities. Two people can simultaneously use their fingers or
a pen to write, draw and interact with content on the surface of the
interactive whiteboard. And for increased convenience, no special tools
or menus are required to interact with the board. Students can simply
and naturally walk up and immediately begin working together using
natural and instinctual gestures to manipulate content.
Using touch gestures, students can interact with lesson content in new
and exciting ways, which gives them a deeper, more interactive learning
experience. Students can use simple, intuitive gestures, such as toss,
rotate and zoom, or use the navigational gestures available with popular
multitouch operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows 7 or Mac
Snow Leopard.
Weekly App Review
Wikipanion
Education App
This app brings the most
popular information website
on the Internet, Wikipedia,
right to your finger tips.
App Features:
Free to download and use,
with an option for a more
advanced Paid app.
Provides extensive database
of information directly from
Wikipedia.
Available for
Easy-to-use interface that
allows ease of access and
navigation.
Built-in dictionary
Ability to share articles and
information through e-mail
and Twitter.

Beauty
Thursday, 1 December 2011
7
Makeup tips for students:
Go for naturally dishevelled look
For makeup school students looking for a new style to recreate, naturally dishevelled
beauty is one which recently garnered praise from an expert.
Speaking to the Independent, Alessandra Steinherr, beauty director at Glamour, explained
that if you usually look to the catwalk for your inspiration, then Balmain is the one to emulate.
She said the beauty was “sexy, yet cool” and shouldn’t be too hard for makeup school students
to recreate.
“For make-up, think low-maintenance but groomed. Crème de la Mer Radiant Concealer
goes on ultra-light but makes skin flawless, then add bronzer to skim along cheekbones and
define the socket of your eyes. Burberry’s new version is perfect.”
Other looks to warrant a mention included Chloe’s models, who displayed a chic matte
complexion and in regards to products, Ms Steinherr noted YSL’s newly-launched Teint
Radiance foundation as a way to create a glow rather than shine.
To make a bold statement for A/W, combine a variety of browns with stand-out black
mascara.
Doing make-up for school is something essential for
many girls. It’s important to know how to apply makeup
the right way.
Before all this, you should eat breakfast! Not only
will it give you a great energy boost before you
head off to school, but it will give you a nice pink in
your cheeks and pink lips, and keep you refreshed
throughout the day. It is just stupid and ridiculous
to skip it, and without it you’ll look like as if you are
suffering from malnutrition and people will ask you
why you look so tired, which is never a good thing.
Clean your face with your favourite face cleanser.
You shouldn’t use some that dry up spots, as it will make your
skin too dried. Opt for Witch Oil Control Face Cleanser, or Garnier
Exfo-Brusher Wash. They both make your skin feel silky smooth without
making your skin greasy or dry.
After that, apply a tiny bit of moisturizer. If you apply
too much, your face will look greasy instead of feeling well moisturized
and healthy.
Apply foundation evenly onto the skin. Always try
and find the lightest foundation to match your skin tone, not too light
that it makes you look extremely pale, but not too dark that it makes you
look like an orange. Apply it down onto your neck and your jaw bone and
temples too, so that there’s no streak.
Apply your favourite concealer. Remember to go over
dark circles under your eyes and any blemishes or unattractive marks.
Following this apply
powder. It should be a little
lighter than your foundation. Wearing
powder will help your make-up stay on longer and
reduces shine of grease on your skin.
Apply mascara. For school, it is recommended that you go for a
more natural look, so a light application of mascara is all that is needed.
Eye liner. Apply either along the top of your lashes or along your
bottom lash line. Applying all around the eye can sometimes be too
much for a light daytime look (and if you have small eyes or pale skin
may look too gothic). Blacks, greys and browns are the best colours
to look natural but you will have to look at your skin colour and hair
colour to see what will suit you. In general people with tanned or
darker skin tones can usually get away with harsher blacks.
Don’t forget the lip-gloss or lipstick! It’s a perfect
finishing touch.
Jazz up your look!
A college wardrobe must be classic; funds are limited, so longlasting
pieces reign supreme for a smart shopper. However,
there and few other things that adds to the stylish look- a
pretty nail work, a classy pair of shades, some funky jewelleries,
a trendy bag, voguish belts and the list never ends.
Accessories can make all the difference in the like beyond the
scope of the inhabitant of the caves and hop urban fashion girl.
Make sure you know what works for you, then find new sources
of fashion covering the new collections and styles that suit you
in particular.

8 Thursday, 1 December 2011
Fashion
College Students and their need in
everyday study life. Here are some cool
accessories they go for !
Traditional
student tools. The
notepads, pens,
and calculators is a
thing of the past.
Notebooks &
Macbooks are the intrend
items not only
for its functionality
and sole purpose of
submitting reports,
homework, or
research papers
Adidas bag to fit
the athletic jock, a
Christian Dior purse
for the It-Girl, or a
Nike bag for gym
class
iPhones and iPads
widely use as a
personal gadgets to
send messages to
your classmates and
friends, it is common
to also share school
gossip
Having a fashion
sense for students
undergoing Fashion
School, the most
trendy and up-to-date
students like to mix-
&-match items