Dr. Talal Khalifa Al-Hosani is a brilliant scholar with a renowned research record. He has devoted his life to the study of hydrogeology, environmental geology, groundwater research, landslides, and environmental pollution. Thanks to his tireless efforts and dedication, he was offered the position of Dean of the College of Science at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) and serves as an associate professor in the Department of Earth Sciences. In addition to his effective role in academia and research, he influences young researchers and students, passionately guiding them to explore natural and earth sciences.

Qualifications:

In 1999, Dr. Al-Hosni received a BSc from the Department of Earth Sciences, College of Science, SQU. In 2001, he obtained a master's degree in hydrogeology from the University of Birmingham, U.K., and in 2007, he was awarded a doctorate in hydrogeology from the University of Melbourne, Australia.

Research papers:

Al-Hosni has published a plethora of scholarly research papers, including a 2022 paper titled 'Negligence of Geological Investigations Site Leading to Slope Failure Incidents: A Case Study From Saih Al Ahmar in Bidbid, Northern Oman’; a 2020 study titled ‘Mapping of near-surface formations by refraction seismic tomography: a case study from Al-Amerat, Sultanate of Oman’; and a 2019 paper on the bioavailability of nanoparticles of zinc oxide with fly ash soil for the treatment of heavy metals with the parthenium plant. This paper addresses methods of using harmful plants uprooted in the Sultanate of Oman to mitigate the effects of heavy metals in the soil.

Conferences:

Al-Hosni has actively engaged in numerous scientific events, delivering impactful presentations. He co-organized seven international conferences in the Sultanate, notably including the 2021 International Conference on Water Engineering and Water Resources Management at the Military Technical College. He participated in the Mediterranean Geosciences Union Annual Meeting in Turkey in 2021 and the New Dimensions of Natural Hazards in Asia conference in the Philippines in 2018. Additionally, he played a role in the coordination of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists' annual conference and exhibition in 2014 and 2019 in the U.S. 

Research projects with students:

Al-Hosni’s research endeavours entail collaborations with students and researchers across diverse fields. He has overseen numerous graduation projects, encompassing hydrogeology and environmental geology. Some of these projects include:

• Hydrogeological characterization of the hot springs in Bawshar, Northern Oman, and their origin (student Khaled Al-Shuaibi).

• Analysing the variability of δ18O and δ2H isotopic compositions in precipitation to develop a local meteoric water line for Oman, (student Aziza Al-Mandhari).

• Climate change and urbanisation impacts on the drought of many Falaj systems along Wadi Samail in Bidbid Area, (student Fatma Al Zaabi).

Research projects:

The academician has carried out a number of interesting interdisciplinary research projects, including:

• Investigating the groundwater level rise on the university campus, in collaboration with Dr. Ali Al-Maktoumi and researchers from the colleges of agricultural and marine sciences, engineering, and science.

• Groundwater level elevation in Muscat Governorate, including causes, impacts, and solutions, in cooperation with Prof. Othman Abdullah.

• Conducting an integrated geophysical study to delineate the optimal structure of uranium mineralization in the Al-Amerat region, in collaboration with Prof. S. Narasimman and Dr. B. Pracejus.

• Examining the incident of slope collapse near the water tank in Al-Sih Al-Ahmar in the Wilayat of Bidbid, in partnership with Prof. Subhi Nasr.

Community service:

Community service included a range of activities in different settings, as follows:

• Serving as a member of the national steering committee overseeing the treatment and improvement of conditions in mining areas in Sohar, under the purview of the Environment Agency in the Sultanate of Oman.

• Participating as a member of the national steering committee responsible for the management and protection of coastal groundwater, aligned with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources in Oman.

• Contributing as a member of the Editorial Board of the Omani Studies Journal published by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.