Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Dec 24: A scientist from Srinagar presently working as Professor in the Department of Civil engineering at King Saud University has brought laurels to Kashmir as he has earned a very rare honour of figuring in top 2 per cent scientists in the world.
Professor Mohammad Iqbal Khan a resident of Khan Mohalla, Chanapora, Srinagar an alumnus of NIT Srinagar and IIT Delhi who has earned his PhD degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Sheffield United Kingdom has been listed among two per cent scientists by Stanford University, one of the world’s most prestigious Institutions based on the international evaluation of their research work.
Dr Khan is faculty of University of Nottingham, UK, currently, working as Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at King Saud University. He is an Adjunct Professor, at Department of Civil, Architecture and Environmental Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, USA and enrolled as visiting Professor at numerous universities in Canada, China and Germany.
Concurrently, Prof Khan currently holds many key positions in vital state-run R&D establishments viz. Managing Director, Center of Excellence for Concrete Research and Testing (CoE-CRT); Director, Laboratories of Structural Engineering Division in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Prof Khan is actively engaged in research in structural engineering and construction materials. His primary research interests are developing blast and impact-resistant materials; structural behaviour of concrete-filled tubes; nano- and micro-mechanics of composite materials; fibre-reinforced composites; sustainability and environmental impact; prediction modelling; and application of artificial intelligence. He has published well over 200 research publications, holds 21 international patent inventions, prepared four books related to modern paradigms in construction and concrete technology (published by Springer and Elsevier), and supervised over 40 research scholars.
Innovativeness and industrial applicability of his inventions’ prototypes have been acknowledged internationally and fetched him four Gold and two Silver commemorations at international technology conventions.
He is a proud recipient of eight International Excellence and Distinguished awards for bringing new innovative technologies and practices in structural and concrete engineering. He serves as editor/associate editor of six highly reputed international journals. He has delivered over 30 invited lectures/seminars, over 25 conference lectures in various countries including USA, UK, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Singapore, Malaysia, Netherlands, Hong Kong, China, etc.
He has served as the principal investigator for numerous research projects in the Kingdom and internationally and attracted above 10 million US dollar grant for funding his academic research. Over the years, Prof. Khan has rendered consultancy services to multiple construction/structures industry research projects in KSA, Germany, Canada, UK and USA.
While talking to KNO Prof Khan said that the higher education setup within Jammu and Kashmir seems to concentrate moreover, graduation rates while ignoring danger signs that the skills and competencies attained by students in the colleges may be declining.
“Merely increasing the levels of educational attainment will accomplish little if students do not learn something of lasting value,” he said.
When asked about if he will get a chance to streamline higher and technological educational frontier in J&K, Khan said that it would be a matter of honour and pride for him.
“If I can contribute towards improving the quality of education and research of institutions of higher learning of my motherland, during the last phase of my academic and research career. It will be an honour,” he said.
Khan said during the years 2017 and 2015, he was contacted and offered executive roles in academics and administration within an emerging regional university and a newly established IIT, respectively but due to some personal reasons and prior commitments, he could not take up any full-time role by then.
“However, currently, I am available to render services in establishing and streamlining the research pathways within and facilitate outreach collaboration,” he said.
“I can contribute in developing mechanisms for the quality assurance of engineering and technological education in line with international standards and its implementation process to achieve the graduate attributes, skill and competence of engineering graduates,” Khan said.
Prof Khan is an internationally acknowledged specialist in Accreditation and Quality Assurance in engineering education. He provides tenured consultancy and evaluatory services to Ministry of Education, KSA and Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), USA to ascertain institutions/programs meet the anticipated quality standards of the profession for which they prepare graduates.