Tribune News Network
Doha
The Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), in partnership with Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press (HBKU Press), has launched a scientific journal to support Arab families. The announcement, which took place at an official ceremony, coincided with the launch of the sixth cycle of DIFI’s OSRA Research Grant.
The DIFI journal and the OSRA Research Grant aim to support innovative and high-quality research development to enhance knowledge on issues facing Arab families, as well as provide policymakers with evidence-based policy and programme recommendations.
Dr Sharifa Noaman Al-Emadi, executive director of the DIFI – a member of Qatar Foundation – spoke at the ceremony, emphasising the ethical and institutional role of DIFI in producing, publishing and supporting scientific research, which policies and interventions are built upon.“It was necessary for us, after years of producing various knowledge guidelines pertaining to complex topics of interest to Arab families, that there be a scientific platform specialising in family issues allowing researchers to publish scientific and academic studies.”
She then invited researchers to apply to publish their research. Speaking about the OSRA Research Grant, Dr Al-Emadi added: “With the aim of enriching the Arab research agenda with various family topics, we have been able to, through five cycles of the grant, support 48 research projects related to Arab families in various parts of the Arab world.”
Dr Al-Emadi concluded by thanking the Qatar National Research Fund for the support they have provided to the grant process since its inception, and the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council for the technical support in launching DIFI’s grant platform.
Dr Rima Isaifan, head of Academic and Journals Publishing, HBKU Press, and a joint Associate Professor at HBKU’s College of Science and Engineering, presented an overview of the DIFI journal.
“The DIFI journal marks a valuable addition to our peer-reviewed journal portfolio at QScience.com due to its unique contribution to family research and policy-related topics. HBKU Press has the privilege of working hand- in-hand with DIFI to disseminate and promote evidence-based knowledge towards developing family-related policies at national, regional, and international levels.”
Dr Azza Abdel-Moneim, Family Research Expert, and Fatima Al-Mutawa, Researcher and Grants Specialist, both from DIFI, also provided overviews on the terms and conditions of publishing in the journal, as well as the OSRA Research Grant objectives, priority research areas identified for the sixth cycle, and eligibility of participants.
