Qatar Shell Research & Technology Centre (QSRTC), at Qatar Science & Technology Park has held the latest edition of its Tech Talk series.
Mary Ryan, professor of materials science and nanotechnology, Raeng chair and director of the Imperial / Shell Centre for Interfacial Materials Science at Imperial College London, led a presentation titled ‘Probing Nanoscale Interfaces in Materials Systems’.  
The presentation outlined how nanoscale electrochemical interfaces are found in numerous areas of science and technology, and how the ability to probe these systems in dynamic situations is critical to furthering understanding and enabling the design of interfaces for controlled reactivity. Professor Ryan works extensively with industry in the area of surface behaviour and corrosion and widely consults on materials stability issues for the likes of Shell and Rolls-Royce globally.
In 2015, Qatar University, Imperial College London and QSRTC signed a research and development agreement on corrosion prevention in wet sour gas pipelines such as those found offshore Qatar. The work will use state-of-the-art analytical techniques and focus on pitting corrosion and how best to prevent it from happening. Youssif Saleh, vice-president, QSRTC, said: “We are delighted to co-operate with academia, government, non-profit organisations and private sector partners to provide research and innovative solutions that will help mitigate and resolve energy challenges faced by Qatar, in turn delivering sustainable impact in support of the Qatar National Vision 2030.”