| Home>English |
.
Prof. Mahmoud Nadim Nahas
.
Born 5 February 1950 in Aleppo, Syria
A London-based British educator, scientist, engineering designer and executive with extensive experience in higher education, scientific research, and leadership consultation
A professor of engineering design and the principal author of the “Dictionary of Technical Terms of Aerospace Engineering” and many other scientific publications
.
Early Life
He grew up in Aleppo, Syria, where he lived with his parents, Abdulwahab Nahas (1913-1977) and Zakia Mazid (1920-2000), and his four sisters and two brothers. He went to public schools, where he showed early signs of distinction
.
Education
After obtaining his BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of Aleppo University (Syria), Nahas went to UK, joined the College of Aeronautics of Cranfield Institute of Technology (now Cranfield University), and got an MSc in Aircraft Design and a PhD in Aerospace Structural Design. His PhD thesis is on composite materials
.
Academic Educator
Nahas started his academic career as an assistant professor at the Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Yarmouk University (Irbid, Jordan). He then moved to The Department of Aerospace Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, KAU, (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) and became an associate professor in 1989, then a full professor in 1996
He taught courses related to engineering design such as Strength of Materials, Stress Analysis in Aircraft Structures, Deflections and Stability of Structures, Structural Design, Aircraft Design, Composite Materials and Structures, Aircraft Materials, Engineering Graphics with AutoCAD and Finite Element Analysis. He was assigned to teach Engineering Design for sophomores. This course is taught by active learning and is a project-based course, where the students work in teams to systematically design and produce artefacts of devices, systems or mechanisms under the supervision of the course professor
During his academic career, Nahas developed many curricula for the courses he taught. He also developed many study programs. In particular, he developed the Master Program for the postgraduate students in aeronautical engineering, the Master Program of Nanotechnology for the postgraduate students in the Faculty of Engineering, the Diploma Program for the aeronautical specialists and the Diploma Program for the engineering assistants, all at KAU
Nahas has authored many textbooks for engineering students, and translated some other reference books. He is also the principal author of The Aerospace Bilingual Dictionary (English/Arabic – Arabic/English)
Nahas is also a trainer in engineering thinking, innovative thinking, strategic planning, project management and thinking compass according to Herman scale
Nahas is also known to work on simplifying scientific issues to the public as he has published hundreds of articles in newspapers and magazines introducing many issues to non-scientific readers
.
Researcher/Scientist
In the research field, Nahas is a recognized researcher, who has conducted many research projects, which led to the publication of more than eighty papers in refereed journals and conferences. His published papers fall in the following fields of research
Structural analysis: buckling, vibration and impact strength •
Composites and nanocomposites •
Energy system: gas turbines, heat pumps and windmills •
Modelling of various engineering problems •
.
Executive Role
At King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Nahas worked as a member of the team, which laid down the strategy to promote the university rankings to the level of world-class university. KAU is now ranked high by Shanghai Ranking (ARWU), by Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and by QS World University Rankings
Beside teaching and conducting research, Nahas took consultation and executive responsibilities. He assumed many positions such as the Secretary of the Council of the Faculty of Engineering, the Consultant to the Dean of Engineering, the Consultant for the Dean of Scientific Research, the Consultant to the Vice President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, and the Consultant to the Secretary-General of the International Advisory Board (IAB). This board consists of prominent leaders of world-class universities from around the globe. Nahas took the role of coordinating with IAB members. In this role, Prof. Nahas provided information, support and logistic help to IAB members during IAB annual meeting as well as the necessary information before and after IAB meetings. This post granted him an international profile
Nahas served as a member of many committees such as the Scientific Committee of the Distinguished Scientists Program, the Executive Committee of the Centre of Excellence in Environmental Studies, the Founding Committee of Faculty of Engineering of Rabigh Campus, and the Accreditation Committee which made all the engineering programs accredited by the American Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
.
Community Service
As part of KAU research concentrating on community service, Prof. Nahas developed few ideas to help millions of pilgrims and visitors to the Holy mosques of Muslims in Makkah and Al-Madinah
Nahas proposed a spiral model for the movement of pilgrims around Al-Ka’ba Al-Musharafa in Makkah. This act of worship that is called Tawaf (circumambulation) normally causes interference between waves of pilgrims and decreases the speed of pilgrims’ movement. The model Nahas proposed helps in easing jostle and interference to increase the speed of movement. The model is particularly convenient to weak and elderly people who should be able to perform circumambulation easily
Nahas also proposed a scientific solution to reduce congestion and pushing in Al-Madinah Holy Mosque in an area called Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah and near the grave of the Prophet Muhammad where people like to pray and visit. The slow movement which usually causes congestion and pushing among thousands of pilgrims, can be resolved according to Nahas proposal by applying two models based on mobilisation of the people by moving the floor at a speed that is not noticeable. The new designs were approved from the religious viewpoint, and were reported in the media
In another work to serve the society, Nahas proposed a new method to protect the environment of Al-Madinah according to the Islamic principles, which urge people not to waste the resources and to protect animals, plants and the environment… etc. If some people still do not follow the instructions, his paper proposes to take them to education centre to teach them the Islamic duties in this respect
.
Honours and Awards
During his service, Nahas received many prizes such as best teacher prize, best researcher prize and translation prize
.
Personal life
He married Sahar Abou Saleh in 1974, and they have four sons and three daughters. His hobbies include reading and using many types of computer software
.
External links
Prof. Mahmoud Nadim Nahas’s page on Wikipedia •
Prof. Mahmoud Nadim Nahas’s page on the “Global Future Academy” website •
Professor Mahmoud Nadim Nahas’s “Google Scholar” Page •
“Professor Mahmoud Nadeem Nahas’s page on “Web of Science •
“Professor Mahmoud Nadeem Nahas’s page on “Scopus •
“Professor Mahmoud Nadeem Nahas’s page on “ORCID •
Prof. Mahmoud Nadim Nahas’s page on the “Who are they” website •
Prof. Mahmoud Nadim Nahas’s page on the “ARID” academic platform •
Prof. Mahmoud Nadim Nahas’s page on the “ResearchGate” platform •
Biography of Prof. Mahmoud Nadim Nahas on the “Intellectuals of Aleppo” page •
Biography of Prof. Mahmoud Nadim Nahas on the “Historical Encyclopedia of Prominent Figures of Aleppo” page •
Articles by Prof. Mahmoud Nadim Nahhas on the “Syrian Revolution Writers Association” website •
“Archive of Professor Mahmoud Nadim Nahas’s Articles in “Al-Bilad Newspaper •
“Archive of Professor Mahmoud Nadim Nahas’s Articles in “Al-Eqtisadiah Online •
.
مسيرة حياة وإنجازات الأستاذ الدكتور محمود نديم نحاس © 