Hajar Jafferji, a PhD candidate in civil engineering, was recently awarded a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Grant to conduct research in Fez, Morocco.
The Fulbright Program, which fosters international relationships through education, culture, and science, will send Jafferji as a representative of the United States to Morocco, where she will work with local craftsmen, government organizations, and college students to conduct research into the revitalization of infrastructure in the city of Fez. Jafferji plans to investigate the building materials used in deficient structures, the factors that led to using those materials, and finally the reasons, both engineering and socioeconomic, for the failure of the materials.
According to Jafferji, it will be crucial to consult with local artisans and skilled craftsmen in Fez, because much of the infrastructure was developed with knowledge that has been passed down orally through generations. In addition to her research, Jafferji will work with women students in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) at Al-Akhawayn University to promote cultural exchange.
