MUSCAT : The event, held under the patronage of His Excellency Eng Ibrahim bin Said bin Khalaf al Kharousi, Undersecretary for Heritage at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, aimed to present key findings from the 2025 meteor search project and monitor progress on the meteor observation program implemented by the Ministry.

The lecture, which attracted a range of stakeholders, researchers, and partners, served to empower the Ministry’s partners, equipping them with crucial knowledge on meteorites and their scientific, touristic, and economic significance.

Professor Beda Hoffmann, Head of the Earth Sciences Department at the Natural History Museum in Bern, Switzerland, and Professor Edwin Genus, Head of the Earth Sciences Department at the Natural History Museum in Geneva, Switzerland, delivered the lecture. Both experts, alongside other contributors, discussed the Omani-Swiss scientific team’s most notable discoveries and outlined current and future collaborative projects aimed at furthering meteorite research in Oman.

In his remarks, His Excellency Eng. Ibrahim Al Kharousi emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to empowering its partners and building national capacity in preserving and promoting the country’s cultural heritage. Through strategic partnerships, the Ministry is seeking to raise awareness about the importance of meteorites and ensure their protection while simultaneously enhancing scientific, cultural, and economic value.

Over the past few years, the Ministry has been actively working to combat illegal trafficking of meteorites by enforcing the 1970 UNESCO Convention, which aims to prevent the illicit trade of cultural property. Additionally, the Ministry has initiated an annual program featuring exhibitions, awareness workshops, and scientific publications, as well as creating state-of-the-art storage facilities to house meteorite samples according to international standards.

The lecture and ongoing meteorite research are part of the Ministry’s broader efforts to ensure the protection, monitoring, and scientific documentation of meteorite findings in Oman. This collaboration involves renowned global institutions such as the Natural History Museum in Bern, Curtin University in Australia, and technical support from Omantel to monitor meteorites as they enter Omani airspace.

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