Inaugural Departmental Seminar for Academic Year
On November 23rd, 2025, the Petroleum and Mining Engineering Department conducted its first departmental seminar of the 2025–2026 academic year. This well-attended session brought together the department’s academic staff along with several colleagues from other departments, creating an interdisciplinary environment for methodological discussion and knowledge exchange.
Seminar Presentation Details
Presenter: Prof. Dr. Tariq H. Karim
Specialization Area: Data Analysis
Seminar Title: How to Handle Outliers in Your Research
Comprehensive Seminar Overview
The seminar focused specifically on understanding and managing outliers—data points that significantly differ from the rest of a dataset. Prof. Dr. Tariq provided a comprehensive framework for addressing these critical statistical elements in research contexts.
Key Seminar Content and Insights
Outlier Definition and Origins:
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Identification of data points with substantial deviation from dataset norms
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Common sources including measurement errors and instrumental inaccuracies
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Unusual conditions creating atypical but valid data observations
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Genuine extreme events representing real-world phenomena of interest
Importance of Proper Outlier Management:
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Statistical distortion prevention of averages and central tendency measures
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Variability control ensuring accurate representation of data spread
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Misleading conclusion avoidance through proper data interpretation
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Important phenomenon recognition when outliers represent significant events
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Research validity enhancement across petroleum, mining, and engineering studies
Interactive Conclusion and Practical Application
The seminar concluded with an open discussion session, where staff members engaged in:
Discussion Components:
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Practical example exploration from various research domains
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Experience sharing regarding outlier challenges in ongoing projects
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Methodology exchange across different engineering disciplines
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Problem-solving collaboration for common data analysis issues
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Best practice development for future research undertakings
Interdepartmental Engagement and Impact
This seminar successfully fostered cross-departmental collaboration and demonstrated the department’s commitment to:
Departmental Objectives:
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Methodological rigor enhancement in engineering research
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Interdisciplinary dialogue promotion on common analytical challenges
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Research skill development among academic staff
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Academic year initiation with a focus on research excellence
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Community building around shared methodological concerns
The engaging and insightful nature of this seminar established a strong foundation for ongoing methodological discussions throughout the academic year, benefiting researchers across multiple engineering disciplines within the university.
Keywords: Research Methodology, Outlier Analysis, Data Management, Statistical Methods, Petroleum Engineering, Mining Research, Data Integrity, Academic Seminar
