Preparing the Next Generation of STEM Leaders

STEM Hub at Darb Al Saai 2019

Darb Al Saai, the main center for Qatar National Day (QND) celebrations, comes alive every year with thousands of visitors attending and participating in various activities in an environment full of patriotism and national pride. Historically, Darb Al Saai translates as “the route of the messenger” and was used by delegates known for their loyalty, courage, knowledge, and skills, who were entrusted with directives and messages from the founder of Qatar, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin Thani. Therefore, every year, Darb Al Saai  organizes the QND celebrations to give visitors a chance to learn about the history of Qatar and the various organizations and initiatives that are working towards building an advanced and secure future with a special focus on building the local human capital because, just as it did in the past, Qatar has to rely on its people to achieve its future goals.

As part of the Darb Al Saai activities, Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ), once again, featured the STEM Hub, their joint initiative with the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF). Members of TAMUQ’s Outreach team and volunteers from the community worked together to put on four activities to entertain and educate the people of Qatar on science and engineering.

The main activity this year was the creation of Tetrix robots that can be operated by people of all ages. Members of the STEM Hub team assembled these robots, so that no two robots were the same. Without any instruction, children were able to discover how the robots functioned and created their own tasks involving moving colored blocks around the custom-built and reusable arena. The open frames and simple controls allowed the public to see how these robots work and get a glimpse into the engineering behind such creations.

Another new activity described the engineering concept of fluid packing. Clear acrylic cylinders were packed with materials of different shapes and sizes, and had viscous fluids added to them before being sealed. Participants were encouraged to rotate the cylinders to see how the fluid moved through the different materials to simulate how water is purified through the ground, how oil and natural gas are extracted from their reservoirs, and how filtration systems work in various engineering systems.

Moreover, the voice changing boxes were a big hit with young children. Powered by Arduino microcomputers, these clear boxes allowed participants to talk into a microphone and have their voices altered from deep and brooding to high and pixie-like by changing the pitch via simple programs. The clear boxes allowed the public to see how such devices are constructed and function.

Making their final appearance at Darb Al Saai were the Spheros, small robots that were controlled via iPad to run a game of Sphero Football. These small robots are fun to use, simple to program, and great fun as an introduction to robotics. All ages enjoyed running them across the mini-pitch trying to score against other competitors.

The STEM Hub was a popular feature at Darb Al Saai with more than 24,000 visitors attending and taking part in various activities to gain a hands-on experience in STEM subjects. Being a rapidly evolving country in a world where technology is continuously expanding, it is imperative for Qatar to develop exceptional science and innovation leadership, for which impactful steps like the STEM Hub must be introduced at the grassroots level.

Links to videos of the various activities at Darb Al Saai:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMPYtyeO-0U&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlUdk47B0-c&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop