QNRF begins national scientific research week

Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, yesterday launched the annual National Scientific Research Week (NSRW) – a showcase of scientific exploration and innovation – at Qatar National Convention Centre. 

The annual science festival is a competition that enhances, develops, and recognises the scientific research skills of preparatory and secondary students in schools across Qatar, and promotes co-operation and competition among students to achieve excellence in scientific research.  

Participants will compete across nine different categories in the Scientific Research and Engineering Design competition, with the top-performing students going on to represent Qatar in prestigious regional and international competitions, including the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in the US and the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition in Malaysia.

Students will showcase their scientific research projects, focused on local and global challenges, in various categories at the 11th National Scientific Research Exhibition,  open to the public on March 13. 

Meanwhile, a Science Funfair for students from Grades 1-5 will take place tomorrow, with the aim of motivating students to study STEM subjects by providing them with hands-on scientific experience through various activities organised by partnering academic institutions. 

The finals of the FameLab competition, which encourages students to explain complex scientific topics in an easily understandable way, will be held on March 13, when the winners of the various competitions will be honoured at a special awards ceremony to mark the conclusion of this year’s edition of the NSRW. 

Reema Abu-Khadija, director of the Curriculum and Learning Resources Department at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, said, 

“Engaging research institutions across the country will enable our youth to master research skills and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, thus enabling them to contribute to the development of Qatar. These efforts will empower Qatari youth to excel at local and international research competitions.” 

The week-long series of competitions and science-related activities received 722 research project submissions from students across schools in Qatar, out of which 150 research projects were selected to compete in the final round. 

QNRF, in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, shortlisted original and high-quality research projects after a competitive selection process, which was conducted by appointed mentors and researchers from Qatar’s research and academic community.

Dr Aisha al-Obaidly, capacity building director, QNRF, said, “We are very proud of our partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s scientific team, as we seek to promote a culture of scientific research at pre-university education level, particularly across preparatory and secondary schools.”

Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) is supporting the NSRW as its main strategic partner. 

“The National Scientific Research Week helps build a generation of innovators and creative thinkers. These are the people QSTP hopes to one day support, with the aim of helping to build a sustainable future for Qatar.” Yosouf Abdulrahman Saleh,