HE al-Hammadi with QU and Raytheon officials.

The Qatar debut of MathAlive!, the interactive math and science exhibit, saw a good turnout of VIP guests, including HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education and Supreme Education Council Secretary-General Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi and excited young students, when it opened at Qatar University (QU) yesterday.
The exhibit, which will remain at QU through October 8, is a partnership effort among QU Colleges of Engineering (CENG), Arts & Sciences (CAS) and Education (CED), and Raytheon Company, who created the exhibit.
HE the Minister was joined by QU vice-president for administration and finance Dr Humaid al-Midfaa, associate vice-president for faculty affairs Dr Khalid Alali, CENG dean Dr Rashid al-Ammari, CAS dean Dr Eiman Mustafawi, CED dean Dr Hissa Sadiq, College of Law dean Dr Mohamed Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, Raytheon vice-president for corporate mission assurance James W Wade, vice-president for international communications Robert C Koch and international communications director Dave Desilets.
QU vice-president and chief academic officer Dr Mazen Hasna and Raytheon International’s Qatar president Yezen Munir gave opening remarks at the ceremony, which was also attended by students and teachers from schools across Qatar, QU faculty members and senior representatives from Raytheon.
Dr Hasna said, “Being a partner in this initiative reflects QU’s commitment to promoting math and science to students at an early age through accessible, fun experiences that will inform their approaches to the subjects in the classroom, and encourage their innovation and creativity.”
Munir expressed appreciation for QU’s support, saying: “Through the university’s outstanding partnership, we are able to bring MathAlive! to the children of Qatar for this first stop in Doha. We share a goal of providing our youth with the very best education nurtured by great institutions like Qatar University. This investment in their learning will yield contributions to society that bring new innovations and a country’s vision to life.”
Covering more than 350sqm, MathAlive!’s interactive modules spanned building design, football, space travel, video games and more, bringing math and science to life for late primary and early secondary school students.
In addition, the Qatar debut saw the introduction of a new interactive football module specifically designed for Qatari youth, and in recognition of the country’s dedication to football ahead of its hosting of the FIFA 2022 World Cup. The first-of-its-kind “Penalty Block” simulator gave students an “unmatched virtual experience” to explore mathematical concepts behind one aspect of the country’s favourite sport.
Yousef Mohamed from Doha Preparatory Independent School for Boys said, “The exhibition is exciting as the games are attractive, and can deliver math in a way that is different from the traditional methods we are familiar with.”
Zaid Amjad from Omar bin Abdulaziz Secondary Independent School for Boys said, “This exhibition gets students deeply involved in math and helps them think in a more creative way and find solutions for the daily life challenges they face.”