A total of 12 scientists from Qatar pitched their projects at the world’s largest science communications competition, FameLab 2016, for the first time in Doha. The global initiative gave participants with a passion for public engagement just three minutes to present a project of their choice.
A British Council initiative, in partnership with The Times Cheltenham Science Festival and Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), the event was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar University and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU).
More than 65 students, 45 teachers and 55 researchers applied to take part in the inaugural event. Divided into two categories, 12 participants made it through to the national final, which was held at HBKU’s Student Centre in Education City.
After each contestant delivered their presentation before an audience and a panel of judges, Aida Ra’fat was awarded first place in the ‘Aspiring Scientists’ category, and Ro’aa Adel was the overall winner of the ‘Young Scientists’ contest.
“FameLab Qatar – in its first cycle – has proven to be an innovative platform for enabling young scientists, high school students, teachers and engineers in Qatar to share their passion for science, technology, engineering and maths with the public,” said Dr Abdul Sattar al-Taie, executive director of QNRF.
Aida Ra’fat will now go on to take part in the international FameLab final held at The Times Cheltenham Science Festival in June. Ro’aa Adel will participate in the finals at the London International Science Youth Forum, where she will meet with other young scientists from all around the world.
Frank Fitzpatrick, country director, British Council, Qatar said: “It is the first time that we have staged this tried and tested British Council competition in any Gulf country. The success that we have had is the fruit of an outstanding collaboration with our strategic partner, Qatar National Research Fund, and our delivery partners, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and Qatar University.”
The international competition has been hosted in more than 40 countries since its launch in 2007, and it aims to find and mentor the new voices of science from across the world and engage the public with science, technology, engineering and mathematics, otherwise known as STEM.