The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Qatar University (QU)’s College of Engineering (CENG) celebrated the conclusion of the 11th High School Wooden Bridge Competition with an award ceremony, honouring the creativity and skills of young engineering enthusiasts from local secondary schools.

The first place was awarded to Qatar Science and Technology Secondary School, second place to Doha Secondary School, and third to Qatar Banking Studies & Business Administration Secondary School, highlighting their exceptional bridge designs.

As one of CENG’s many initiatives to inspire high school students to pursue engineering, particularly civil engineering, the competition challenges students to construct model wooden bridges using only sticks and glue. The activity allows participants to explore foundational engineering concepts while engaging their creativity and problem-solving skills.

Prof Alaa al-Hawari, head of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at QU, said: “The competition aims to promote civil engineering skills among secondary school students by providing them with the opportunity to use their imagination to come up with innovative wooden bridges that can bear loads. This competition is a way to showcase the principles of civil engineering to participants, to highlight its importance to life and industry, and to attract distinguished Qatari students to the civil engineering programme.”

Dr Hamad al-Nuaimi, assistant professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and the competition's supervisor, said: “A total of 25 secondary schools participated in the competition and tested as many wooden bridges. The total length of each bridge was 100cm. The bridges were made with wooden sticks and wood glue, with the number of wooden sticks used in a bridge not exceeding 130 and the width not exceeding 30cm.

“This competition enhances the students’ confidence and ability to make scientific decisions based on simple principles of civil engineering. Such competitions are also an important step toward developing a new generation of engineers and scientists, contributing to serving Qatar and achieving the National Vision 2030.”