QU Gas Processing Centre launches Gasna competition for schools

 The Gas Processing Centre (GPC) at Qatar University's College of Engineering (QU-CENG) has launched the eighth edition of Gasna Competition for Schools 2021/2022, which is sponsored by ExxonMobil.

The launch of the competition was attended by Prof Abdelmagid Hammuda, CENG associate dean for Academic Affairs; Dr Mohamed Ali Saleh Saad, director of the GPC; Mohamed al-Shareef from ExxonMobil; Muna Alyafei from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE); and a member of the university faculty.Prof Hammuda said, “The Gasna competition is a national initiative that aims to enhance the community's attention towards the natural resources available in Qatar and their management in the future, and investing these resources in the best way to build Qatar and its future in order to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030." He added, “The competition aims to increase understanding and awareness of the importance of the gas industry in Qatar’s economy and future. Therefore, we need today's youth to be passionate about studying engineering and technology to qualify them to lead this vital field for Qatar and the world. This competition will help students achieve that dream and encourage the next generation of engineers and scientists to embrace Qatar’s vision and translate it into reality.” In his speech, GPC director said: “GPC is proud to announce this competition in which all schools in Qatar, including government and international schools, will participate. Hence, it should be noted that the overall goal behind launching such a competition is to raise awareness of the importance of gas processing for Qatar's economy in addition to its future; as children are the future of Qatar, whether they work as teachers, businessmen, engineers, scientists, CEOs or leaders in this country."“Qatar University’s Gasna competition is a highly successful programme that has effectively created an interest in STEM fields among Qatar’s students and helped further develop STEM workers who will play a key role in the sustained growth and stability of Qatar’s economy,” said al-Shareef, asset manager for ExxonMobil Qatar.“We are particularly pleased to see that this year’s competition puts forward affordable and reliable solutions such as carbon capture. We’re excited to see the creativity this year’s competition will bring and wish all participating students the best of success,” he added.Alyafei from the Science Section of the Department of Educational Supervision, MoEHE, said the ministry’s vision is to adopt leadership and provide permanent and innovative learning opportunities of a high quality to the Qatari community. "We hope to continue this co-operation between the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and Qatar University in various fields, hoping for the success of this competition."The competition includes four categories: The first category is from kindergarten to fourth grade, where participants can make presentations or any other similar act that suits students of this stage. The fifth and sixth grades comprise the second category, wherein the participants can submit projects such as models. As for the third category, it is from the seventh to ninth grade and the participation includes research projects or introductory models. The fourth category includes students from the 10th to 12th grades and they can participate with models, or scientific posters. In all categories, students can participate as individuals or groups with a maximum of five students per group.