Qatar University (QU)'s College of Engineering concluded the seventh annual ChemE Car Competition for High Schools. The competition, which was organized by the Department of Chemical Engineering in collaboration with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) student chapter, saw participation from fourteen local high schools. This event aims to foster creativity and innovation among students and encourage them to pursue studies in chemical engineering.
Khalifa Secondary School secured first place, followed by Omar Ibn Al-Khatab Secondary School and Omar Ibn Abdelaziz Secondary School in second and third places, respectively. Awards were also given for the best poster, claimed by Qatar Science and Technology Secondary High School, and the best car design, which went to Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Thani Secondary High School.
Participants were challenged to design and race small cars powered by chemical processes, carrying a water load of 0-500 grams across a set distance of 10–30 meters. This year’s specifications required a 100-gram load to be carried over 10 meters. The teams received details of the load amount and distance approximately two hours prior to the competition.
In preparation for the event, which began in October 2023, the Department of Chemical Engineering provided multiple sessions to guide students and teachers through the competition’s requirements, rules, and safety regulations, as well as the critical phases of car design and calibration.
Dr. Mohammed Al-Marri, Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering at QU, commented on the event, stating, “The ChemE Car Competition is an event created to attract students to STEM fields and to introduce Qatari students to the discipline of chemical engineering. It is exciting to see that almost 70 students participated this year from high schools in this event. Today was truly an exciting day for us. It was nice to see the students deeply engaged in the competition and to see their teachers guiding and supporting their efforts. We would like to extend our gratitude to the principals and administration of the fourteen participating independent schools, and we look forward to seeing them back again next year.””
Dr. Al-Marri added, “One of the main goals of the competition is to see how students overcome the technical challenges they face as they prepare for the race. All student teams worked well together to address these challenges.”
QU extends its congratulations to all the participants and winners and looks forward to continued success in fostering educational achievements and innovations in the field of chemical engineering.