Qatar University’s (QU) Al-Bairaq program continues its journey of excellence by winning 14 awards and honors in the National Scientific Research Competition (NSRC) and were honored during the annual National Scientific Research Week (NSRW).
Al-Bairaq is a non-traditional educational project, in which students at Qatari secondary school work in teams with highly exquisite university-level scientists on practical scientific problems in authentic contexts. Faculty members train and mentor the future generation of scientists and help develop and enhance their critical-thinking, problem-solving and team-work skills.
Al-Bairaq participated in the NSRC with research in five different categories: chemistry and material science, engineering, environment and earth science. The research was carried out in QU under the supervision of expert professors in the Center for Advanced Materials (CAM) and Al-Bairaq team members.
President of QU, Dr. Hassan Al-Derham commented on the programs achievements saying, “Al-Bairaq affirms each year its importance in simplifying complex scientific ideas which increases students’ passion to innovate, aiming to prepare a generation capable of digesting science and participating in the knowledge industry.”
President of Al Bairaq Program and Head of Communication and Outreach at QU, Dr. Noora Jabor Al-Thani, added that Al-Bairaq has a great responsibility to upgrade the education in Qatar. She confirms that Al-Bairaq is on the right track for achieving Qatar National Vision 2030, aiming to put it as a platform for every step it takes for spreading the culture of creativity and excellence.
Al-Bairaq won three grand awards that qualify for participation in international competitions. In addition, the program won three category awards, four special awards, and four honors. A research entitled "Value Added Sensors from Environmental and Industrial Wastes” about the use of plastic waste and industrial wastes resulting from the aluminum industry -carbon black- in the manufacture of smart sensors of lower cost than the sensors currently used in market, won two grand awards and will represent Qatar in ITEX Malaysia 2020 and Qatar in INTEL ISEF 2019 in USA. The same research won first place in the engineering category, as well as two special awards, one from Barzan Holding, and another from ExxonMobil.
Another research entitled “Development of Lightweight Al-SiO2 Nanocomposites for Automotive Applications –Qatar Electric Cars 2022” was awarded a grand award to represent Qatar in ITEX Malaysia 2020. It also won first place in the chemistry and material science category. The research is about improving the properties of the aluminium used in the manufacture of electric cars in Qatar 2020 by forming a composite with the SiO2.
In addition, a third research entitled “Ductile Fiber Reinforced Ultra High Performance Concrete DFRUPC” won third place in the environment and earth science category. Two researches, one entitled “Fabrication of Nanocomposite Humidity Sensor” and the other entitled “Fabrication and Testing of Toughened Novel Epoxy Composites for Lightweight Automotive Application” won two special awards from Barzan Holding.
As for the honors, Al-Bairaq program was honored for its initiatives and efforts in the education field. In addition, the program received two honors for conducting a workshop in the conference titled “Increasing Students Engagement in the Educational Process” and for presenting a poster titled “Integrating Art in Science through Photography.”