Over 70 teachers and students representing independent and international schools in Doha were present at the launch of QU’s Gas Processing Center’s (GPC) sixth Gasna competition for schools.
“Gasna” which means “Our Gas”, aims to increase students’ awareness on the importance of the oil and gas industry in the country’s development and growth, and to engage them to further advance it.
This year, the initiative is sponsored by QAPCO, Dolphin Energy Limited and ExxonMobil Qatar.
Present at the event were CENG Dean Dr Rashid Al-Ammari, GPC director Dr Mohammed Almarri, QAPCO’s Learning and Development Manager Engineer Abdulla Ahmad Naji, ExxonMobil Qatar Project Engineer Khalid Al-Sulaiti, Dolphin Energy Condition Monitoring Engineer Mohammed Al Khaldi, and Dolphin Energy Corrosion Specialist Mahdi Al-Ahbabi.
In his remarks, Dr Al-Ammari (CENG) said: “We are pleased to cooperate with the oil and gas industry to ensure the growth of Qatar, and to prepare future generations to run Qatar’s treasure of energy.”
Dr Almarri (GPC) said: “Gasna has become one of Qatar’s main biennial events targeting all levels of schools, and helping to realize Qatarization strategies developed in the energy sector over the years. The competition is in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the development strategies. It will help students to better understand the country’s abundant and valuable natural resources. They are tomorrow’s leaders, and it is critical that they start owning that future today.”
QAPCO Vice Chairman and CEO Dr Mohammed Yousef Al Mulla stated: “This competition will, I believe, open the eyes and minds of the students, and is an excellent example of how learning can be made real to the young people who participate. This is critical to Qatar University, to the Gas Processing Center and to QAPCO as we need to promote the oil and gas industry to these young minds. We need the youth of today to be excited about engineering, and to learn and understand more about what makes Qatar such a great industrial nation - this competition will help to realize this dream and encourage the next generation of engineers and scientists to take up our vision and make it a reality.”
Dolphin Energy General Manager Mr Adel Ahmed Albuainain said: “Science and engineering provide wonderful opportunities to engage and inspire students of all ages. The company’s sponsorship complements our hope that those participating in the competition will enter the energy sector in years to come and take on the responsibility of ensuring Qatar’s future development and success. The Gasna competition is an important part of our support for Qatar University’s Gas Processing Center and Qatar National Vision 2030.”
Eng Khalid Al-Sulaiti said: “We are extremely pleased to once again support Qatar University’s Gasna competition, which promotes an interest in science and engineering among students, and helps them to contribute to the development of the country’s energy sector.”
This year’s competition is divided into four categories for individual, classroom or group participation. Category 1 (KG1-grade 4) includes collages, posters, and songs; Category 2 (Year 5-6) includes posters, songs, short stories and plays; Category 3 (Year 7-9) includes posters, short articles, movies, plays and models; and Category 4 (Year 10-12) includes articles, movies, plays and models, prototypes, and research papers.
Each participating school will run an internal Gasna session for each category and first-place winners will join the finals. A workshop in Arabic and English will be held in January 2015 for teachers and supervisors.
Deadline for project submission is March 10, 2015. A closing ceremony announcing the winners and distribution of trophies, prizes and certificates will be held at Ibn Khaldoon Hall on March 15, 2015.