Texas A&M University at Qatar hosted more than 50 young
future scientists and engineers as part of the Future Engineers and Summer
Engineering Academy (SEA) programs.
The event was held June 19-30, during the
first weeks of the summer break for students.
The program, part of a larger initiative called Dhia:
Engineering Leaders initiative, aims to encourage Qatari youth to enter into the educational lanes of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Dhia is a venture between Texas A&M at Qatar and business partner,
Maersk Oil Qatar (MOQ). Having young Qataris enter into STEM pathways is a part
of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
The 24 scholastically exceptional participants in the 10-day
SEA betterment program are in 11th grade and are deemed “Qatar
National Vision Scholars.” The experiments within the program are related to Qatar’s
exploration trials in autonomous vehicles, petroleum production, water
desalination and wireless energy. The students work on these real life, hands-on projects with Texas A&M faculty members.
While SEA works with students on vital problem-solving
skills, the projects also teach advanced engineering and science curriculum in
a first-hand experience atmosphere. At the conclusion of the two week course,
students are required to present their research and data to faculty members,
helping them learn how to convey technical ideas.
A second instructional project, the Future Engineers Program,
runs at the same time as SEA. The Future Engineers Program concentrates on
space, and aimed to teach the 30 Qatari students about data relationships.
The attendees are rising sophomore and juniors, who will design a weather
balloon that will take measurements, pictures and document different data as it
rises into space. The goa is to teach students how fun science projects can be.
