By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: World Robot Olympiad (WRO) 2015, a global celebration of science and technology that took place for the first time in Qatar, concluded yesterday with teams from Chinese Taipei winning most places.
Teams from Malaysia grabbed the second highest number of places in eight categories. The contest featured 33 Qatari teams with talented students, participating alongside some of the youngest scientists and engineers.
The competition, under the patronage of Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, was the largest science event hosted in Qatar and attracted over 3,000 participants from 44 countries to compete in challenges under the theme ‘Robot Explorers’.
The introduction of Maersk Oil Qatar ‘Inspiration in Science’ Award was one of the main highlights of the event. It was presented to a Qatari team from Khalid Bin Ahamed Independent Middle School. The team demonstrated collective passion for science, creativity and teamwork and ability to share enthusiasm and inspirational qualities with others. The three-day event at Al Shaqab Indoor Arena was hosted by Maersk Oil Qatar, College of North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q), Qatar Petroleum and the Supreme Education Council (SEC). “It was inspiring to see so many bright and brilliant students demonstrate programming and engineering skills. Building this level of participation, enthusiasm and engagement around these important disciplines has been the focus of progressive policies and practices adopted by the SEC,” said Fawziya Al Khater, Director of Education Institute, SEC.
WRO 2015 representatives from Maersk Oil Qatar, CNA-Q and the SEC took part in an official handover ceremony, which saw Qatar formally pass the WRO flag to India, ahead of the country hosting the event in 2016.
Previously Qatar National Robot Olympiad (NRO) saw 265 teams from more than 100 elementary, middle and senior schools from the country. Qatar’s participation in the two Olympiads is the culmination of the year-long GO ROBOT programme, established in 2012 to encourage students to study science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.
The Peninsula
