Doha, Qatar: Qatari high school students were celebrated and recognised for their innovative projects during the NXplorers 2023 closing ceremony recently.
This year’s programme brought together 520 students and 21 teachers from 12 preparatory schools across Qatar. The students underwent a total of 25 workshops working in teams and using ‘NXthinking’ to explore pressing issues affecting society and how to tackle them.
In the presence of distinguished officials and industry experts from Qatar’s education and technology sectors, 12 teams were shortlisted as the finalists and the top four winners were crowned at the closing ceremony.
Students from Abd Al Rahman Ibn Awf Preparatory School for Boys won the first prize for their project titled ‘Reducing the Consumption of Irrigation Water in Al Khor,’ while the team from Qatar Technical Secondary School for Girls secured the second prize for their project on ‘Capsule to Save Up Drinkable Water.’
Moza Bint Mohammed Preparatory Independent School students received the third prize for their project ‘A Device for Monitoring and Improving Plant Growth.’ The fourth winner, the student team from Amna Bint Wahab Independent Secondary School for Girls claimed the People’s Choice Award after receiving the highest number of votes from guests at the event for their project ‘Using Cow Faeces to Create Alternative Energy.’
NXplorers is an initiative by Shell that equips students with the critical thinking, creativity and complex problem-solving skills and tools they need to reimagine our world and counter global challenges related to food, water, and energy. The programme focuses on science, technology, engineering, and mathematic (STEM) subjects.
The NXplorers programme is implemented under a strategic partnership between Qatar Shell, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), and Qatar Scientific Club, and is designed to support the human and sustainable development ambitions of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
Assistant Undersecretary for Education Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Maha Zayed Al-Ruwaili, said: “The Ministry appreciates strong and fruitful partnerships, which seek to provide students and teachers with the necessary tools and skills that embrace creativity, enhance creative thinking and encourage students to find solutions for major problems and issues in the world. MoEHE’s partnership with Qatar Shell is one of our most prominent fruitful partnerships. Over four editions so far, this partnership provided training that enriches and promotes the understanding of STEM topics in 30 schools for 1,520 students at governmental and private schools in addition to 110 teachers.”
Deputy General Manager at Qatar Shell, Rashid Majid Al Sulaiti, said: “Our rapidly evolving world continues to put tremendous pressure on resources essential for economic, social and environmental well-being. It is imperative for us to nurture and build the STEM competencies of young people to help solve the issues we face today and in the future. This remains one of our leading priorities at Qatar Shell and has been a foundational block of the NXplorers programme as we train, mentor and prepare Qatar’s future leaders.”
