Since its launch on April 22nd, the Design Challenge has spanned 11 sessions featuring expert talks and hands-on workshops held at Scale 7 Business Incubator. Various Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) topics were covered across the dynamic sessions, including ecology, 3D modeling, digital fabrication, electronics, app development, IoT, and coding. Attendees were immersed in insights from Studio 5 team experts to equip them with the knowledge and tools needed to infuse best practices and creativity into their project proposals.

“The Design Challenge epitomizes our commitment to nurturing Qatar’s young talent and fostering a culture of innovation,” stated Duha Ali Al Buhendi, Director of the Digital Society and Digital Competencies Department at MCIT. “Through initiatives like this, we empower our youth to become drivers of positive change, contributing to Qatar’s advancement on the global stage.”

The challenge was also underpinned by support from ecologist, conservationist, and Qatar e-Nature Scientific Advisor Dr. Aspa Chatziefthimiou, along with other leading ecologists, who offered teaching sessions aimed to inspire innovative solutions and drive greater environmental awareness among the participants.

Reflecting on the challenge, Dr. Pat Skhonde, Sasol Qatar Country Manager, commented, “I am delighted to see Sasol’s Qatar e-Nature initiative acting as an engine for creativity and innovation. Project-based learning opportunities like this are essential in preparing young people for the future of work outside of a classroom setting and offer a positive opportunity for impact in the community. “

The primary objective of the Design Challenge is to create inclusive and sustainable spaces for insects using technology. Participants combine creativity with curiosity, focusing on features conducive to sheltering beneficial insect species in urban settings. This challenge explores how architectural designs inspired by nature can encourage insect conservation efforts, fostering healthier ecosystems within urban landscapes through innovative technological interventions.

Participants pitched their prototypes on June 11 to expert jurors from MCIT, Sasol and Scale 7, alongside a scientific jury, who meticulously evaluated the submitted designs, prioritizing sustainability and innovation. Exceptional creations were duly recognized and celebrated, with winners receiving recognition for their contributions.

To find out more about the final pitch on June 11 or to stay tuned about the upcoming Studio 5 events and workshops, please visit Studio5 website.

Click here to learn more about #TeamSasol initiatives in Qatar.

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Sasol, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Friends of the Environment Centre (FEC), announced that over 13,000 students across Qatar had participated in the seventh edition of the Qatar e-Nature Schools Contest. A virtual Awards Ceremony sponsored by Regency Sealine Camp and A Flower Each Spring was organised on 16 May 2020 where 12 winners from grade 1 to 12 were selected by an electronic draw system.

The exponential growth in the number of participants compared to previous years is attributed to the new online format of the Qatar e-Nature Schools Contest 2020, to include students in all schools and all grades from 1 to 12. The contest ran from 1 February to 30 April, it included ten multiple-choice questions based on information in the Qatar e-Nature app and website. Questions covered a range of topics such as flora, birds, insects, reptiles, mammals, marine life, nature reserves, and Qatar’s ecosystems.  Previous years have seen the contest open to primary school teams from grades 4 to 6, where schools nominated students to compete with other schools and go through qualification rounds to reach the finals and win.

Over 3000 students and teachers attended the virtual awards ceremony online and cheered on the 12 winners from different schools and different nationalities.

The winners are…

Ehan Shabeer Ali (DPS Monarch International School), Ayaan Ahmed Dalloul (Edison International Academy – Dahl Al Hamam), Muhammad Bin Rizwan Yasin (Al Qods Model School for Boys and Selman Mubarak Houmaydi (Al Khor Model School for Boys), Mohammed Junaid Iqbal (DPS Monarch International School), Mariam Ali Muhammad Al Marri (Zainab Bint Jahsh Primary School for Girls), Najla Barhoumi (Global Academy International), Aisha Khaled Mohammad Al Thani (Al Andalus Primary Preparatory and Secondary School for Girls), Louloua Said Touwaym Al Kashouti (Maither Preparatory School for Girls), Sally Al Kurdi (Blyth Academy), Khaled Al Moatasem Abdullah Mohammad (Al Shamal Secondary School for Boys) and Nof Mohammad Al Azba (Al Karaana Primary Preparatory Secondary School for Girls) from grades 1 to 12 respectively. All 12 winners received a one night full board stay for four people at Regency Sealine Camp.

The top five participating schools (The Scholars’ International School and Safiyya Bint Abdul Muttalib Primary School for Girls and Al-louloua International School – Al Dafna and Shantiniketan Indian School and Othman Bin Affan Model School for Boys) scored the highest percentage of participating students and were awarded with a Qatar e-Nature Trophy.

Partners and Support

The contest, organised by Sasol under its corporate social responsibility umbrella encourages students to explore Qatar’s rich nature, learn more about the environmental diversity in the country, and gain knowledge in a fun way while staying at home during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Fatima Al Obaidli, Head of Programs and Activities at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education said“We are very pleased to witness a record participation in this year’s contest, and the innovative and accomplished approach implemented by Sasol, to ensure that the Qatar e-Nature Schools Contest continues as scheduled albeit with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 situation.  This educational and environmental initiative is not only a model of an effective partnership between the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Sasol and FEC, but also a testament to the very fruitful results of fusing education, technology, and a passion for our environment.”

Commenting on this initiative, Jack Saba, General Manager of Public Affairs at Sasol, said: “Sasol is incredibly pleased with the response to this year’s edition of Qatar e-Nature Schools Contest and congratulations to all the young winners. Since the competition launch in 2014, we have continued to grow in size and stature, enriching the initiative and opening the contest to a larger number of students. We aim to instil an appreciation of Qatar’s distinct nature. We are extremely thankful for the support we are receiving from The Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the FEC to bring nature to thousands of students in Qatar and I would like to thanks the Regency Sealine Camp Management and A Flower Each Spring for their support to this contest and for offering the prizes to all the winners.”

Qatar e-Nature

Launched in December 2013, Qatar e-Nature is a first-of-its-kind smartphone application seeking to inspire a love for Qatar’s natural beauty among the country’s residents. Application and website highlight flora, birds, insects, mammals, reptiles, marine life, ecosystems, and nature reserves in Qatar. Sasol created the app as part of its corporate social responsibility programme in partnership with Friends of the Environment Centre. The app features content in Arabic and English, which aims to support the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 to promote sustainable development by contributing towards an environmentally aware population.

All photographs of school visits were taken prior to the Corona virus pandemic

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Sasol partnered with the Friends of the Environment Centre (FEC) to produce a state-of-the-art, interactive and multimedia mobile phone app and website, Qatar e-Nature, to create awareness and appreciation of the richness of Qatar’s natural environment.

To date the award-winning Qatar e-Nature app (available free on the Android, iOS and Windows platforms) has reached over 66,000 people.

Since 2014 Sasol, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, has organised the Qatar e-Nature Schools Contest to encourage students to discover Qatar’s environmental diversity. More than 100 government and private primary schools from across Qatar participated in the 2018 contest which tested students’ knowledge  of plants, mammals, insects, reptiles, birds and marine life based on information available on the Qatar e-Nature app and website.  The contest ended with an awards ceremony which extensive coverage by the local media.  www.enature.qa

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