QU- YSC CONCLUDES THE 8TH CYCLE OF THE SCIENCE IN SPORT PROGRAM IN COOPERATION WITH THE QATAR OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

Qatar University Young Scientists Center (QU-YSC) concluded an educational and sports journey that lasted for several months, in which groups of distinguished students joined the 8th cycle of the Science in Sports program.

An award ceremony was held at Qatar University on Sunday, March 27, 2022, in the conference hall with the presence of all participating students, athletes from the Qatar Olympic Committee, invited guests and researchers from Qatar University.

22 male and female students from the tenth and eleventh grades participated in a scientific workshop in which they carried out a variety of activities related to sports sciences. The Science in Sports program is concerned with providing students with a different educational experience, where scientific topics in the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) are studied in a sport framework, which stimulates the acquisition of knowledge and its practical application. The program aims to consolidate new scientific foundations in the minds of secondary school students and introduce them to scientific fields such as sports engineering and sports materials science and their impact on playing methods and players’ efficiency. One of the reasons for the success of this cycle of the program was the constructive cooperation with the Qatar Olympic Committee, represented in the participation of athletes as leaders for the participating groups, as their role was great in the challenge of creating a sports game and designing playing equipment. The players contributed to providing the students with their experience and their sport perspective, which met with the great scientific quantity that the students gained from the workshop.

During the honoring ceremony, the center highlighted the students’ achievements represented in innovations of new sports based on accurate scientific foundations that were developed under the supervision of the center’s researchers. Some of the presented new sports included the revival of popular games that were practiced in Qatar in the past, and the development of the tools used in them to become the effect of modernity, such as Al-Karim and Al-Dahrouj. In addition to games that combine physical strength, thinking skill and concentration, and others that rely on teamwork and cooperation to win. In designing various sports equipment, the students focused on using materials that do not harm the environment, relying on the principle of reusing materials to reduce waste, and applying the concept of sustainability.

All participating sports projects were evaluated on 17 February 2022 in a final competition that was held remotely. During the evaluation day, the groups presented their sports projects before a panel of judges with scientific and sports backgrounds, and showed films documenting the journey of their participation in the program, which was published on YouTube. The judges asked many questions to the students, who showed great knowledge of all aspects of sports and the scientific foundations on which it was built.

Al the end of the ceremony Al-Rayyan Stadium Group was awarded with the first place and Khalifa Stadium group in the second place, both from Qatar Science and Technology Secondary School for Boys. The third place was won by the students of Al-Janoub Stadium group from Rabaa Al-Adawiya Secondary School for Girls. Lusail Stadium group from Qatar Science and Technology Secondary School for Boys and the Education City Stadium group from Zubaida Secondary School for Girls were honored the most committed groups.

At the end of the ceremony, Prof. Noora Al-Thani, Director of Qatar University’s Young Scientists Center, addressed the honored students, praising their achievements, creativity and perseverance throughout the program. In her speech, she said, “We congratulate all the winning students for their achievements that resulted from research, perseverance, investigation and innovative. What distinguishes the center’s programs is the integration of students into reality and activities that attract them, such as sports, and we always strive to create partnerships with parties that contribute to achieving the center’s visions and providing the best for its affiliates.” Prof. Nora thanked the Olympic Committee and the participating athletes, namely the athletics champion Bashair Al-Menwari, Taekwondo champion Othman Boularas and Karate champion Abdullah Dalloul, for their support of the students and being a major factor in their motivation and success of the 8th cycle. She also thanked the center’s partners, namely UNESCO-Doha Office and the Qatar National Committee for Education, Culture and Science.

Source: QATAR UNIVERSITY

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