STEM program offered by Texas A&M at Qatar teaches students how to innovate in three dimensions
Published Mar 09, 2021Over the course of five weeks, 31 high school students in grades 9-12 explored the fundamentals of the engineering design process while learning from home during the Qatar Invents: Innovating in Three Dimensions STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program developed and offered by Texas A&M University at Qatar, a Qatar Foundation partner university.
STEM experts Tala Katbeh and Benjamin Cieslinski developed and taught Qatar Invents, which tasked the students with coming up with novel solutions to problems while learning the necessary 3D computer-aided design (CAD) modeling tools to design and create their prototypes. At the end of the workshop, students completed their projects and brought their ideas to life by creating their own engineering solutions to the challenge presented: improving their study-from-home workstations to ensure students remain healthy and are efficient with their work.
Participating student Jannatul Mawa said, “I have always envisioned myself as an inventor, longing to create things that will touch the stars and beyond. Qatar Invents program helped me solidify that vision and inspired me to work harder, all while learning a plethora of new things along the way in an open and friendly environment where teamwork and curiosity is always encouraged.”
Another student inventor, Hannah Aston, who has participated in previous online STEM programs hosted by Texas A&M at Qatar, said that she enjoyed this program and the interactive and hands-on nature of the course.
“With my prior knowledge of the structure of the online programs, I was eager to do another one and learn a new aspect of design,” Aston said. “During the first week I was greeted by so many other students living in Qatar with the same passion as me. I really enjoyed the structure of the assignments along with the informational videos. For a student who is thinking about applying to this program I would say to be creative and think outside the box and just explore 3D modeling. There is so much that can be done using Fusion 360 and your ideas come to life once you have designed it on there; while it may be hard at the start, everything is just trial and error, and that’s what makes you feel like a true engineer.”
Yousef Altoum, who has also completed previous programs, said, “Qatar Invents helped me look forward to joining all kinds of programs to improve on my skills, learn new ones, and create a passion for things I never knew I would dedicate myself to. Qatar Invents can help you have a different outlook on the work you have done and will encounter in the future. It gives you experience, creates a sense of competitiveness and helps you learn about things you never knew about.”
Texas A&M at Qatar dean Dr. César Octavio Malavé said that the relatability of this year’s task — a work-from-home workstation every student needs to continue learning during the pandemic — illustrates how engineers solve real-world challenges every day to improve lives and benefit people.
“Engineering is all around us and touches our lives in ways most of us take for granted,” Malavé said. “STEM enrichment programs such as Qatar Invents bring these concepts home to students and open their eyes to how engineering affects all of us. In a time when students are already spending so much time learning in new and innovative ways, I’m proud of these young inventors for taking on this task. I look forward to welcoming them as fellow engineers someday and seeing what they will achieve as Qatar pursues the ambitious goals it set forth in its National Vision.”