More than 100 teachers and students representing independent and international schools in Doha were present at the recent launch of Qatar University (QU) Gas Processing Center’s (GPC) seventh Gasna competition for schools.
Gasna aims to increase students’ awareness on the importance of the oil and gas industry in the country’s development and growth, and engage them to further advance it. 
This year, the initiative is sponsored by Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco), Qatargas and ExxonMobil. 
Present at the event were QU College of Engineering (CENG) dean Dr Khalifa al-Khalifa, Qafco Chair in Chemical Process Engineering Prof Muftah El-Naas, CENG Department of Mechanical Engineering head Prof Majeda Khraisheh, ExxonMobil Qatar senior environmental researcher Nayla al-Naema and Qapco head of Career Development Faraj Atiq al-Hamad, as well as QU faculty and students. 
The Gasna K-12 award includes four categories - First (KG-Grade 4), Second (Grade 5 and 6), Third (Grade 7-9) and Fourth (Grade 10-12), QU explained in a press statement. Each participating school must submit a project for each category. Submission could be a performance, a poster, an essay or a research project. 
Commenting on the event, Dr al-Khalifa said: “CENG is committed to cement its relations with industry to help promote engineering programmes. Gasna is one of the initiatives that achieve this objective.”
Prof Abdelmagid Hammuda of QU-CENG said: “The Gasna competition is a national initiative that aims to raise students’ awareness on Qatar’s national resources and energy sector.”
Qapco managing director and CEO Dr Mohamed Yousef al-Mulla noted: “It is a tremendous privilege to sponsor this event and Qapco is proud to be associated with the Gas Processing Center and Qatar University.”
Al-Naema added: “ExxonMobil Qatar is proud to have found an ideal partner in the university, as we work to provide the energy that drives human potential and ultimately fuels progress.”