More than 50 of Qatar’s brightest young future engineers and scientists are spending the first few weeks of their summer vacations by taking part in the Future Engineers and Summer Engineering Academy (SEA) programmes, which run until June 30, at Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq).
The two programmes form part of a broader initiative called Dhia: Engineering Leaders initiative, a partnership between Tamuq and longtime collaborator Maersk Oil Qatar (MOQ). Dhia aims to entice young Qataris to choose educational pathways in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
SEA is a 10-day academic enrichment programme for 24 academically outstanding grade 11 Qatari students who have been named Qatar National Vision Scholars. The students are working with Texas A&M faculty members on real-life, relevant, hands-on research projects related to Qatar’s research challenges in autonomous vehicles, petroleum production, water desalination and wireless energy, according to a statement.
SEA introduces students to advanced topics in engineering and science while teaching important problem-solving skills. They also learn how to communicate technical ideas and will put these lessons to the test at the end of the two-week programme by presenting their individual projects and research findings to the faculty members.
In the Future Engineers Programme, which runs parallel to SEA, more than 30 Qatari students rising into grades 10 and 11 are working on projects related to space, including the design of a near-space weather balloon that will take measurements, photographs and observations as it rises into the outer atmosphere. The project teaches students about data relationships while demonstrating that scientific inquiry can be fun, the statement notes.
In week two, the Future Engineers will design tools that an astronaut might use in space. The tools will be 3-D printed at Texas A&M’s facilities. In designing the tools, the students will meet with and interview Nasa astronaut Duane Carey about his experiences in space and the kind of tasks an astronaut might perform in zero gravity. 
Sheikh Faisal bin Fahad al-Thani, deputy managing director at MOQ, said: “We are working to attract more young Qataris into the sciences and inspire the next generation to follow a technical educational track.” 
Dr Mansour Karkoub, mechanical engineering professor at Tamuq, is mentoring a Summer Engineering Academy team for the second year in a row. He said the programme gives young Qataris a glimpse into what engineers do and the impact engineers can have on the world.