16th International Junior Science Olympiad gets underway at QNCC

HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi opened the 16th edition of the International Junior Science Olympiad yesterday at Qatar National Convention Centre.
Held under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, the Olympiad is held under the theme  “Motivating Today’s Young Generation for the Skills of Tomorrow” and will last until December 12.
Prominent Qatari entrepreneur HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, former minister HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s undersecretary Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al-Naimi, Qatar University president Dr Hassan Rashid al-Derham, Hamad Bin Khalifa University president Dr Ahmad M Hasnah, and several other dignitaries were present at the opening ceremony.
“The Olympiad hosts some of the world’s best performing students to compete and exchange expertise with others from around the world. It is a very unique event with the participation of 409 students from 70 countries and the participation is the highest in the history of the Olympiad. Qatar’s hosting of the event reflects the country’s growing stature in the field, as it is the first Arab country to organise the International Junior Science Olympiad,” said, HE Dr al-Hammadi.
During the ceremony, the winners of a competition organised by Qatar Environment and Energy Institute, were honoured. Team from Palestine won the first prize, Qatar team came second while Indian team won the third position.
“The country’s strategy, laid by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will continue to focus on the development of the educational system to bring up a new generation that has access to the most modern skills and the most modern scientific research capabilities. This will enable them to remain relevant in the light of the scientific and technological developments that are sweeping the world. This in turn, will help meet the aspirations of the society for prosperity,” continued the minister.
Speaking at the event, Dr al-Naimi described the Olympiad very unique and a source of pride for all in the country as Qatar is the first country in the Arab world  to host this Olympiad. He also pointed out that Qatar’s participation in the previous editions of the competition was useful in understanding various ways in organising such global events.
Spokesperson for the International Junior Science Olympiad 2019, Dr Mohamed Yousuf al-Ali focused on the importance of science in all aspects of life. He reviewed his scientific and study history and the support he received from the country until he joined Nasa and then returned to contribute to Qatar’s development.
The president of the International Junior Science Olympiad organisation, Dr Paresh Joshi complemented Qatar for hosting the Olympiad in a highly professional manner as well as introducing digital format for conducting the competitions. He also exhorted the  students to perform well in the competition to gain maximum benefits from the Olympiad in their scientific and professional journey.
There were several videos showcasing Qatar’s heritage and advancements in scientific fields as well as a performance highlighting the seafaring heritage of the country.