Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) concluded the activities of the first national camp for the Junior Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad, which was held at the headquarters of the Qatar Scouts and Guides Association, with the participation of 30 male and female students from various public and private schools.
Organised by the Ministry’s Educational Affairs Sector from May 7 to 9, the camp aimed to prepare and qualify a national team capable of representing Qatar in international forums and competitions. The initiative reflects the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to identify and nurture promising scientific talents among students in this vital field.
The camp’s closing programme featured a series of specialised training sessions and workshops delivered by a group of experienced local trainers. The sessions focused on equipping students with both practical and theoretical skills, including the use of telescopes for astronomical observation, performing astronomy-related mathematical calculations, and understanding different types of time systems and celestial coordinates.
The camp also witnessed fruitful cooperation with the Qatar Calendar House through a specialized training session that enriched participants’ scientific knowledge and connected it to practical applications.
In addition, the camp offered an integrated educational and awareness-oriented program, including discussion sessions aimed at linking religious perspectives with astronomy to strengthen students’ reflective thinking. A first aid introductory session was also delivered in cooperation with the Nomas Center, while the Qatar Scouts and Guides Association organized an educational entertainment hour featuring astronomy competitions and interactive quizzes presented in a creative manner, enhancing students’ engagement with the scientific material throughout the camp.
This strong turnout reflected the collective national efforts and institutional cooperation aimed at supporting scientific excellence among young people, enriching scientific curricula, and developing students’ research and inquiry skills.
