Doha: Over 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.
"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," she added.
