QU hosts 5th Korea Int’l Youth Olympiad 2020 medallists and Akhlaquna competition winners

QATAR University (QU) honoured the winners of the 5th

orea International Youth Olympics in 2020 and the winners of the A HLAQUNA Competition on Tuesday at Ibn

haldoon Hall in the presence of the South orean Ambassador to Qatar HE im Chang-Mo and President of Qatar University, Dr Hassan Al-Derham.

Two groups of students won five awards, including gold and bronze, and three special awards were announced on October 12, 2020. The Olympiad is one of the internationally renowned competitions to attract young researchers and inventors and prepare them to become future world leaders and to refine their skills and talents that will guide the era of the knowledge-based economy. The competition also aims to broaden participants’ horizons and perceptions by sharing their experience and expertise with inventors from all over the world.

In a statement, Dr. Hassan Al-Derham, President of Qatar University, said: “Today we are celebrating a group of our students who have made outstanding achievements in both international competitions, winners of the 5th orea International Youth Olympiad 2020 and who have launched noble humanitarian initiatives, the achievement of these privileged awards by our students is a source of pride for Qatar and Qatar University.”

The orean Ambassador said in his speech, “I would like to congratulate the awardwinning students for winning this year’s gold and bronze medal and special awards at the 5th orea International Youth Olympics. You have shown your brilliance and creativity. I would also like to extend my congratulations to the Qatar University Young Scientist Center for having inspired and encouraged these brilliant students to confidently present their innovative projects on the international stage. I have no doubt that Qatar University and innovative young scientists will continue to play a very important role in the further development of this country’s science.”

“I look forward to seeing how the young generation of our two countries will work together to make our common future better and to further strengthen our bilateral relationship in the years to come,” he added.

Sherifa Al Mohannadi, a student at the college of Chemical Engineering at Qatar University, won gold and a special award in the “Best of Best category from individual entries.

In addition to the special award presented by the Indonesian Invention and Innovation Promotion Association for research on “marine degradable plastic based on soybean by-products.” This innovation introduces a new type of biodegradable polymer made from soybean that can be used in multiple applications, the most important of which is safe packaging. The use of an innovative type of naturally degradable plastic will help to solve the problem of accumulation of plastic waste. Sherifa has worked as a research assistant at the university to complete the research, test and develop it in the laboratories of the Qatar University under the supervision of specialised researchers.

High school students Sara Al-Maadeed and Sham AlHomsi have won the bronze award and a special Award in the “Team Competition for

Creativity” category for the submission of a project titled “Fabricate Biodegradable Polymer Nanocomposites for Transparent and Eco-friendly Electronics”

The aim of this project is to manage electronic waste by producing electronic products that biodegrade naturally and quickly without damaging the environment. They have worked for several months to complete the project at Qatar University under the supervision of the centre.

At the end of the ceremony, Dr. Noora Al-Thani, Director of the Young Scientists Center, expressed her pride in the winning students and said, “The centre always seeks to provide opportunities and full support for students to participate in international conferences and competitions to present their inventions and projects that have been developed at Qatar University. This is of great benefit to them to give them the experience in project development and presentation. With its diverse research and scientific programs in the fields of research and STEAM, the centre seeks to provide an environment that attracts Qatari youth.”

The director thanked the entities that believe in the centre’s role in changing the direction of education and higher education, namely, UNESCO, the Doha Office, the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and the sponsoring program, which is the Ras Laffan Industrial City Community Outreach Program.”

The President of the Qatar University honoured the students of the “I appreciare” initiaitve, the winners of the this year’s “A HLAQUNA competition.