Doha: Texas A&M University at Qatar, a Qatar Foundation partner university, and the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) offered a virtual one-week summer programme to high school students in Qatar that explored the oil and natural gas industry in Qatar.
The National Museum of Qatar approached Texas A&M at Qatar with the idea to develop the programme, “All About Science: Exploring Petroleum and Gas Engineering.” Through a series of engaging lectures and discussions, students learned about the history of oil development in Qatar, midstream and natural gas, petrophysics, fluid properties, measuring rock properties, drilling technology, and production. Participant Noor ElBordainy said, “I was interested in the programme because being a petroleum engineer is my dream. This programme made me sure that I want to study it in Texas A&M Qatar.”
Sham Homssi, who has participated in other STEM programmes offered by Texas A&M at Qatar, said, “I did not expect that I would like oil and gas engineering, but the professors made it so enjoyable and fascinating that I may consider it as my future career. I really recommend everyone to give this programme a try. Even if you don’t consider engineering as your future career, this programme may change your mind.”
Participants virtually experienced tours and experiments in laboratory facilities at Texas A&M at Qatar. The students also virtually toured the National Museum of Qatar galleries to learn about the early period of the oil industry and its positive impact on Qatar society, along with an art session that helped encompass the arts aspect that motivates STEM learning. Participants said they enjoyed learning about Qatar’s heritage through the National Museum in addition to learning about natural gas.
By the end of the programme, students were tasked to research various countries around the world to discover their energy consumption as well as oil and gas imports and exports while comparing them to Qatar. This exercise showed the students’ understanding of the topics covered throughout the programme and helped develop their teamwork and technical research skills.
