Doha
11 March 2017 (QNA)

2017 Education Conference and National Scientific Research Week will start Sunday at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC). It is organised by Ministry of Education Qatar in collaboration with Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF)

With the theme of 'Pioneering and Creativity', the Education Conference and National Scientific Research Week aims to disseminate the culture of research and innovation in the Qatari society and to develop among students scientific and creative thinking skills.

The conference will discuss important educational and research issues such as change, innovation, pioneering in learning communities, scientific research, keeping up with educational developments, creativity and effective professional academic advising.

The Education Conference 2017 is an opportunity for educators and researchers in different fields of education to exchange knowledge and expertise and to exchange views on advancing the quality of education.

It is also an opportunity for disseminating knowledge and learning about modern developments in the field of education.

It also aims to discuss current educational issues and trends concerning Qatar, and to strengthen the role of teachers and school leaders, as producers of knowledge.

The conference also aims at exchanging national and international experience in education and establishing a network that provides opportunities for research collaboration in the future between workers in the field of education.

The Conference activities will as well include 'Educational Practices and Workshops', ' Procedural Research Presentations', second edition of 'Qatar National Astronomy Olympiad' and 'Famelab Competition'.

With regard to Educational Practices and Workshops, The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has worked to encourage teachers and academics in public and private schools to apply distinctive practices in education by highlighting them and presenting at the conference, which provides diverse opportunities in professional development for the staff of public and private schools as well as for all workers in the educational field.

Procedural Research is a reflective process of progressive problem solving led by parties to the educational process to improve the way they address issues and solve problems. 323 educators participated in the 'Action Research' competition this year.

Talking with 'Qatar News Agency (QNA)', Head of the Scientific Research at the Ministry of Education Dr. Asma Al Mohannadi praised the outstanding research made by the students in this edition of the Student Research Fair. The researches covered all scientific fields.

She lauded students' participation this year as Ministry of Education also provided all necessary facilities in their research works and in development of their innovative and capabilities.

The Number of researches qualified for participation in the Ninth National Student Research Fair, associated with the 2017 Education Conference and National Scientific Research Week, was 140 researches in different areas, including computing and communication systems, mathematics, physics, bio-engineering, chemistry, materials science, energy, earth science, environmental science, botany, zoology and socio-behavioral science.

The National Scientific Research Week aims to achieve excellence in scientific research, create competitive atmosphere and to support researchers.

The Qatar Astronomy Olympiad (QAO) is a national competition for school students of age 16–18, in which students compete by creating astronomy models and conducting related mathematical calculations.

As for the 'FameLab Competition', it is a competition for scientific communication began at the initiative of "Cheltenham Science Festival" and the British Council in more than 31 countries around the world.

FameLab was launched in Qatar in cooperation with Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) with the aim of encouraging young scientists to find a way to express themselves and communicate with the general public an open, inspiring and interactive way.