QU College of Engineering Selects Schools for Final LIEP Challenge

Doha, March 19 (QNA) - Qatar University's College of Engineering (CENG) announced the 5 selected schools that will go on to compete in the challenge race in the final contest of its 2012 Life is Engineering Project (LIEP). The schools were selected at an event held last Sunday. The project is led by the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MIE) Department and is one of the initiatives of the College designed to engage high school students in the appreciation of science and engineering. Omar bin AlKhattab Secondary Independent School for Boys, Al Shahaneya Secondary Independent School for Boys, Hamad bin Abdullah bin Jassim Secondary Independent School for Boys, Tareq bin Zeyad Secondary Independent School for Boys, Khalifah Secondary Independent School for Boys, and Al Furqan Secondary Independent School for Boys were chosen from 13 schools that participated in the Project. In his announcement of the names of the selected schools, Head of LIEP Organizing Committee Eng Khaled Al Athbah expressed his appreciation of the support provided by the sponsoring companies Ras Gas (Gold Sponsor), QAPCO, Dolphin Energy and Qatar Shell (Silver Sponsors), and Williams F1, and Qatar Motors and Motorcycle Federation (Strategic Partners). In a lead-up to the final selection, student representatives from all participating schools attended workshops conducted by the LIEP team and several industry partners on such topics as Health and Safety, Roads Engineering, Engine Dynamics, Aerodynamics, LNG, and Kit Car Assembly. Led by Head of LIEP 2012 Activities Committee Eng Omar Al Jamal and assisted by Engs Ali Alsamhari and Mohammed Ali Aroussi, the contest engaged students in test questions on car assembly based on the workshop topics. MIE Head Dr Saud Ghani stated that his department is pleased to see the level of popularity that the Project is enjoying among the schools in Doha. "To encourage wider interest and participation, the cars will be assembled at schools to get more students involved and attract even more next year", he said, adding that assembly of the cars will be under the supervision of CENG faculty members and technical teams from sponsors. Head of LIEP Media Committee Eng Abdullah Attiya noted that they received positive feedback and messages of appreciation from schools about the Project and the level of experience and knowledge their students gained. "As a result of LIEP, students are now more aware of our engineering programs, and have learned a number of important skills such as leadership, teamwork and communication that they will carry through their personal and professional life", he said. The selected schools started their internal workshops towards assembling the cars in preparation for the Challenge Race in April. All cars will be tested at QMMF before joining the race to ensure that they are safe, well-assembled and suitable for racing, Eng Attiya said. (QNA)