International Day of Women and Girls in Science in Qatar

This year, Qatar University (QU), in partnership with the UNESCO Office for the Gulf States and Yemen and the Qatar National Commission for UNESCO, is organizing an event that will feature a keynote speech by a prominent women scientist, presentations highlighting the achievements of Al-Bairaq and “Tamkeen” (Empower Generations Consortium) projects, as well as a panel discussion among young female students who are interested in pursuing careers in STEM fields.

Celebrated internationally since the resolution of the UN General Assembly in December 2015, and placed under the responsibility of UNESCO and UN Women, International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women scientists, while encouraging new generations of girls to face new scientific challenges.

This year, Qatar University (QU), in partnership with the UNESCO Office for the Gulf States and Yemen and the Qatar National Commission for UNESCO, is organizing an event that will feature a keynote speech by a prominent women scientist, presentations highlighting the achievements of Al-Bairaq and “Tamkeen” (Empower Generations Consortium) projects, as well as a panel discussion among young female students who are interested in pursuing careers in STEM fields.

Keynote speech: Dr. Bothina Al Mulla
Dr. Bothina Al-Mulla is a doctor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sidra Medical and Research Center and Hamad Medical Corporation. She earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from Weill Cornell Medical College in 2011, and holds a Master’s degree in strategic management and health care leadership from City University of London in 2014. Her thesis researched the difficulties facing women in work in the Middle East. She has also undertaken research in the field of infertility in both Qatar and New York.
Dr Al-Mulla was named an ambassador of students at Educational City for three years. She has made many valuable contributions both inside and outside the country with Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Misnad in the Al Fakhoora campaign.
In 2012, Dr Al-Mulla won the Scientific Excellence Award under the patronage of Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, as well as the Ideal Personality Award from Weill Cornell in 2012, and a distinction degree in community service in 2011.
Her talk is titled “AlDana,” which means the valuable pearl. In her speech, she will focus on the role and value of women in science, and in society in general.

Al-Bairaq project
Al-Bairaq is a non-traditional educational programme, in which Qatari secondary school students’ work in teams with experienced university-level scientists to solve practical scientific problems. The programme is supported by Qatar University at the Center for Advanced Materials, and emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary STEM research.
Al-Bairaq contributes to the country’s national development through alignment with Qatar’s Vision 2030. Its mission is to develop Qatar as a knowledge-based society, enriching its human capital through prioritizing the importance of forging links and building bridges between high school students and educational institutions.

Empower Generations Consortium project
Empower Generations Consortium, which is offered by the College of Health Sciences and the Biomedical Research Center at QU, aims to enhance the conceptual development of life sciences and grant young people life-fulfilling careers that help them to dynamically engage with society, build their inner strength and self-confidence, enhance their competency levels and interpersonal skills, and encourage their social contribution. The projects operating within the consortium are firmly aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 Agenda and Qatar Vision 2030. It fosters investment in youth to shape stronger societies through several national and international collaborations in science education. The project has been endorsed by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar as a lead source for building national capacities in life and biomedical sciences.
The presentation will showcase the following research project: “The Effect of Ginger and Curcumin Roots on Breast and Lung Cell Carcinoma.”

Students’ panel discussion
The theme of the panel discussion is “Empowering Future Generations of Young Scientists.” Through a youth-to-youth dialogue, students will have the opportunity to share with the audience their aspirations and ambitions in pursuing a career in STEM fields, their role models, their needs to further strengthen their skills and knowledge as well as to share their opinions on current challenges facing both Qatari society and wider global community.