From whales to asteroids and coding to robotics, March at Qatar National Library brings something for everyone fascinated with science.
The exciting program of events kicks off on 8 March with a talk by whale expert Dr. Nick Pyenson of the US National Museum of Natural History, who will share his extensive research into the fascinating lives of these iconic giants of the deep.
The Library is making learning entertaining for budding scientists, beginning with the wide range of activities planned for the Library Science Fair on 13 March. The theme continues on 15 March with a five-day Spring Tech Camp for kids aged 7 to 18. Children ages 7 to 11 can explore the fun side of science by conducting experiments that teach scientific fundamentals and reveal the secrets of the world around us in the Fun Science Experiments sessions scheduled for 11 March and 18 March.
Also on 21 March, the Library hosts a workshop, “World Down Syndrome Day: The 21st Chromosome,” that will provide information about the condition and the best educational and behavioral methods used to further improve and develop the skills of those who have Down syndrome.
The Young Adults Coding Club will hold a coding challenge for teenagers interested in programming on that same day.
Amani Saleh Alyafei, Head of Science at the Library, said: “We have another marvelous month of activities to suit everyone’s learning needs. We are focusing on science because its myriad fields—biology, physics, chemistry and more—affect our lives every single day.”
A pair of events give attendees the chance to put science to practical use to help save the planet. On 14 March, an afternoon workshop will look at ways everyone can do their bit for the environment by shining a light on sustainability and adopting green practices. On 27 March, “A Guide to Sustainable Living” will explore the reasons for living a sustainable lifestyle and offer practical tips for starting this important journey.
Also on 27 March, the Science Book Forum examines “Asteroids, Comets and Their Encounters With Earth.” The forum will look at how asteroids and comets have affected the evolution of our own planet along with others in the solar system.
The final day of the month, 31 March, features the last of the science-themed events with the Qatar National Robotics Challenge. In this advanced robotics competition, students in grades 8 to 11 design, build, program and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge.
Alongside these science-themed activities, there are many other educational events scheduled to take place at the Library during the month.
“Once Upon A Touch” on 4 March provides a great opportunity for children with additional needs to enjoy a tale or two with their families and caretakers, while on 7 March, parents are invited to a workshop focusing on any problems or concerns they might have with their child’s communication skills.
On 11 March, “A Book in 72 Hours” sees the Library, in cooperation with the Tamouh initiative, challenge teams of writers ages 18 to 45 to write a book in just 72 hours. The winning work, selected by the jury, will then be published to help spread and enhance the culture of authorship.
Teach For Qatar fellows and alumni will be welcome at the Library on 12 March to present their inspirational stories of working in schools.
As part of the Library’s Be Conscious series of legal awareness programs and to mark International Women’s Day on 19 March, Qatari lawyer Asmaa Ali Alquradaghi will present a lecture on women’s rights under Qatari law and the legal ways women can advocate for and protect their rights.
Budgeting for a wedding is the subject of a personal finance workshop for women on 26 March. Later that same day, famed Syrian violinist and composer MAias Alyamani and the MAjazz Band will play a selection of Alyamani’s oriental jazz compositions in “Philharmonic at the Library: Extra Ginger.”
Another notable Qatari visits the Library on 27 March as part of the popular Inspiring Individuals series. This month, Abdualaziz Jassim Al-Khanji, a firefighter, amateur marine athlete and musician, will relate some of his engaging personal stories.
On 28 March, youngsters ages 13 to 18 can learn about the SDGeneration Network, an initiative that aims to tell Qatar’s youth about the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
From 29 March to 11 April, the Library is hosting the “Reesha Student Art Exhibition.” The exhibition will showcase 31 acrylic canvas paintings created by students under the supervision of a group of Qatari artists, including Fatima Al-Nesf and Dana Safar.
