Qatar in 2031: Virtual schools and hi-tech robots

Following the launch of Qatar Science & Technology Park's Qatar 2031 Time Capsule Competition in June, there has been an overwhelming response from school children all over Qatar, whose futuristic ideas paint a colorful and innovative outlook for the country.

"We have been bowled over by the exciting and inventive creations that we have received," said Ben Figgis, Marketing Manager of QSTP. "Science and technology are clearly topics that spark the imagination of Qatar's students."

Hundreds of primary school and high school pupils have already sent in their application forms for the Qatar 2031 Time Capsule Competition, which closes on the 20th August. The competition, which encourages Qatar's youth to think about technologies of the future and their role in Qatar's development, has provoked intriguing ideas such as painless surgery, where medical complaints can be treated by teleporting the problem, to headscarves that incorporate wireless headphones to use with the owner's iPod or mobile phone.

"The competition captured my interest because it was a good opportunity to express the thoughts in my imagination about how Qatar will advance in years to come", said Vanessa Colaco, aged nine, from Modern Indian School. "I also hope to win the laptop and be able to use it to create new ideas."

Entries will be judged by a panel of science and technology professionals and the five most innovative and creative ideas will receive a new laptop computer courtesy of Computer Arabia. The Qatar 2031 Award Ceremony will take place on 5th September at the Ritz-Carlton in Doha, during the Explore QSTP exhibition, which is open to the public from the 4th to 5th September.