School children paint a fascinating picture of Qatar 25 years from now

Doha, 14 August 2006 - From automatic language translators, which fit inside the ear to robots with human brains, the imagination of Qatar's school children knows no limits.  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.  More information on the Qatar 2031 time capsule competition is provided on QSTP's website, www.qstp.org.qa.  Remember there is still time to submit competition entries!

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Qatar Science & Technology Park is a research and commercialisation hub designed to spur the growth of Qatar's knowledge economy.  It provides an attractive location for companies from around the world to develop and commercialise their technology, and a business incubator to help entrepreneurs launch new technology ventures.  As part of the renowned Qatar Foundation, the science park connects its tenants with neighbouring campuses of universities such as Carnegie Mellon, Georgetown, Texas A&M and Weill Cornell.  Qatar Science & Technology Park is a free-trade zone, allowing its tenants to be wholly foreign owned and free from tax.  Its current tenants include EADS, ExxonMobil, Gartner Lee, GE, Microsoft, Rolls-Royce, Shell and Total.

For further information or to arrange an interview:
Daniela Rush
Account Manager
Hill & Knowlton
Tel: + 974 413 1260

Ben Figgis
Marketing Manager
Qatar Science & Technology Park
www.qstp.org.qa
Email: bfiggis@qstp.org.qa
Tel: +974 492 7130
Fax: +974 481 2307

© Press Release 2006