ExxonMobil Qatar Women’s Network, EMRA’A, Hosts its FourthIntroduce a Girl to Engineering Day at Doha English Speaking School

EMRA’A, ExxonMobil Qatar’s Professional Women’s Network, held its fourth Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day event at Doha English Speaking School (DESS) earlier this week.

The event is an extension of a program that ExxonMobil organizes in the United States and other global locations; and is part of the company’s efforts to encourage young girls to consider careers in fields that require a background in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects.

The event is an extension of a program that ExxonMobil organizes in the United States and other global locations; and is part of the company’s efforts to encourage young girls to consider careers in fields that require a background in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects. 

The day’s activities were planned with the help and support of 15 professional women volunteers from ExxonMobil Qatar. More than 25 girls from Year 6 spent the morning with the professional women, working on activities as a team, one of which involved building load-bearing bridges out of raw spaghetti and marshmallows. The activity challenges the girls, requiring them to be constructive, creative and think strategically and how to build a structure from simple materials. 

Students then listened to the volunteers speak about their professional experiences and how rewarding careers in engineering and the other STEM fields can be. 

“The world is facing a shortage of engineers and scientists - the people we need to preserve and improve our planet and our livelihoods. And there are even fewer women engineers and scientists in the global workforce today. This is why ExxonMobil supports programs like Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day that inspire and encourage girls and young women to pursue careers in STEM,” said Mariah Forte-Connor, for ExxonMobil Qatar. 

“It is extremely important that students understand how engineers make an impact on the world, and that engineering needs creativity, communication and teamwork. One of the best ways to do this is to provide girls with hands on activities and positive role models who are confident in their science and engineering abilities and can talk about their accomplishments and passion for their fields. We’re pleased to have made a positive impression on all the girls who have taken part over the years and hope to see more and more of them going into STEM careers. They have the potential to thrive and succeed, and Qatar will need their support,” she continued. 

Mr. Sean Sibley, DESS’ Headteacher commented on the event’s success, “It is important for our children to aspire to be anything they want to be. At DESS we promote and encourage our children to aim high in order to achieve their goals and “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” is a fantastic opportunity for our girls to find out more about this potential area of employment. We would like to thank ExxonMobil Qatar, one of our Platinum Sponsors, for their help and input in raising the aspirations of our children.” 

EMRA’A hosts events that respond to the needs of professional women in the energy industry, and inspire STEM education among girls and young women. Education is a priority area for ExxonMobil worldwide, and a strong STEM education is becoming increasingly recognized as a key driver of opportunity. 

Programs like Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day emphasize ExxonMobil Qatar’s commitment to supporting local efforts in developing the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators to build a sustainable future.