Qatar Foundation (QF) students continue to strengthen their global presence in scientific innovation after achieving major international success at the International Space Challenge 2025 in Singapore.

The competition brought together top student teams from around the world to develop future-focused solutions that support space sustainability.

The“Karisoma” team from Qatar Academy for Science and Technology (QAST), part of QF Pre-University Education (PUE), won the“New Challenger Award” - one of the top awards given to promising scientific projects - for their project“DebriX”. It is an integrated system that uses artificial intelligence (AI), orbital tracking, and laser pulses to address the issue of space debris and protect Earth's orbit.

Meanwhile, the“Quartex” team from Education City High School (ECHS) comprising of high school students from Qatar Academy Doha, Qatar Academy for Science and Technology and Qatar Academy Sidra, also part of QF's PUE, presented“Lunar Base Revolution,” an innovative self-sustaining agricultural system designed for space environments. The project received strong praise when presented to Singapore's Minister of Sustainability.

Sophia Firdaus, a Grade 11 student at ECHS, said: "When our team was announced as a winner, I felt overwhelming gratitude and happiness. I didn't join to win, I joined to learn. This achievement proved to me that passion and patience are the real keys to success.

“Time was our biggest challenge, but we focused on working efficiently and dividing tasks clearly. Even during moments of exhaustion, supporting each other and remembering why we started kept us going."

Karthik Joshi, a Grade 11 student at QAST, said: "This award is an inspiring achievement in my academic journey. Competing at a global level strengthened my passion for science and engineering and motivated me to explore new paths in technology and space.

“It also reflects the continuous progress our academy is making in offering strong opportunities in innovation and research."

Mariam al-Zarrad, a Grade 12 student at QAST, said she joined the competition to challenge herself and expand her knowledge without expecting to win. She added that the achievement boosted her confidence and confirmed that having diverse knowledge is essential for creativity and fresh thinking.

"We worked as one team, dividing tasks based on each person's interests and supporting each other at every stage. I encourage every student to focus on their own abilities instead of comparing themselves to others, because comparisons weaken creativity. Success begins when we trust ourselves and take the first step,” she added.

Saifuddin Aftab, STEM coordinator at ECHS and part of QF's PUE, said: "It was an exceptional experience for our students. Their projects demonstrated a high level of teamwork, creativity, and scientific research. Their participation in Singapore enriched their cultural experience and offered a rare opportunity to present their work to ministers and government officials.

“PUE's

Gifted and Talented Program played a key role in supporting the students by providing the right environment, facilitating logistics, and guiding their ideas from the early stages until they became fully developed projects.”

“What truly stood out was the combination of innovation and high-quality presentation, which earned our students strong recognition from the competition's program leaders."

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