At the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) in Doha, the ExxonMobil STEAM Festival is engaging children and families through interactive activities rooted in the country’s maritime heritage. The festival, running until November 28, combines elements of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) with traditional knowledge once used by sailors in the Arabian Gulf.
A central feature of the festival is the “Roots of Routes” zone, where participants build model dhows and construct kamals, simple celestial navigation tools historically utilized by Arabian Gulf sailors to determine their position at sea. Visitors can select from three types of traditional dhows—the Al Jalbut, Sanbouk, and Boom—each associated with different maritime functions. The Al Jalbut and Sanbouk were typically used for pearling, coastal fishing, and transportation between settlements, while the Boom served for long-distance trade and heavy cargo transport.
Once the dhows are assembled, participants create their own kamal, a device consisting of a small rectangular board attached to a cord tied with knots corresponding to various measurements. Facilitators guide children in learning how sailors used the kamal to estimate latitude by gauging the height of stars above the horizon. This introduces visitors to early forms of celestial navigation, demonstrating how simple instruments and observations of the night sky enabled extensive maritime travel.
The festival’s hands-on experience culminates with navigation challenges on a large floor map. Participants pick from three mission routes—Yellow, Green, or Blue—and, using their kamals, calculate latitude readings to identify the correct destinations for their dhows. This exercise aims to make concepts such as measurement, geography, astronomy, and engineering tangible for visitors.
Attending with his family, Rohit Gupta described the activities as a fun educational opportunity, noting his daughter’s enthusiasm for building the dhow and kamal. He expressed intentions to return and attempt further navigation missions.
Beyond “Roots of Routes,” the festival offers a variety of programs tailored to different age groups throughout the museum. The STEAM Lab hosts the DADU Light Atelier for younger children and the ExxonMobil Research Qatar x DADU Mangroves Lab, which introduces marine biology through explorations of local coastal ecosystems.
Additional offerings include workshops on the evolution of navigation, a Teen Tech Takeover focused on creating augmented reality filters, a Silk Road board game, and storytelling sessions that highlight traditional boats and maritime journeys. For older attendees, the Café Scientifique program provides discussions on STEAM education and career pathways for young adults aged 16 and above.
Overall, the ExxonMobil STEAM Festival presents an opportunity for families to engage with scientific concepts through the lens of Qatar’s rich maritime history, linking cultural heritage with contemporary educational experiences.