August 2024
Mohammed Al-Qassabi
Mohammed Al-Qassabi is an exceptional young inventor making strides in the fields of both technology and sports. Q Life met with Mohammed to discuss his remarkable achievements and offer a glimpse into the mind of a young pioneer who is shaping the future of technology and youth empowerment in Qatar.
A Carnegie Mellon University graduate and Cyber Security Engineer in the energy sector, Mohammed’s impact extends far beyond his professional titles.
Mohammed is head of the Robotics and AI department at Qatar Scientific Club, a non-profit that encourages young people to learn and innovate. Mohammed is also a youth advocate with Generation Amazing and Education Above All Foundation, as well as a keen footballer – a passion which led to the invention of OPAS.
You’ve become a highly decorated inventor recognised within Qatar and internationally. Can you tell us about the inventions that led to these achievements?
My main invention is OPAS, which is a smart system that detects offside violations accurately during football matches and analyses players’ performances during the game and injuries using advanced technologies and artificial intelligence.
You won the 3rd Best Arab Inventor in the 13th edition of Stars of Science and the 5th Best Inventor in the World at the Challenge and Innovation Forum 2021. These must have been unbelievable experiences – can you walk us through one of your most memorable, or proudest moments?
I think one of my proudest moments was while I was participating in Stars of Science because it was the same time as my senior year at university. It was hard to compete in Stars of Science and work on my assignments at the same time, and I was really struggling to manage both, but I luckily got the highest rate among all participants in Stars of Science, and I got a GPA of four during that semester of university.
Can you tell us what significance Qatar Scientific Club holds to you as a young inventor?
Qatar Scientific Club holds immense significance for me as a young inventor. It was the first place that believed in me when others did not, providing the labs, engineers, expertise, and tools I needed to turn my ideas into real inventions. I began as a student attending their workshops, and they recognised a potential in me that I hadn’t seen myself.
This support allowed me to grow from a student to a teaching assistant, then a scientific coach, and now the head of the robotics and AI department, where I mentor and guide other young innovators. The club has significantly nurtured my passion and helped me develop my career.
What mentors helped or inspired you to become an inventor?
My mentors who challenged my ideas inspired me to think bigger. I started inventing during a small competition at school.
I met some engineers who said that my idea was not doable. I insisted on working on it and I remember not winning in that competition, but a few years later I won several competitions internationally with the same invention. So, their challenge was my motivation.
Why is it important for younger people to be active members of society?
It is so important. If every one of us thought of a single problem that we face in our daily lives and tried to solve it with technology or other means, I think we can make the world much better.
One example can be seen from when I became an inventor. As a football player, we had an important match in the semifinals that we lost because of a wrong off-side goal by the referee. I was mad at the referee but at the same time, I can’t blame the referee. I was thinking of how we can use other tools such as technology to solve this problem and that’s how I came up with OPAS and won these awards.
Can you describe a moment that gave you hope or made you excited about the young people that you’re teaching?
Every year we have this summer camp where we give different scientific workshops to students. I remember one of the years I had a passionate student. She was working hard on her project.
Although she was young, she had knowledge that exceeded her age. A few months later, I saw her being awarded by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani. It was really inspiring for me to see someone so young working with such dedication, even though many of us at her age were focused on playing. She was able to take advantage of the opportunities provided within Qatar and contribute to the country’s achievements.
