Leading Saudi science, engineering students to compete in world fair
Mitigating dust build-up on solar panels is a top project
Thirty-five Saudi Arabian students will compete in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2024 in Los Angeles from May 10 to 18, the
Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
They will join 1,700 other participants from 70 countries in the ISEF, which is recognized as a pre-college competition in scientific research and innovation. The Kingdom will be led by representatives from the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, or Mawhiba, and the Ministry of Education.
The Kingdom’s team was selected from over 210,000 candidates earlier this year by experts and specialists linked to Mawhiba. Their projects underwent rigorous evaluation during the “Ibdaa” National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity, culminating in the selection of 180.
Thirty-five talented students were nominated to represent the Kingdom in the ISEF from the 45 students whose projects qualified for the Olympiad’s finals, the SPA reported.
Among these students is Areej Al-Qarni, who will showcase her research focused on mitigating dust accumulation on solar panels. This is a problem that leads to energy and financial losses amounting to millions of dollars.
Al-Qarni explained that her research is aimed at developing sustainable solutions to this global issue, to conserve energy and ensure financial viability for crucial projects.
Mawhiba has emphasized that the students chosen to represent the Kingdom underwent rigorous training conducted by both local and international academics and experts across various disciplines, the SPA reported.
The Kingdom is a primary sponsor of the ISEF 2024 exhibition, offering prizes for innovative projects in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. These prizes include full scholarships for undergraduate studies at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, and participation in the Mawhiba Universal Enrichment Program.
This year marks the Kingdom’s 18th-consecutive participation in the ISEF. Saudi Arabia students have at previous fairs won 133 awards, including 92 grand prizes and 41 special distinctions.