RIYADH — World-renowned Saudi scientist Dr. Hayat Sindi recently mentored young Arab entrepreneurs in the 3rd annual Intel Science Competition-Arab World (ISC-AW) at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Dr. Sindi, a goodwill ambassador of UNESCO, was at hand for the whole day to help and assist Arab students tweak their projects in science. “Such events help raise awareness about science, particularly among females in the Muslim and Arab world,” she said, while congratulating the three prize winners for their fine efforts. Shatha Al Sabbah from Jordan emerged the winner with Ghadeer Al Tubi from Oman finishing second, and Muhammed Osairan from Lebanon taking the third spot. Sixty-nine projects were presented over the course of the event across eight categories, including Behavioral & Social Sciences, Biochemistry and Chemistry, Computer Science, Math, Physics & Astronomy, Energy and Transportation, Environmental Sciences & Management and Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. The four-day competition, under the aegis of UNESCO, was organized by Intel Corporation as part of the Intel Education Initiative that seeks to inspire the next generation of young scientists and entrepreneurs. The competition was open to Arab youth aged 14-18, challenging them to showcase their interest, insight and talent in executing scientific projects based on the methodology and tenets of scientific research. Around 110 students and educators from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, UAE, and Tunisia competed for $25,000 worth of prize money and valuable prizes provided by the UAE's Ministry of Education. “Intel actively promotes scientific entrepreneurship to support an innovation culture in the Arab world. “We are very proud that for the third consecutive year such a large number of young Arab minds are using technology to improve the region's economic and environmental sustainability,” said Taha Khalifa, Regional General Manager for Intel Corporation in the Middle East and North Africa. “Our message to the students was to remember that winning wasn't the goal of the competition, but, rather, it we pushing the boundaries of science and research excellence in order to develop economies and communities. Also, it was about networking and meeting like-minded individuals for future collaborations,” he added.
