LOS ANGLES — Saudi Arabia's science and engineering team showcased their exceptional talents at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2024, earning a total of 27 awards, including 18 grand prizes and 9 special awards. The event, held from May 10 to 17, saw participation from over 1,700 students from more than 70 countries around the world. The King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) highlighted that the Kingdom secured two second-place awards, six third-place awards, and ten fourth-place awards in various scientific fields. Dr. Amal Al-Hazza, Secretary-General of Mawhiba, expressed pride in the continuous support and encouragement provided by the Saudi leadership to the fields of science, talent, and innovation. She emphasized that these achievements reflect the fruitful cooperation and strategic partnership between Mawhiba and the Ministry of Education, which have enabled Saudi students to excel and represent their country on international stages. Dr. Al-Hazza noted that winning 27 awards at ISEF 2024 is a culmination of joint efforts and reaffirms the commitment to achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to build a vibrant society and a thriving economy through enhancing human capabilities and innovation. "We at Mawhiba are proud to continue nurturing and empowering our students, providing them with all necessary support not only to excel in international competitions but also to serve as ambassadors of science and creativity at the highest levels," she added. Among the notable achievers, Hamad Al-Husseini won second place in the Energy category, and Abeer Al-Yousef secured a second-place finish in Chemistry. Third-place honors were claimed by Elias Khan in Biomedical and Health Sciences, Suleiman Al-Misnad and Latifa Al-Ghanem in Energy, Turki Al-Dalami in Environmental Engineering, Tahani Ahmed in Material Science, and Layla Zawawi in Translational Medical Science. Fourth-place finishes were achieved by Nasser Al-Suwaian in Biomedical Engineering, Lana Al-Mazrouei in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Yara Al-Qadi and Yara Al-Bakri in Earth and Environmental Sciences, Shahad Al-Mutlaq in Energy, Asma Al-Qaseer in Environmental Engineering, Areej Al-Qarni and Lana Al-Fheed in Material Science, and Layan Al-Maliki and Tamara Radi in Plant Sciences. With these results, Saudi Arabia's total tally of special awards at ISEF 2024 rises to 160, including 110 grand prizes and 50 special awards, marking a significant presence since their first participation in 2007.
