From finding a cure for cancer in camel urine, biotherapy treatments and softening de-carbonated water, to greenhouse curtains that reduce heat and save energy, Saudi female inventors are making a mark at the 1st Saudi Innovation Exhibition, Ibtikar 2008. Nine inventions by Saudi women and girls are on show at the Ibtikar exhibition under way at the Four Season Hotel. Maria Al-Jeshi, 16 and Jumana Ba Ghabra, 18 from Dhahran Ahliyya Schools, are displaying their softening de-carbonated water invention, “It was very challenging,” said Ba Ghabra. “We would stay working on the project at school until 6 P.M. and still had to work on it every Thursday morning.” The youngest females among the inventors were 12-year-olds Balkeen Al-Qahtani and Nora Al-Muhanna from Kingdom schools, who are proud of their energy-saving green house curtains. “We thought of the idea after we were told that our school didn't want to use their greenhouse to save energy, so we put our minds together and figured out how to make curtains and build a special thick plastic to reduce the heat escaping,” explained Qahtani. In medicine, Eman Kamel Al-Digs, discovered a way to treat MRSA Methecillin Resistant Staphylococcus aurous infections, which are resistant to antibiotics. Digs's bio-therapeutic product for eradication of MRSA infections has been patented, approved by the Ministry of Health in Jeddah and is already in use at government hospitals in Jeddah and in some private clinics. Faten Abdul Rahman Khorshid from King Abdulaziz University College of Medicine was able to separate from camel urine the active ingredient that fights cancer. The active ingredient was successful in eradicating leukemia cancer cells in mice and lung cancer cells in humans. Aamir Mutawa from the GCC Patent Office said that there are many more Saudi female inventors who did not participate in the exhibition. “I am surprised not to see more,” said Mutawa. “I know there are many more, but many of them are not interested in gaining pubic attention to themselves.” Sixty-eight inventions are displayed at the exhibition, 59 of them by Saudis. Innovations by Saudi males ranged from aerodynamic inventions to automobile parts, hospital equipment to special hygienic garments for male pilgrims. “There are around 800 Saudi inventors registered at the Saudi Inventors Society,” said Yousuf Al-Sahaar, secretary general of the newly formed society. The exhibition, which was inaugurated Sunday night by Abdullah Al-Obeid, Education Minister and vice president of the King Abdul Aziz and His Companions Foundation for the Gifted on behalf of The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, aims to link inventors with the business communities and to encourage and support inventors. King Abdul Aziz & his Companions Foundation for the Gifted, which organized the event in partnership with Saudi Aramco is a national foundation that gathers Saudi talents and nurtures it through its many programs of Mohiba. The exhibition is open to the male public from 9 A.M. to 12 P.M. and for families from 4 P.M. to 9 P.M. until Thursday morning.Extraordinary Works by Saudi Inventors Eman Kamel Al-Digs: Biotherapy inventions Digs discovered a way to treat MRSA Methecillin Resistant Staphylococcus aurous infections, which are resistant to antibiotics through bio therapy. Digs's bio-therapeutic product for the eradication of MRSA infections has already been patented, approved by the Ministry of Health in Jeddah and is being used to treat the infections in Government hospitals in Jeddah and in some private clinics. “MRSA doesn't respond to antibiotics so I found an alternative treatment in bio technology NANO,” explained Digs. It took Digs around 20 years of research until she found an alternative treatment. Maria Al-Jeshi, Jumana Ba Ghabra and Shaima Bouhlel: Softening de-carbonated water The three displayed a softening de-carbonated water invention – a way to treat carbonated water. “Hard water is very bad for the skin, causes rashes, hair fall and clogs pipes,” explained Jeshi. Through processing the water through heat, electricity and adding some acid the team of high school girls from of Dhahran Ahliyya Schools was able to find an affordable solution to the hard water problem in the Eastern Province. The team had participated in the International Science and Engineering Fair competition in New Mexico. They are working on a new invention to compete at the up oming Saudi finals for the ISEF in April. Bauhlel, who was absent from the exhibition, had won a scholarship form Harvard through her participation in the softening de-carbonated water invention, which was exhibited in ISEF in Mexico. Jeshi (L) is hoping to study Chemical Engineering while Ba Ghabra (R) is hoping to study Information Technology. Balkeen Al-Qahtani and Nora Al-Muhanna: Energy saving greenhouse curtains The youngest of the female inventors, 12-year-olds Balkeen Al-Qahtani (L) and Nora Al-Muhanna (R) from Kingdom schools invented an energy saving green house curtain. “We thought of the idea after we were told that our school didn't want to use their greenhouse to save energy, so we put our minds together and figures out how to make curtains and build a special thick plastic to reduce the heat escaping,” explained Qahtani. The school is currently in the process of installing the curtains at their greenhouse. This is not the first invention of the two girls. Last month the girls won the first prize at the Lego League with their robot. It was a countrywide competition held at Kingdom Schools. Nora Al-Otaibi: Herbal remedies for burns and deep wounds After realizing the effectiveness of the herbal treatments her father had used to provide for his relatives and patients, Otaibi decided to patent the remedies. Her burn cream and deep wound cream are extracted from herbs and bark. The remedies have been approved by the Ministry of Health. Otaibi is looking for a manufacturer. Faten Abdul Rahman Khorshid, Anti-cancer drug from camel urine Khorshid (pictured) from King Abdulaziz University College of Medicine was able to separate from camel urine the active ingredient that fights cancer. The active ingredient was successful in eradicating leukemia cancer cells in mice and lung cancer cells in humans. The associate professor of Medical Biology has already registered her patent at King Fahad Medical Research Center. “I had to stop at clinical trials, because I needed funds to build a lab that is capable of extracting the active ingredient in large quantities,” said Kharshid. Al-Hanoof Abdulgader, Braille labels for the Blind on products After specializing in special education, Abdulgader realized that the blind do not have any way of knowing the products they hold in their hands, limiting their ability to shop for themselves and making them more handicapped and segregated from society. By placing Braille-engraved labels on products the blind will be able to become self sufficient. “I know this is a simple invention but it will dramatically improve the quality of life for the blind,” said Abdulgader. u Mohammed Al-Mashat: Resuscitating equipment for HIV patients After an AIDS patient died in his arms, Mohammed Al-Mashat, a pharmacist, invented a mechanism to help medical staff revive a HIV patient without getting infected with the disease. Eighteen months ago, Mashat had stopped at the scene of a road accident. As Mashat was going to resuscitate one of the injured men, a friend of the injured man stopped him saying that the man was infected with AIDS. “I couldn't do anything to help the man, and he died,” said Mashat. “That was when I thought of inventing such a mechanism.” Mashat has already eight inventions in all, one a security device to help search cars for explosives. The resuscitating devise is currently waiting to be patented by the US patent organization. Moslih Al-Akeel; Security device to inspect cars Moslih Akeel has been an inventor for more than 30 years. He has at least 15 inventions ranging from a glove to keep patients from scratching themselves and from accidentally taking off intravenous tubes connected to them, to a security device to help inspect for explosives underneath cars. “This device has a camera and light sensors, along with a separate mini car attached to a camera that can inspect cars,” explained Akeel. Taha Al-Khateeb; Pilgrims' undergarment After 22 years supervising the Haj administration of the Ministry of Haj, Taha invented an undergarment for male pilgrims to wear and protect their private parts from the heat and friction. During Haj, male pilgrims are not permitted to wear any sewed garments, leaving them not wearing any underpants underneath their Ihram. However, Khateeb invented an undergarment that is not sewn and have been permitted by Saudi religious scholars, with a Fatwa. “Currently the garment is being sold in Jeddah and soon it will be available for all pilgrims around the Kingdom,” said Khateeb who has invested in a factory in Egypt to make the garments. Saudi Geological Survey; Glass and ceramic made out of leftover cement The Saudi Geological Survey has found a way to recycle the thousands of tons of cement that is extracted from cement factories every day by turning it into beautiful glass ceramic. “We have around 9 cement factories in the Kingdom and each produce around 1,000 tons of waste per month, through this process the waste can be transformed into beautiful glass or ceramic to be use commercially and even in the arts,” said Mohammed Al-Madani from SGS. __
