Mawhiba prepares 35 young innovators for global science fair

Mawhiba prepares 35 young innovators for global science fair
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Mawhiba prepares 35 young innovators for global science fair
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Mawhiba sets stage for 35 talented Saudi youths to compete at ISEF 2024 globally. (SPA)
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Updated 24 February 2024
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Mawhiba prepares 35 young innovators for global science fair

Mawhiba prepares 35 young innovators for global science fair
  • Mawhiba said that the selected students will join more than 1,800 peers worldwide specializing in science and engineering
  • Mawhiba said that the selected students will join more than 1,800 peers worldwide specializing in science and engineering

JEDDAH: In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) has inaugurated the qualifying program for the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2024.
The program, held at the Mishkat Interactive Center in King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy in Riyadh, seeks to identify and prepare 35 outstanding individuals from a pool of 45 talented participants. The selected students are poised to represent the Kingdom at the prestigious Regeneron ISEF 2024 in Los Angeles in May.
Mawhiba said that the selected students will join more than 1,800 peers worldwide specializing in science and engineering. They will not only compete for ISEF awards, but also participate in international innovation exhibitions, such as ITEX in Malaysia and TISF in Taiwan.
As part of the program, mentors will review the students’ projects, developing work plans to strengthen and enhance each project before the final submission deadline to ISEF.
Workshops on presentation skills, project display, and understanding the judging mechanism at ISEF are also included in the agenda for participants.
Additionally, the Scientific Ethics Committee will have a crucial role in reviewing specific forms related to scientific ethics followed during experiments for each project. Statistical analysis of selected projects will be conducted to ensure accuracy, with specialists overseeing the development plans for each student.
Toward the end of the workshop, an independent judging committee will make the crucial decision of selecting candidates to join the Saudi science and engineering team. These chosen individuals will then proudly represent the Kingdom at ISEF 2024, competing for its coveted awards.
Mawhiba emphasized the success of previous efforts in fostering a culture of scientific research and innovation in education. This has led to the Kingdom achieving commendable global positions in international participation.
Earlier this month, Mawhiba hosted the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity, Ibdaa 2024, to select students for the Regeneron ISEF 2024 event.
Mawhiba said that the number of students participated in this year’s Ibdaa 2024 has surged by 40 percent, reaching 210,000 compared to 146,000 students last year, who submitted projects in 21 scientific fields.
The foundation selected 180 projects from a pool of 210,000 submissions
The projects included 30 in the energy sector, 26 in materials science, 24 in chemistry, 17 in environmental engineering, 11 in biomedicine and health sciences, and nine in plant sciences.
The Ibdaa 2024 Olympiad aims to discover and support Saudi Arabia’s talented students, fostering their skills and advancing scientific projects.
The annual event provides an innovative environment for collaboration between educational supervisors, education departments and researchers, with a goal to support students.


Global AI competition aims to revolutionize Arabic language technology

Global AI competition aims to revolutionize Arabic language technology
Updated 9 sec ago
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Global AI competition aims to revolutionize Arabic language technology

Global AI competition aims to revolutionize Arabic language technology
  • 3-day event in Riyadh ends on Saturday

RIYADH: The finals of the Allam Challenge are taking place in Riyadh, bringing together tech talent from 17 nations in an initiative to advance Arabic language technology, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.

The three-day event, which finishes on Saturday, is being hosted at Digital City’s Crowne Plaza and is a collaboration between the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, with technical support from IBM and the National Technology Development Program.

The challenge aims to develop AI models capable of composing and analyzing Arabic poetry; performing complex grammatical analysis; and creating engaging Arabic language learning tools for children, with a prize pool of SR1 million ($260,000).

Participants will be showcasing their capabilities in developing innovative solutions through the enhancement of large language models. They will benefit from training opportunities and workshops led by more than 50 mentors and 40 judges, and comprising AI experts and Arabic language specialists.

These experts will support participating teams and evaluate their projects according to criteria, ensuring the sustainability of solutions and their potential transformation into real-world AI projects serving the Arabic language across various sectors, the SPA added.


Saudi Quality of Life Program’s CEO stresses ‘people first’ approach

CEO of Saudi Arabia's Quality of Life Program Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Bakr speaking at the World Urban Forum in Cairo. (SPA)
CEO of Saudi Arabia's Quality of Life Program Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Bakr speaking at the World Urban Forum in Cairo. (SPA)
Updated 07 November 2024
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Saudi Quality of Life Program’s CEO stresses ‘people first’ approach

CEO of Saudi Arabia's Quality of Life Program Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Bakr speaking at the World Urban Forum in Cairo. (SPA)

CAIRO: CEO of the Quality of Life Program Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Bakr has reaffirmed that the initiative places people at its heart.

This human-centered approach drives a range of projects across the Kingdom, aligned with the objectives of Vision 2030 to transform urban landscapes, elevate the quality of city services, and foster innovation through the adoption of modern technologies.

The statement was delivered during a dialogue session called “Putting People First in a Digital Era,” which was organized by the UN as part of the 12th World Urban Forum. The session featured the participation of experts and specialists from across the world.


Falcons club, NEOM in preservation drive

Falcons club, NEOM in preservation drive
Updated 07 November 2024
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Falcons club, NEOM in preservation drive

Falcons club, NEOM in preservation drive
  • The partnership is a major step in promoting the concept of sustainable falconry
  • The Hadad program works to revitalize the habitat of peregrine falcons at the NEOM reserve

NEOM: The Saudi Falcons Club’s Hadad program has announced a strategic partnership with NEOM to improve falcons’ habitat in the NEOM Nature Reserve.
The partnership, which was signed during Hadad’s annual meeting hosted by NEOM on Thursday, is part of the second phase of the program, which focuses on protecting endangered species and reviving habitats by employing the latest international standards in wildlife conservation.
The partnership is a major step in promoting the concept of sustainable falconry by preserving cultural and environmental heritage while integrating ancient traditions with modern practices.
The Hadad program works to revitalize the habitat of peregrine falcons at the NEOM reserve and implement effective environmental measures to ensure the sustainability of the species.
The partnership reflects NEOM’s efforts to preserve 95 percent of its land for nature, set new international standards to preserve the environment, and rehabilitate wildlife through its reserve.
It also illustrates the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing its global leadership position in sustainable development and environmental protection, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.


AlUla Royal Commission signs agreement with National Archaeological Museum of Naples

The exhibition at AlUla will showcase 15 masterpieces of historic cities and monuments, such as Pompeii, Herculaneum and Rome. (
The exhibition at AlUla will showcase 15 masterpieces of historic cities and monuments, such as Pompeii, Herculaneum and Rome. (
Updated 07 November 2024
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AlUla Royal Commission signs agreement with National Archaeological Museum of Naples

The exhibition at AlUla will showcase 15 masterpieces of historic cities and monuments, such as Pompeii, Herculaneum and Rome. (
  • Exhibition will showcase 15 masterpieces of historic cities and monuments

AlUla: The Royal Commission for AlUla signed a new strategic partnership agreement with the National Archaeological Museum of Naples to showcase a collection of antiques in the Kingdom and in AlUla for the first time.

The museum is an addition to the commission’s network of cultural partners, joining leading heritage and education institutions from the United Kingdom, France, China and Italy, to cooperate in preserving, studying and celebrating AlUla’s shared history of 20,000 years.

Built in 1777, the museum is also a landmark in an Italian heritage capital, embracing some of Europe’s richest cultural treasures, including Roman and Greek statues preserved in excellent condition, as well as bronze pieces, mosaics, and other works of art.

The agreement between the royal commission and the museum of Naples allows the transfer of a selection of artifacts from Naples in southern Italy to AlUla, northwest the Arabian Peninsula, to showcase the masterpieces of the museum.

The exhibition will showcase 15 masterpieces of historic cities and monuments, such as Pompeii, Herculaneum and Rome, and will be one of the main cultural events of the Ancient Kingdoms Festival 2024, which will take place in AlUla from Nov. 7 to 30.

During the exhibition, visitors will also have the opportunity to attend the AlUla World Archaeology Symposium.


Saudi arts and culture association hosts captivating ‘Ready for Display’ show

Saudi arts and culture association hosts captivating ‘Ready for Display’ show
Updated 07 November 2024
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Saudi arts and culture association hosts captivating ‘Ready for Display’ show

Saudi arts and culture association hosts captivating ‘Ready for Display’ show
  • Exhibition showcases impressive collection of works from 47 artists, reflecting rich diversity of styles and artistic approaches 

DAMMAM: The Saudi Arabian Society for Arts and Culture in Dammam began cultural programs with the seventh “Ready for Display” exhibition, showcasing works from 47 artists, including participants from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, the Philippines, India and Pakistan. 

The exhibition aims to highlight a range of artistic styles, techniques and approaches while reflecting the beauty and essence of the local environment.

Running from Nov. 1 to Nov. 10, the show provides an important platform for local and resident artists. 

Each artist brings their individual approach to the canvas, with some embracing abstraction while others focus on realistic representations. 

Their works captured a variety of subjects, including people, places, animals and shapes, highlighting the rich diversity of artistic expression and individual creativity. 

Artists display various mediums, with some using stretched canvas while others experiment with materials such as wood panels and clay, adding distinctive textures and dimensions. 

This blend of techniques and media invites viewers to recognize the interconnectedness of art and cultural identity worldwide.

Visitors can appreciate how elements from the land and sea bring life to the displayed artworks’ color palettes and artistic designs.

The still-life drawings also showcase the artists’ attention to detail and innovative creative abilities.

Yousef Al-Harbi, director of the association’s branch in Dammam, said that such exhibitions helped visitors to “gain a deeper understanding of their history and identity,” fostering a sense of pride. 

The event has drawn significant interest, with the selection committee receiving 167 submissions from 98 artists, ultimately selecting 47 artworks for display, each representing different schools of thought and techniques in the art world.

In addition, the exhibition featured interactive events, including a workshop on acrylic painting on Nov. 2 and a live painting session on Nov. 3. 

Al-Harbi highlighted the association’s broader impact, saying: “In the past four months, we have delivered 38 training workshops, held eight art exhibitions and presented 21 theatrical performances,” aiming to establish the Eastern Province as a center of artistic creativity.

The association is dedicated to nurturing local talent in harmony with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, focusing on cultural identity and sustainable development.