Saudi students win big at science & engineering fair in U.S.

Saudi students left their mark after taking part in the 2019 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) in Phoenix, Arizona, last week.

A team of 20 students traveled from the kingdom to take part in the event, which is considered to be the world's largest pre-college science competition. Five of them won big at the annual science and engineering fair, taking home major prizes, Arab News reported. 

The winners included Shawq Al-Madani, who won third place for an environmental engineering concept and was awarded a scholarship from the University of Arizona; Abdullah Al-Sannan and Dima Al-Melhem, who won fourth place for an environmental engineering project; Wud Al-Saadoon, who won fourth place for a chemical energy venture and achieved a special prize from United Technologies; and Haya Al-Tuwaijry, who won fourth place for a botany project.

The Saudi students represented King Abdul Aziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) and competed against 1,800 finalists from 80 countries. 

A sixth member on the Saudi science team, Noorah Al-Dosari, also received a special award from NASA. 

In a statement he recently issued, Mawhiba's secretary-general, Saud bin Saeed Al-Mathami, congratulated all the Saudi students who took part in this year's fair. He also praised Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) for sponsoring the team.

"We congratulate our country on the achievements won by its talents. We're proud of everyone who took part in the fair and thank 'Mawhiba' for their continuous care and support."

In 2016, young Saudi student Fatima bint Abdel Moneim Al Sheikh won an award at Intel ISEF. At the time, the teen was recognized for her research efforts in "determining the effect of the novel Carl 2 Strigolactone analog on the seed germination of parasitic weeds."

Her efforts were noticed by NASA officials, who >honored her by naming an asteroid after her in 2017.