RIYADH: Eminent scientists from around the world met Saudi scientists of the future on Wednesday and shared details about their journey and experiences in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics with students, as part of Mawiba’s “Eyes on the Future”. was as part of the initiative.
Experts included Swiss astronomer and Nobel laureate Didier Queloz, Colombian structural biologist Edna Matta-Camacho, and Nigeria’s Fadji Zauna Maina, an Earth scientist at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. He is a member of the jury that will select the recipients of the inaugural UNESCO Al-Fozan International Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists, as well as Adah Almutairi, a Saudi-American professor at the University of California, who was unable to attend the event. ,
“At Maweeba we aspire to continually enable talent and innovation, as they are the pillars for young minds to flourish,” said Nazih Alothamani, the organization’s deputy secretary-general for corporate relations and business development, in his opening remarks.
“Through these initiatives, we work with our partners in all local and international sectors to provide an environment that fosters a passion for science and knowledge among the Kingdom’s youth.
“Our meeting today is a golden opportunity to platform global and international experiences from scientists, some of whom have received Nobel Prizes and other internationally recognized awards, including renowned Saudi scientist Ada Almutairi.”
As STEM fields develop in an ever-changing world, Saudi officials say they are investing billions in technology as a key element in the country’s transformation under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 blueprint for growth and diversification . The events on Wednesday are therefore seen as an important part of this as they encourage the international exchange of knowledge and experiences.
The program was moderated by prominent and emerging Saudi scientists, including: Abdulrahman Alfozan, a former senior systems engineer at Facebook and founding engineer of distribution service Nash; Moath Abu Aisha, a researcher and expert in the use of 3D printing in healthcare; and Fatima Al-Ali, a petroleum engineer at Saudi Aramco with experience in data analytics, reservoir engineering and operations management.
In a speech on behalf of Saudi scientists of the future at the event, doctoral student and researcher Ghanima Abuhaimad said: “The future is full of uncertainty… but to be here today in a room full of leaders, future-makers, minds who are constantly asking questions Well, I’m hopeful.
“We can do this because we are not only aware of the complexities of the problems around us, but we are fortunate to have the opportunity to find creative and practical solutions to these problems.”
During the day’s sessions, expert guests and industry leaders discussed common challenges faced, ways to overcome them, how to maintain a balanced approach, and their views on the future.
One discussion focused on racial disparities and disadvantages based on race within STEM fields, along with problems that may arise as a result of language barriers as the field becomes more global in nature.
Matta-Camacho and Maina talked about some of the difficulties they’ve faced as women of color in science, navigating industries traditionally dominated by white men.
“One challenge is to not look like other people, but be who you are,” Maina said. “Today this is your power… Scientists are curious; We want to understand the universe and the world today, and you have your own structure and background, so just bring it to the table.
Matta-Camacho, who is Colombian but moved to Canada to pursue more opportunities available there, co-founded Immigrant and International Women in Science, an organization dedicated to building a community of women working in science in Canada Co-founder of. , in which they can share their experiences and help each other overcome language barriers, navigate the system, find work opportunities, and much more.
“When I was growing up (in Colombia), we didn’t have that much recognition about careers to study… I think it’s really important to focus on education from an early age and I think What you’re doing here is fantastic, to nurture the education and potential of people in different STEM fields,” Matta-Camacho said.
Queloz said, the work of a scientist never ends. Even after winning his Nobel Prize for Physics in 2019, he said he felt no great sense of accomplishment, but rather a need to keep searching.
“I guess I’m not completely done,” he said. “I know I have the biggest prize you can imagine but I still feel like a student.
“Science is the emotional connection we have with the world. It is what drives us to do what we do and it is not the smoothest path in life trying to find out the mystery of the world… joy.”
MAWIBA, formally known as the King Abdulaziz and his partner Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, is a non-profit endowment organization that aims to identify and nurture gifted and talented students in scientific fields in the Kingdom.