RIYADH, 15 March 2007 — Gifted Saudi students will be participating in the 58th Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) to compete against students from countries across the world, according to an official at the King Abdul Aziz and His Companions Foundation for the Gifted (KACFG).
ISEF is the world’s largest pre-college science competition in which almost 1,500 students from 48 countries will participate to earn $4 million worth of scholarships and prizes. The event is scheduled to take place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States between May 15-19.
Khaled Al-Sabti, secretary-general of KACFG, said that the association is cooperating with Intel Corporation and the National Training Center to nominate gifted Saudis between the ages of 16 and 19 to participate in the global competition.
Candidates will be chosen during the “Mawhiba Science and Engineering Exhibition,” which will be held at the Alkhobar Holiday Inn tomorrow. “KACFG is keen on the participation of young gifted Saudi students in the ISEF to meet with their counterparts from all over the world and share their experiences,” he said.
He added that it was a golden opportunity for gifted students to benefit from the presence of representatives of several executive companies, government bodies and non-government scientific establishments. Al-Sabti said that ISEF chooses candidates who are winners of local scientific contests and fairs in their respective countries.
The secretary-general noted that KACFG signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Intel Corporation during the inauguration of the “Smart Cities Conference” in Riyadh last year. The agreement aims to promote cooperation between the association and Intel for the participation of Saudi students at ISEF and other international scientific competitions.
“We sincerely hope gifted young Saudi students will be motivated by this event to produce more scientific ideas,” he said. He added 10 to 15 percent of young students participating in ISEF will receive patents for their projects or inventions.
Intel Corporation assumed sponsorship of ISEF, formally known as “Westinghouse Science Talent Search,” after Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1998. Alumni of the program have made generous contributions to science and hold more than 100 of the world’s most coveted science and math honors.
The first three winners in ISEF will receive a $50,000 cash prize award. In addition, they will have the opportunity to attend the Noble Prize Awards in Stockholm, Sweden. Fourth to sixth place winners will receive awards of $25,000 and seventh to tenth place winners will be awarded $20,000. The remaining 30 finalists will receive awards of $5,000 each.
