518 participants competing in finals of Mawhiba Olympiad

The 518 finalists of the National Olympiad for Science Innovation (NOSI) competition put on display their 400 projects yesterday at the beginning of the Olympiads 2013. The Saudi inventors that will emerge as winners in this competition will represent Saudi Arabia at the international competition.
The finalists will compete in 17 scientific researches for innovation and creativity until March 20 at the Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh.
King Abdul Aziz and his Companions Foundation for the Gifted and Creativity (KACFGC), or “Mawhiba,” have organized this high-profile competition between young scientists, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education under the aegis of Riyadh governor, Prince Khaled bin Bandar.
The arbitrations on the projects in the areas of innovation and scientific research took place on Sunday. A group of 170 arbitrators — academics and experts in various fields based on the scientific criteria — evaluated the projects. A panel of 2,500 judges participated in the first and second phases of arbitration.
According to Mawhiba, names of the winners and qualifiers for the international competition will be announced in a ceremony on Wednesday at King Fahd Cultural Center. Riyadh Gov. Prince Khaled will present medals and certificates to the winners in the presence of Prince Faisal bin Abdullah, Minister of Education. The Mawhiba Secretary General Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Sabti will be also present.
The finalists consist of 252 girls and 266 boys, who are representing a total of 310 schools. They showcase their innovative skills in various fields during this third phase of arbitration. These fields range from molecular biotechnology and genetic engineering through to space and aviation as well as petrochemicals.
The third session saw a sophisticated development in the quality of projects that were submitted, the areas and the number of participants that proved the advanced skills of the Saudi students on regional and global levels.
According to NOSI Director General Ahmed Ali Alblushi, the number of participants in the 2013 contest rose by 8 percent compared to last year. In 2012 52,000 participants represented their 5,530 schools with 800 projects.
He said Mawhiba organized 104 training workshops for teachers, arbitrators and supervisors and benefited 1,780 trainees, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
Mawhiba and the ministry are working to upgrade the tools of knowledge and its dissemination through education, training and scientific research in preparation for the National Olympiad. They aim to increase the value of its direct impact and its ability to produce new knowledge to support the national economy.
NOSI is a reflection of the leadership’s vision to invest in Saudi human capital during the transition to a knowledge-based society and integrated creativity.
Saudi Arabia’s first priority is to provide students with a high level of education that would qualify them to be prepared for global competitions. The ministry is making a concerted effort to improve the outcome of public education in the Kingdom, both in terms of numbers and quality, to match the highest international standards and to build a generation of enlightened leaders empowered with scientific knowledge and creativity.