RIYADH, 9 November 2004— The Kingdom has set up an international prize to reward people who make valuable contributions to the protection of the environment. The biennial prize, instituted by Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), has been named after Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, in recognition of his great contributions in the fields of science, environment and culture.
Prince Abdullah has also been named as the honorary president of the prize’s governing body based in Riyadh, according to Ibrahim Saad Ibrahim Alshuwaier, secretary-general of Prince Abdullah ibn Abdul Aziz International Prize for the Promotion of Scientific Research.
“SABIC believes that technology is the key factor for future and the scientifically and technologically qualified human beings are the key for total development. Hence, this prize has been set up to reward those men and women, who excel in the fields of applied environmental sciences,” Alshuwaier said.
“SABIC will, every two years, reward dedicated researchers whose contributions make a positive impact and those who exceptionally serve the world in specific areas that benefit humanity,” he said.
“This incentive also encourages expanded research that may lead to important scientific breakthroughs,” Alshuwaier said, adding that the main objective is to encourage individuals and companies to pay attention to development by emphasizing the role of scientific research in supporting productivity.
The prize is divided into three categories: Environmental protection and combating desertification; petrochemical, metal and plastic industries; water and agriculture technology. The winner in each of the three categories will be presented with a certificate of merit, a commemorative medal and a cash award of SR600,000. The prize will be presented every two years. If no one qualifies for the prize in a category, the prize will not be given in that category. The prize may be shared by more than one winner.
The topics for research this year are “Recycling and reuse of plastic materials” in the first category; “Conversion of methane into ethylene or aromatic benzene or both” in the second category, and “Polymers in the preservation of water” in the third category.
Scientific research exclusively in the areas above can be sent to the General Secretariat of the prize’s governing body, at SABIC headquarters, between Dec. 1 and Feb. 28.
