On December 9, 2010 in Alexandria, Egypt, under the patronage of the Arab League, Intel Corporation and Science Age Society announced the top winners of the first Intel Science Competition - Arab World. The top three Grand Award winners - all females - included Fatimah Abdulhakim from Saudi Arabia who received $3000 for her project "Super Swabs", Sarah Al-Shaarawy and Yousr Al Shaarawy from Egypt who received $2,500 for their project "Green Power Plants", and Woroud Al-Rimawi from Palestine who received $2,000 for her project "Safe Electrical Socket".
At the first ever science competition in the Arab World, 102 young scientists from 10 Arab countries presented 68 projects spanning from biochemistry and microbiology, to computer science, to electrical and mechanical engineering to energy and transport. In addition to the Grand Awards winners, 16 additional projects received 'Best of Category' awards, 10 received 'Best of Country' awards and 3 others received scholarships from Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime and Transportation.
The event was attended by Shelly Esque, Intel Vice President for Legal and Corporate Affairs, Director of Corporate Affairs Group and President of the Intel Foundation, Dr. Khaled Al-Habbas, Advisor to the Secretary-General of the Arab League who attended on behalf of the His Excellency Amr Moussa, Arab League Secretary-General, Dr. Essam Sharaf, Science Age Society CEO, Dr. Hoda El-Mikati, Bibliotheca Alexandrina Director of the Planetarium Science Center, Arab and African ambassadors, Ministers of education and higher education, university presidents, as well as regional academics and scientists.
During the award ceremony, Shelly Esque noted, "The Intel Science Competition is the first of its kind in the Arab world. These finalists represent the best and the brightest young scientists, innovators and leaders from the Arab World." She added, "Judging by the caliber of the projects presented this week, I am confident that these young innovators will make our world a better place.
Several speeches were made by the Arab League, Governor of Alexandria and Egypt Ministry of Education, who all commended Intel's initiatives to promote 21st century skills, R&D, innovation and entrepreneurship skills for the youth in the region. Dr. Essam Sharaf, Chairman of the Science Age Society and former transport minister of Egypt, said, "Our strategic partnership with Intel to organize a competition for the first time in the Arab world out of our belief that focusing on students' creative skills has become a basic need." Dr. Hoda El-Mikaty, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Planetarium Science Center said, "Today is a day to remember, where we witness the birth of our future Arabic speaking science society. Our gift to these talented youth is giving them the opportunity to excel in science and technology, where we expect them to exert all efforts to enrich the advancement of science and technology on all levels: national, regional and international."
Get a glimpse inside the 2010 Intel Science Competition: