Category: Inventions, Innovations (wef. Feb 01sy, 2022

MOROCCO : Father of the Lithium Battery: Rachid Yazami Honored at International Forum

From a young Moroccan dreamer to a world-renowned inventor, Rachid Yazami’s pioneering spirit and lithium battery breakthrough have powered a global technological revolution.

Renowned Moroccan scientist and inventor Rachid Yazami was honored this week for his scientific achievements, particularly his pioneering work on lithium-ion batteries, at the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2024) held in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The IGCF, held from September 4-5 under the theme “Agile Governments: Innovative Communication,” brought together over 250 speakers to discuss the key opportunities and challenges facing governments and populations in the 21st century.

Its wide range of panels discussed topics from information warfare and the talent-driven economy to the digital future and the impact of innovative communication on governments’ ability to achieve broad development goals.

In a statement to the Moroccan News Agency (MAP), Yazami described this tribute as a source of pride and honor for Morocco and a “recognition of my invention of the lithium battery that I made when I was 26 years old.”

A journey of scientific discovery

Yazami’s fascination with science began at a young age. “I actually had a strong interest in science from a very early age. A significant event happened in my life around age 11. One of my teachers pointed at me and declared, ‘Rachid, you will be a chemist!’” he recounted in an interview with VinFuture Prize.

This prediction came true when Yazami was admitted to the Grenoble Institute of Technology in France, where he received his engineering degree in 1978. Just a year later, at the age of 26, he made his groundbreaking discovery of the graphite anode, a key component in lithium-ion batteries.

“It was an absolutely unforgettable day in my life,” Yazami said of the moment he first successfully intercalated lithium into graphite, causing it to change color from black to gold. “It felt like alchemy, converting black to gold.”

The impact of the graphite anode

Yazami’s invention of the graphite anode has had a profound impact on the development and proliferation of lithium-ion batteries. “In 2019, 10 billion batteries were produced worldwide. Ninety-eight per cent used the anode. Every cell phone, electric car, storage has my anode,” he noted in an interview with The Register.

The global anode material market is predicted to grow to $10 billion by 2025, with the anode estimated to account for 10 to 15 percent of the total cost of a lithium-ion battery.

Despite the immense commercial success of his invention, Yazami lamented a missed opportunity for his home country.

“If this company in France said, ‘Oh, we think it may be improved, we have no evidence, but maybe it’s interesting, let’s file a patent that doesn’t cost as much money.’ I think it will have brought something between $100-150 billion. Only the invention of the graphite anode,” he said, referring to a French company that passed on the chance to patent his discovery in the early 1980s.

The future of battery technology

The future belongs to clean electrical energy, Yazami asserted in his speech during the opening session of the IGCF 2024, citing the progress made in lithium-ion batteries due to significant advances in the field.

These advancements include improved safety measures in high-temperature zones, reducing charging time to less than 20 minutes, increasing the range of electric vehicles, and extending battery life.

Yazami highlighted the growing demand for lithium-ion batteries in the international market, which is expected to reach a capacity of 4,700 GWh/h, worth more than four trillion dollars by 2030.

This latest prize comes as the Moroccan scientist continues to push the boundaries of battery technology. His company, KVI, recently developed a new fast-charging technology that can fully charge a high-density battery in just ten minutes, seven times faster than a Tesla.

“The target is to go to 300 [watt hours per kilogram]. To my knowledge there is no 300 watt hour per kilogram on the market — not yet. There are some prototypes, but when you increase the energy density there are some problems with life and safety of battery,” Yazami explained, highlighting the challenges and trade-offs in battery development.

Safety is also a major concern for Yazami. “We can’t prevent fire in extreme situations, but at least we can have signs before it happens,” he said, proposing the idea of a sensor that measures battery expansion due to heat and alerts the user well in advance of any potential issues.

Looking to the future, Yazami predicted the rise of electric airplanes for personal use within the next 20 to 30 years and a shift in battery manufacturing to Europe. “Currently the EV market is in the EU, and the manufacturing is in China,” he observed. “That’s a problem.”

source/content: moroccoworldnews.com (headline edited)

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Rachid Yazami, honored for pioneering lithium battery invention.

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MOROCCO

ARAB : Illuminating Achievements: Arab Physicists Shaping the World of Light

The study of light has led to promising alternative energy sources and lifesaving medical advances in diagnostics technology and treatments. 

These transformative technologies were developed through centuries of fundamental research on the properties of light, including pioneering work such as Ibn Al-Haytham’s seminal Kitab al-Manazir (Book of Optics), published in 1015.

As the world celebrates the International Day of Light on 16 May, various Arab physicists have left an indelible mark on the Arab world’s understanding and utilization of this fundamental phenomenon.

Ibn Al-Haytham (965-1040 CE)

Considered the father of modern optics, Ibn Al-Haytham’s groundbreaking work, Kitab al-Manazir, laid the foundation for our understanding of the behavior of light, including the principles of reflection, refraction, and the workings of the human eye. His experimental approach and rejection of the prevailing theories of his time were revolutionary, and his work influenced generations of scientists who followed in his footsteps.

Photo Source: VH Magazine

Maha Ashour-Abdalla

A pioneering Egyptian-American plasma physicist, Ashour-Abdalla’s research has advanced our understanding of the complex dynamics of the Earth’s magnetosphere, with applications in space weather forecasting and protection of satellites from cosmic radiation. Her work has been instrumental in developing models to predict and mitigate the impacts of solar storms on technological infrastructure.

Photo Source: UCLA

Ali Moustafa Mosharafa (1898-1950) 

This Egyptian physicist made significant contributions to the development of quantum mechanics, building on the work of pioneers like Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg. His research helped bridge the gap between classical and quantum physics, laying the groundwork for our modern understanding of the subatomic world. Mosharafa’s work has had lasting implications in fields such as materials science, cryptography, and quantum computing.

Photo Source: Academic Dictionaries

Shaaban Khalil

An Egyptian theoretical physicist, Khalil is a renowned expert in particle physics and cosmology. His work on the unification of fundamental forces has had a lasting impact on our understanding of the cosmos. Khalil’s research, which combined elements of quantum mechanics, general relativity, and high-energy physics, has helped shape the nature of the fundamental forces that govern it.

Photo Source: Zewail City

These Arab scientists, among others, have not only expanded the Arab world’s knowledge of light and its applications but have also paved the way for future generations to harness the power of this fundamental phenomenon to address global challenges and push the boundaries of scientific discovery.

source/content: egyptianstreets.com (headline edited)

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Dr.Ali Moustafa Mosharafa 

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ARAB / EGYPT / IRAQ

SAUDI ARABIA: GLOBAL RECORD: Amount of desalinated water produced by Saudi Arabia each day equivalent to global oil production

President of the Water Authority tells Local Content Forum 2024 in Riyadh the Kingdom aims to be a pioneer in desalination industry.

The volume of desalinated water produced by Saudi Arabia each day is equivalent to daily global oil production, the president of the Saudi Water Authority said on Thursday.

Speaking on day two of the three-day Local Content Forum 2024 in Riyadh, Abdullah Al-Abdulkarim said the Kingdom desalinates an estimated 15 million cubic meters of water daily. In 2023, global oil production amounted to nearly 15.3 million cubic meters a day, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The nation’s water sector has undergone significant shifts in recent years as a result of critical issues such as climate change and growing demand for fresh water, he added, and there are “great opportunities for the Kingdom to become a pioneer” in the desalination industry.

The Water Authority is working tirelessly to support Saudi manufacturers and contractors and help them enter the desalination sector, Al-Abdulkarim said.

“Partnerships in the water sector start from research and innovation, and transforming them into new projects,” he added.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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Abdullah Al-Abdulkarim, the President of the Saudi Water Authority, at the Local Content Forum held in Riyadh on Nov. 21, 2024 (SPA)

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SAUDI ARABIA

SOMALIA: 21-year old engineer Mohamad Adawe creates home-made respirator to ease country’s COVID-19 crisis

Somalia receives a boost in fight against COVID-19 in the form of home-made mechanised respirators, created by 21-year-old Mogadishu-based mechanical engineer A 21-year-old mechanical engineer came up with the device in response to a national shortage.

A 21-year-old Somali mechanical engineer has invented a homemade respirator to try to help his country during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The east African nation is suffering from a severe lack of respiratory equipment, which concerned Mogadishu–based Mohamad Adawe.

Previously, medical staff in Somalia have mainly had to assist patients’ breathing by manually pumping the equipment. This has also brought them into close contact with the infected people, heightening the risk of contagion.

“We don’t have economic might or a strong government in Somalia. To respond to this bad disease, I produced this device at a time when our people are suffering from a shortage of oxygen equipment.

 Mohamed Adawe 

Mogadishu-based mechanical engineer

Adawe says there was a real need for his invention:

“This device is used for patients in emergency situations, especially those who are having difficulty breathing. It is immediately useable for saving lives.

“We don’t have economic might or a strong government in Somalia. To respond to this bad disease, I produced this device at a time when our people are suffering from a shortage of oxygen equipment.

“So, my automated device can be attached to the patient’s face and moved away from them, as a social distancing measure.”

“With my device, we can fight against COVID-19 while our country is facing a shortage of oxygen devices – and while other countries of the world hold ventilators and other devices in their warehouses.”

Dr. Hussein Abdi-Aziz Abdulkadir, Director of the Somali Syrian Hospital in Mogadishu, hailed the significance of Adawe’s invention:

“In the past, you always had to use your hands to squeeze the airbag of the device, to clear the airway of the patient.

“But now Mohamed Adawe has automated the device to help patients clear their airway and help with breathing at a time when there is an urgent need for this.”

It’s hoped Mohamad Adawe’s innovation will help save lives: not just because it aids the patient in breathing, but also because it allows doctors to keep a safer distance from them, reducing the risk of contagion.

source/content: euronew.com (headline edited)

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pix: AFP

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SOMALIA

U.A.E: Emirati student Ali Al-Loughani receives a sash, a leadership medal and two gold medals at the London Inventions Exhibition

Emirati student Ali Humaid Al Loughani received the Leadership Sash and Medal at the 6th International Exhibition of Inventions and Trade held in the British capital, London, in which he participated under the patronage and support of the Dubai Digital Authority, outperforming 285 inventors from different countries of the world, despite being the youngest participant in the international event.

Emirati inventor Ali Al Loughani presented two of his inventions: the “Ship Accident Prevention Project,” which relies on artificial intelligence technologies and aims to protect ships and enhance safety in the maritime navigation sector to high levels, in addition to the “Hydropower” project for generating hybrid energy, which combines solar energy and hydrogen fuel cells, and employs Internet of Things technologies.

 for the two projects he participated in, and was honored by the Inventors Association of Romania, Norton University of Cambodia, and the National University of Science and Technology in Bucharest.


Al Loughani’s project, a ship accident system based on artificial intelligence technologies, is an advanced innovation that aims to enhance safety levels in the maritime sector through advanced technologies that monitor and analyze potential risks during navigation.

The technology of this project relies on collecting detailed data on sea conditions, ship speed, and weather conditions in real time, and analyzing them using artificial intelligence techniques.

Based on these analyses, the system can make proactive decisions to avoid collisions and marine accidents that could threaten the safety of passengers and cause significant damage to ships and marine infrastructure.

This innovative project can be part of global efforts to enhance sustainability in maritime transport, as it contributes to reducing the environmental impacts of marine accidents, such as oil spills and the resulting pollution. In addition, the system contributes to protecting marine life and ensuring the smooth and safe continuation of global trade.

 combining solar energy and hydrogen fuel cells to provide a sustainable and efficient energy source.

The project depends on converting solar energy into electrical energy using solar panels, and then using this energy to produce hydrogen through the electrolysis process.

The hydrogen is stored and later used to generate electricity through hydrogen fuel cells, which contributes to reducing dependence on fossil fuels and reducing carbon emissions.

The project consists of solar panels that convert sunlight into electrical energy, hydrogen fuel cells that generate electricity by reacting hydrogen with oxygen, a charge controller to regulate the electrical voltage, batteries to store electrical energy, and an electrolysis generator to produce hydrogen from water.

The project aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, enhance energy sustainability, improve energy storage efficiency, and contribute to achieving sustainable development goals, especially in the field of clean energy and climate action. It is considered a model for renewable energy that can be widely applied in the future.

Student Ali Al-Loughani has a long record of creativity and invention, as he has previously won a number of awards and honors for his efforts and achievements.

Last year, 2023, he won the 34th edition of the Technology, Innovation and Invention Exhibition in Malaysia for his invention of a robot that helps senior citizens in their daily lives using Internet of Things technologies.

He won second place in the Young Inventors category out of 700 competing inventors from 19 countries around the world.

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

 SHARJAH, U.A.E: Sultan Al Qasimi witnesses the launch of the ” 02nd Sharjah Conference on Arab Studies in Europe” and simultaneously announces the Unique Achievement of the completion of the historical dictionary of the Arabic language consisting 127 volumes

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, announced the completion of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language, consisting of 127 volumes, in a unique achievement for the Arab and Islamic nation, which is added to the series of achievements of Sharjah, under His Highness’s leadership, in various fields of culture, literature and the Arabic language.

This came during His Highness’s attendance today at the launch of the activities of the Second Sharjah International Conference on Arabic Language Studies in Europe, which is organized by the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, at the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi House.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah welcomed the conference guests from various European countries, including scholars and students, pointing out the overwhelming joy of completing all the volumes of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language, saying, “Your presence on this day, which coincides with the completion of the dictionary, is a joy and delight and the reaping of fruits. It is a happy occasion. This dictionary took seven years and was scientifically researched by 500 researchers and approximately 200 proofreaders, reviewers, printers, administrators and technicians.”

His Highness added that the scientific and research team of the Historical Dictionary will continue to work diligently with the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah to complete research and reference work for the benefit of the Arabic language, as work will begin on the Arabic Encyclopedia, which will cover all literary and scientific branches, and will become the first reference for all people.

At the end of his speech, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah pointed out the continuation of efforts to establish more cultural centres that play an important role in spreading support for Arabic culture and language and their valuable projects.

The conference was opened with the recitation of clear verses from the Holy Quran, after which Dr. Mohamed Safi Mosteghanemi, Secretary General of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, delivered a speech in which he welcomed the presence and honor of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah at the conference in its second edition, pointing to His Highness’s great support and personal interest in the Arabic language in terms of learning, teaching, publishing, literature and culture. He also welcomed the participating guests of the conference from various European countries and their great contributions to supporting the Arabic language in their countries.

Al-Mostaghanemi discussed the importance of joint cooperation between all scholars, researchers and orientalists to research and care for the Arabic language, pointing out the importance of the Arab Studies Conference in Europe in achieving many goals for the development of the dissemination and learning of the Arabic language in many European countries and in achieving research goals therein and discussing challenges and finding solutions.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and the attendees watched a visual presentation about the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, its vision, mission and objectives in the fields of publishing, developing and supporting the Arabic language, its research and studies, in addition to the publications and educational courses it supervises and its efforts in honoring scholars and outstanding individuals in various branches of the Arabic language.

Dr. Laura Gago delivered a speech on behalf of the conference guests, in which she praised the efforts of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and what he provides to the Arabic language in general and in Europe in particular, and the support and interest that the Emirate of Sharjah represents for the Arabic language, which has made it a destination for lovers and students of the Arabic language and its capital.

She noted the importance of the conference and its success at the international level, and the competition of scholars from different countries to participate in it, saying, “We came from every corner of Europe, from East to West, to talk about Arabic in the capital of Arabic in the modern era, because we know that Arabic is not a race, but rather Arabic, as the Prophet of Islam said, is the language, so whoever speaks Arabic is an Arab. The Arabic language sits on the throne of human languages, and if its people love it by nature, then the love of the Arabic language for us, who speak other languages, is a decision and a choice.”

She concluded her speech with thanks and appreciation to the Sharjah Academy of Arabic Language for organizing the conference and ensuring its success.

Dr. Dragana Djordjevic delivered a word of thanks and gratitude on behalf of the forum attendees to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for his support for the issues of the Arabic language and its teaching, especially in European countries, and for providing the opportunity for scholars and researchers to attend to study and come up with what contributes to supporting and spreading Arabic. She said, “In Sharjah, we feel that we are in our homes and among our people.”

At the end of the conference opening activities, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah honored the participating scientists and researchers.

The conference will be attended by a number of scholars and academics from Romania, Kazakhstan, Spain, Norway, Poland, Russia, Germany, Serbia, Croatia, Denmark, Turkey, France, Greece, and Italy. They will present various research papers that address the conference themes and the experiences and challenges of learning and teaching the Arabic language in their countries.

The conference seeks to research and discuss a number of topics, namely: Arab tales in the West: One Thousand and One Nights, Kalila and Dimna, Juha, and others, the Arabic language and contemporary technology, translation and cultural communication, the translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an into European languages: reality and prospects, the image of the Arab in travel literature and the books of European geographers, in addition to the topic of Arab manuscripts in Europe.

The conference aims to define the curricula and rules related to teaching Arabic to non-native speakers, reveal the linguistic, social and human heritage of nations, advance to acquire terms and values ​​that keep pace with contemporary scientific developments, focus on translation curricula and methods of communication between civilizations, care for interpretive readings of the meanings of the Holy Quran from the perspective of European languages, codify travel literature and the records of European geographers with Arabic and European edits, highlight the characteristics of Arabic manuscripts and their caches, in addition to employing global expertise and innovative methods in serving the Arabic language and spreading it in the countries of the European continent, and investing human energies, research skills, concepts and scientific theories to benefit from the linguistic heritage and the Arab knowledge treasure.

The second edition of the conference, which will continue for two days, September 21 and 22, will address several areas related to the Arabic language, namely: serious Arabic and human studies that embody the reality of the Arabic language in Europe, innovative research in learning and teaching the Arabic language, and practical experiences and live practices in the fields of the Arabic language and human studies.

The conference was attended by the Ruler of Sharjah, Dr. Khalifa Al Tunaiji, Chairman of the Holy Quran Academy in Sharjah, Jamal Salem Al Turaifi, President of Al Qasimia University, Abdullah Khalifa Al Sabousi, Chairman of the Department of Islamic Affairs, Ali Al Marri, Chairman of the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Foundation, Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, heads and representatives of Arabic language unions and academies, and a number of officials and specialists. 

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

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SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

SAUDI ARABIA: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) performs World’s First fully Robotic Heart Transplant

Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center has performed the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The two-and-a-half-hour operation was carried out on a 16-year-old patient suffering from end-stage heart failure.

A medical team led by Dr. Feras Khaliel, head of Cardiac Surgery and director of the Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery Program at KFSHRC, performed the operation after weeks of preparation.

The pioneering achievement, overcoming significant medical challenges associated with such procedures, reinforces Saudi Arabia’s leadership in healthcare, and highlights KFSHRC’s ability to innovate medical practices, SPA said.

The process began with detailed theoretical planning to ensure precision and minimize potential risks.

The team devised a surgical approach to access the heart and perform the transplant without opening the chest of the patient.

To ensure the effectiveness of this approach, the team practiced the procedure virtually seven times over three days before carrying out the operation.

The successful operation has been hailed as a significant development in heart transplant surgery, moving away from traditional chest-opening procedures that require long recovery periods, often lasting months.

Robotic technology allows for minimally invasive surgery, reducing pain, shortening recovery time, and minimizing the risk of complications. This significantly improves patients’ quality of life and accelerates recovery.

KFSHRC CEO Dr. Majid Al-Fayyad said that the successful operation marked another major advance in heart transplant surgery, first performed in the 1960s.

“The success of the world’s first robotic heart transplant marks a transformative leap, not only for our institution but also for Saudi Arabia’s journey toward global leadership in specialized medicine, in line with Saudi Vision 2030, which places innovation at the core of its efforts to improve quality of life,” he said.

“This remarkable achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering support of the Saudi leadership, who have prioritized the development of the healthcare sector, paving the way for a transformative leap in health care services, unlocking new possibilities to elevate the quality of life for patients both locally and globally,” he added.

The breakthrough aligns with KFSHRC’s commitment to medical innovation. As a leading training center in robotic organ transplant surgery, KFSHRC contributes to advancing the global understanding of minimally invasive organ transplants by collaborating with medical institutions worldwide to train their medical teams and achieve better outcomes, further elevating global medical practices.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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Saudi hospital conducts world’s first fully robotic heart transplant. (SPA)

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SAUDI ARABIA

SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi women Dr. Najia Al-Zanbagi and Rafeef Ayedh Alshahrani Awarded at Indonesia Inventors Day 2024 exhibition

Rafeef Ayedh Alshahrani wins gold for innovative tech; Dr. Najia Al-Zanbagi silver for her work in medical parasitology .

Two Saudi citizens were awarded prestigious medals for their groundbreaking work at the Indonesia Inventors Day 2024 exhibition, which was held from Aug. 28 to 31 in Bali, Indonesia. 

Rafeef Ayedh Alshahrani, a researcher from King Khalid University, won a gold medal for her innovation “AirEco,” which has the ability to detect and locate living beings in hard-to-reach mountainous terrain, where search efforts are typically hindered by challenging conditions. 

By integrating advanced detection technologies with artificial intelligence, the device provides crucial support to rescue teams. It not only identifies precise locations but also executes functions to assist in rescue operations once the target is located.

It is one of the projects backed by the university’s Agency for Business and Community Partnership, through the Entrepreneurship Center. 

The project has also earned four prestigious awards from Taiwan, Romania, Hong Kong and Thailand.

Reflecting on her achievement, she described it as a truly unique and fulfilling experience. She expressed the joy of seeing the fruits of her hard work over the past days and months, stating that the greatest reward was the pride and recognition from those around her. “It’s an incredible feeling,” she said.

“This accomplishment has fueled my desire to see it implemented quickly and made widely available,” she added. “I sincerely hope that authorities and companies will adopt the project, provide support, and help manufacture it to the highest standards so it can fully achieve its purpose.”

When asked how such achievements can positively influence Saudi participation in international competitions, she said: “Accomplishments serve as a powerful driving force for young people, pushing them toward their ambitions and future goals. 

“The Kingdom’s Vision 2030, in particular, has become a major source of motivation, inspiring all Saudis to think creatively and pursue their aspirations. 

“Saudi achievements have now become a source of national pride, shifting perspectives on the significance of success and its far-reaching impact. These accomplishments are key drivers of development, progress and prosperity. 

“Beyond boosting individual self-confidence, they foster a positive mindset in society, encouraging leadership, innovation and the creation of economic opportunities. The impact of success doesn’t stop with the individual; it resonates throughout the community.”

Dr. Najia Al-Zanbagi, headmaster of Highly Innovative Unique Foundation, also earned a silver medal at the Indonesia Inventors Day 2024 for her remarkable work in medical parasitology.

“My contribution was a personal achievement: I authored a book on medical parasitology, using engaging, narrative-driven stories to simplify the complex scientific content and make it easier for learners to distinguish between various parasites. 

“I first introduced this approach while teaching at King Abdulaziz University, and it was incredibly well received by students, who found the subject much more enjoyable and accessible.” 

She aid that the book, titled “Lisan Al-Hal,” has now been published and is now available in the market.

Dr. Majid Al-Aziman, director of the Entrepreneurship Center at King Khalid University, emphasized the university’s commitment to supporting innovators, raising awareness and redefining the concept of entrepreneurship. 

The university also seeks to spotlight the success of projects incubated by the Entrepreneurship Center and actively contribute to creating new job opportunities.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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Dr. Najia Al-Zanbagi (R), headmaster of Highly Innovative Unique Foundation, earned a silver medal at the Indonesia Inventors Day 2024 for her remarkable work in medical parasitology. (Supplied)

Rafeef Ayedh Alshahrani’s project has also earned four prestigious awards from Taiwan, Romania, Hong Kong and Thailand. (Supplied)

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SAUDI ARABIA

YEMEN: Eqbal Dauqan Ph.D : She May Be The Most Unstoppable Scientist In The World

Two years ago, Eqbal Dauqan was going to work in the morning as usual. She’s a biochemistry professor. And was driving on the freeway, when suddenly: “I felt something hit my car, but I didn’t know what it was because I was driving very fast,” she says.

Dauqan reached the parking lot. Got out of the car and looked at the door. What she saw left her speechless.

“A bullet hit the car, just on the door,” she says.

The door had stopped the bullet. And Dauqan was OK. She has no idea where the bullet came from. But it turned out to be an ominous sign of what was to come.

Gender Canyon

Dauqan is a female scientist in what’s possibly the hardest place on Earth to be a woman: Yemen.

The World Economic Forum ranks Yemen as the worst country for women’s rights. In Yemen, many women can’t leave the house without permission from a male relative.

“If she goes out with her husband or brother, that’s OK. But not by herself. ” Dauqan says. “Not everyone follows this. But this is our culture.”

A culture where two-thirds of women can’t read. About half are married by age 18 — and sometimes as young as age 8.

And then there’s the black veil. Many women in Yemen wear a niqab — a black veil that completely covers their faces, except for a tiny slit across the eyes.

Daquan wears a niqab when she’s in Yemen. She even wore one during her TEDx talk there back in 2014. But she doesn’t wear one in other countries.

“I cover my face [in Yemen] because I respect the culture,” Dauqan says. “I respect the culture.”

She may respect it — but not blindly. For the past decade, Dauqan has burst through glass ceiling after glass ceiling with fearlessness and grace.

Even as a young girl, she was a rebel. “I was a little naughty,” she says with a snicker.

She liked breaking rules. And proving people wrong. So when her parents told her she might not have the smarts to go into science and engineering — like her dad — Eqbal thought: Watch me.

“I told my father, ‘I’ve heard a lot about scientists in chemistry. What is the difference between me and them? So I want to try,” she says.

And she did more than try. She crushed it.

Eqbal won over her father and got his financial support. She was the first among her friends to finish college. Then she got a scholarship to do her Ph.D. in biochemistry at the Universiti Kebansaan Malaysia, where she studied the nutritional properties of palm oil.

That led to her writing a popular book about the fruits mentioned in the Holy Quran and their health benefits. For example, Indian Jujube — also known as red dates — are the most cultivated plant in the world and have 20 times more vitamin C than citrus fruit, Eqbal writes in her book.

Next came the prizes. In 2014, Dauqan was named one of the top female scientists in the developing world by the Elsevier Foundation. News programs in the Middle East and in China ran feature stories on her. She became so famous that Al Saeed University made her an assistant professor and head of a department — all this before she’d turned 35. Dauqan was on top of the world.

And then one morning, it was all taken away.

“They were just sleeping”

In March 2015, Dauqan’s hometown of Taiz got pulled into Yemen’s bloody civil war. Planes started flying over head, dropping bombs — even on homes and schools.

“They were bombing my university!” Dauqan exclaims. “They killed some of my students.

“It was really bad. Really bad,” she says. “I’ll show you.”

Dauqan turns to her computer and brings up some photos. On the screen is a photo of several bodies laying flat on the ground. The bodies are covered in white sheets, with only their faces showing.

“This is nine person from my family,” she says. “They were sleeping. And a bomb hit their house. They all died. Nine person from my family.”

A few of the bodies are small.

“Those are two children in our family,” Dauqan adds. “They were just sleeping.”

And then they were gone — Dauqan’s cousins on her father side and their sons and daughters.

“That is why I leave my country,” she says.

“I have to be strong. I want to be strong”

After the bombings began, Dauqan had to stop her research. The university shut down. And it wasn’t safe for her to leave home. She was trapped in a city where snipers target children and bombs fall on mosques, schools and markets.

During one month of 2015, doctors treated more than 4,000 civilians in a Taiz hospital, the nonprofit Doctors Without Borders reported. MSF hospitals have been hit with bombs four times.

Across Yemen, about 10,000 civilians have been killed in the war and more than 40,000 have been wounded. the U.N. reports. More than 370,000 children are now malnourished because they can’t get food.

And then one day, after spending months in hiding, Dauqan had an idea: Maybe her science could get her out of the war.

She started texting her mentor, Aminah Abdullah, a food scientist at the Universiti Kebangsaan in Malaysia. They applied for a special refugee scholarship with the Institute of International Education-Scholar Rescue Fund, based in New York. She got it, and after a few months, she was safe on a plane headed for Malaysia.

Now she’s working to save up money so she can bring her parents and sister to Malaysia. “It’s very difficult,” she says. “But I have to be strong. I want to be strong!”

Dauqan works long hours in labs, continues to publish papers and mentor students. And she has never lost sight of her dreams — even her ultimate dream.

“My dream is to win the Nobel Prize,” Dauqan says with a chuckle. “It is very hard. So I don’t know. “

But Dauqan has already done so much for science — and society. When little girls in the Middle East see photos of Eqbal as a chemist — wearing a head scarf, measuring pH — they don’t need to use their imagination to think: “I could be just like her. I could be a scientist.”

source/content: npr.org (headline edited)

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“In college, I would tell my friends that I wanted to pursue a Ph.D., and they would chuckle and ridicule the idea,” says Eqbal Dauqan, who is an assistant professor at the University Kebangsaan Malaysia at age 36. Born and raised in Yemen, Dauqan credits her “naughty” spirit for her success in a male-dominated culture.Sanjit Das for NPR

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YEMEN

EGYPTIAN Ahmed Omar, UAE’s Walt Disney, leaves a legacy at 85

Omar created and launched Majid Magazine for children, and an array of adorable characters, in 1979.

Just as Walt Disney founded one of the world’s largest and most influential entertainment conglomerates, an Egyptian journalist is hailed as the “Walt Disney of the UAE” for his pivotal role in shaping the region’s media landscape with Majid Magazine.

For many Arab adults now in their 50s, the magazine and its beloved characters, like Majid, Kaslan Jiddan and Captain Khalfan, are cherished symbols of childhood joy. Yet, few recognize the creative genius behind these treasured memories: Ahmed Omar, who passed away on Aug. 9 at the age of 85.

His vision and storytelling prowess were crucial in shaping the magazine’s enduring legacy.

Born in Egypt in September 1939, Omar embarked on a lifelong journey with words and stories.

His passion for reading blossomed at a young age, and school and public libraries became his sanctuaries, where he delved into a world of diverse books and nurtured a profound love for literature.

Omar’s frequent visits to Cairo’s Azbakeya Book Market, where he discovered affordable secondhand books, helped him build a personal library filled with diverse titles. His extensive reading played a crucial role in shaping his vision and enriching his ideas, which later shone through in his literary works.

He read to build a deep reservoir of knowledge, with classical literature captivating him from an early age. Naguib Mahfouz’s novels, which delve into the intricacies of life in Egyptian neighborhoods, had a profound impact on him. Omar was also shaped by the works of renowned Egyptian writers like Yusuf Idris, Gamal El-Ghitani, Mohamed Hassanein Heikal and other prominent authors.

He began his professional career at the UAE’s Al-Etihad newspaper, where he was a founding member and contributed to laying its foundation. He later managed the local news section.

The most significant achievement of his career was establishing Majid Magazine for children and becoming its editor-in-chief in 1979. The idea for the magazine was born within Al-Etihad daily and eventually transformed into one of the most important children’s magazines in the Arab world.

Omar recognized the need for Arab children to have a publication that represented them, stimulated their imagination and nurtured their minds. Working alongside a talented team of journalists and illustrators, he turned the magazine into a platform for expressing the thoughts and emotions of Arab children through words and drawings.

Through his tireless efforts, Omar made the magazine a symbol of Arab childhood and a cherished part of the memories of successive generations.

He spent most of his time in the magazine’s offices, creating, planning, overseeing writers and content, and preparing issues. When a new issue was printed, he had several weeks’ worth of issues ready in advance.

The inaugural issue of the magazine was published on Feb. 28, 1979, with 5,000 free copies that quickly vanished from the shelves. Majid, a character representing human values rather than superpowers, struck a chord with children. Majid Magazine maintained a weekly publication schedule every Wednesday without fail, gaining significant popularity throughout the region.

Omar oversaw and managed the magazine with ultimate care and interest for almost 30 years. He provided guiding articles for children and wrote scripts for comic stories, enriching each issue with beloved characters such as Zaki the Clever and Captain Khalfan, among others.

His editorials in Majid Magazine served as weekly lessons for both children and adults, filled with educational messages and moral guidance. His contributions established him as an educational pioneer, as he dedicated his knowledge to serving the younger generation and imparting valuable lessons.

Through his deep understanding of the nuances and secrets of childhood, Omar succeeded in capturing the attention of children from across the Arab world. The magazine’s readership grew to hundreds of thousands of young readers.

The late journalist believed that nurturing a love of reading in children is a collective duty of families, schools and magazines alike. He famously remarked: “Instilling a reading habit early in life is crucial, as it is difficult to cultivate later on. Introducing a child to a magazine is not just about providing entertainment — it’s a crucial step toward nurturing a lifelong passion for reading.”

Since the inception of the magazine, Omar was dedicated to imbuing it with a distinctly Gulf Arab flavor, reflected in its content, stories and characters. He attracted leading children’s writers and cartoonists, ensuring the magazine resonated deeply with young readers across the Arab world by preserving the unique identity of Gulf children.

Notable characters such as Kaslan Jiddan, Fadooli, Abu Al-Dhurfaa, Zakiyah Al-Zakiyah, Shamsa and Dana, and Captain Khalfan and his assistant Fahman became beloved figures among the magazine’s young audience.

Omar emphasized that his magazine was designed to appeal to children growing up in a traditional environment, instilling religious values, cultural awareness and pride in their Arab heritage.

As a testimony to his magazine’s success, mail subscriptions to Majid flourished throughout the Arab World as fans eagerly awaited each issue every Wednesday. For decades, it managed to compete with translated comics magazines such as Mickey (licensed from Disney and translated in Egypt) and Little Lulu (licensed and translated in Lebanon).

Consequently, the magazine evolved alongside the UAE’s social progress and embraced digital advancements with a YouTube channel and a website, although critics would argue that it is nowhere as influential today — despite the additional reach provided by modern technology — as it once was in the 1990s and 1980s.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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EGYPT