Abu Dhabi: A car that can charge itself using air resistance, the discovery of a set of compounds to help inhibit cancer and diabetes-related proteins and a safety system that can alert the motorist if someone has been left behind in the vehicle were some of the innovative projects among the 27 that were recognised for their creativity at the Think Science 2015 awards handed out in the capital today (May 25).
The projects had initially been presented as part of 200 submissions from innovators across the UAE at the annual Think Science Competition. The contest and associated fair, visited by 10,000 people, was held earlier this month by philanthropic and youth empowerment organisation, Emirates Foundation.
Today’s (May 25) recognition ceremony was attended by Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and chairman of the Emirates Foundation, who said that the projects were a credit to the UAE.
“Think Science has shone a spotlight on the immense talent of the UAE’s young people — their Emirati spirit. These highly skilled, dedicated and motivated youth are an inspiration to us all and I am confident about leaving the future of our great nation in their capable hands,” Shaikh Abdullah said.
“They have used science and technology to solve everyday challenges, and I am sure that I will soon see a number of them among the ambitious researchers of our country,” he added.
The competition itself was divided into 12 categories, with separate sections for school and university participants. The categories included energy and electrical systems, smart industrial systems and applied sciences and engineering for university students. School students participated by developing projects in applied physics, chemistry and chemical engineering, environmental sciences and management, industrial and mechanical engineering, energy, safety systems, smart systems, electrical engineering, and transportation.
Lujain Aloum, a pharmacy graduate from the University of Sharjah, won the top university prize with her teammate, Mohammad Rourou, for an initiative that could help single out and inhibit proteins closely related to cancer, diabetes and neurological diseases.
“This was part of my senior project, and we mainly worked to synthesise more than 30 compounds that could inhibit the proteins. They were tested in collaboration with Harvard University, and currently the university and our supervising professor is applying for a patent,” she told Gulf News after the ceremony.
Among schoolchildren, Rami Al Mursi and Amro Al Zeiq from The Westminster School Dubai, received the highest recognition for designing a car that can charge itself using air resistance, and which uses the heat to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
“This was a massive chance for us to display our project, for which we are very grateful. Think Science has truly been a platform for us to come forward with our ideas,” Almorsi, 17, said.
The annual competition has been organised by the Foundation since 2012 in a bid to encourage Emirati youth to pursue careers in scientific and technological fields.
