The Saudi Media Forum discusses the achievements of Mawhiba and ISEF
Saudi Media Forum featured an exceptional dialogue session that highlighted the qualitative shift in media engagement with national scientific achievements, specifically the experience of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) in preparing and qualifying Saudi students to compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
The session, entitled “Media Transforms ISEF and International Competitions: From Official to International,” discussed how the media and educational system succeeded in transforming these participations from mere official protocol news into a popular event anticipated by Saudi society, reflecting a maturity in societal awareness of the importance of science and innovation.
ISEF: The World Science Cup
In highlighting the importance of the event, ISEF is considered the "World Cup of Science," the largest international science forum for public school students, bringing together more than 1,600 students from over 70 countries annually. Historically, the exhibition's significance lies in its role as a launching pad for many scientists who later won Nobel Prizes, making Saudi Arabia's participation a strategic investment in the future of its human capital.
Fahad Al-Anzi, Deputy Secretary-General for Corporate Communication and Business Development at “Mawhiba”, explained during the session that the competition includes more than 20 vital scientific fields, such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, medicine, engineering, and environmental sciences, noting that these fields represent the backbone of the future global economy.
Saudi achievements in numbers
Al-Anzi reviewed Saudi Arabia's achievements, emphasizing that the strategic partnership between Mawhiba and the Ministry of Education has resulted in the Kingdom winning more than 185 international awards in recent years. These awards were not merely medals, but international recognition of the quality of Saudi education and the effectiveness of the enrichment programs the Kingdom offers its students, as the submitted projects reflected a high level of scientific research and critical thinking.
The economic and national impact of nurturing the gifted
From a strategic perspective, the importance of these initiatives extends beyond immediate awards; they form a fundamental pillar for achieving the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The Mawhiba programs directly contribute to developing human capital and transforming society from a consumer of technology to a producer of it. These students represent the true nucleus of the research, development, and innovation (RDI) sectors upon which the Kingdom relies to diversify its national income sources.
Al-Anzi emphasized that the sustainable impact is clearly evident in the enrollment of these talented individuals in the world’s most prestigious universities and research centers, so that they may later return as leaders of change in their fields, contributing to pioneering projects that serve the nation.
The role of media in creating role models
The session concluded by emphasizing the pivotal role of the media in this equation. Saudi media has recently succeeded in transforming cold numbers into inspiring human stories and creating "stars" from among young scientists, which has strengthened the Kingdom's image as an environment that fosters innovation and has encouraged emerging generations to emulate these innovators instead of being satisfied with entertainment celebrities, which is an important cultural shift in society.
