logo
Saudi Culture Ministry Launches Research Grants to Enrich Cultural Studies

Saudi Culture Ministry Launches Research Grants to Enrich Cultural Studies

Asharq Al-Awsat23-05-2025
The Saudi Ministry of Culture has announced the launch of six specialized research grants as part of the inaugural cycle of its Culture Research Grants Program.
The initiative aligns with the Ministry's strategic vision to strengthen scientific research in the cultural sector and advance the generation of cultural knowledge.
The grants reflect the cultural research priorities announced at the end of last year: culture in its context, cultural contact, diversity and inclusion, sustainability and quality of life, and cultural policies and regulations.
The grants are designed to empower researchers and practitioners to contribute to these priorities through high-quality studies that enrich academic knowledge and support the development of the cultural sector.
The Anthropological Studies Grant encourages anthropological research focused on the culture of the Arabian Peninsula, aiming to bridge academic gaps in the field, deepen scientific understanding of cultural elements and their social and economic contexts, preserve national memory, and provide a robust scientific foundation for cultural heritage documentation and policymaking.
The Saudi Arabia from a Global Perspective Grant invites studies that explore the connections between Saudi culture and global civilizations, highlighting the Kingdom's and the Arabian Peninsula's historical contributions to cultural development and transformation.
The Children's Culture Grant addresses research gaps related to cultural production for children. Falling under the theme of diversity and inclusion, it aims to examine participation patterns and determinants, supporting efforts to ensure inclusive engagement across all segments of society.
The Rights of Creatives and Artists Grant promotes research into the challenges surrounding intellectual property rights for artists and creators. It aims to build an evidence base to support policymakers in protecting creative works, while identifying innovative ways to safeguard these rights amid rapid technological change.
The Creative Economy Grant, aligned with the priority of sustainability and quality of life, seeks to expand scientific knowledge on the contribution of the creative economy to sustainable development.
It encourages studies that assess the economic challenges facing cultural institutions and professionals and supports the development of sustainable business models for cultural industries. The Culture and Sustainability Grant supports research on the intersection of culture with environmental, economic, and social sustainability.
It aims to evaluate the effects of environmental challenges on the cultural sector and to empower cultural practitioners to adopt sustainable practices.
The Ministry's announcement of these grants underscores its commitment to fostering scientific research, preserving cultural heritage, enhancing the body of cultural knowledge, and promoting innovation across the sector.
This initiative is a cornerstone of the Ministry's broader research strategy, which aims to strengthen the relationship between cultural production and scientific inquiry at both regional and global levels, while creating a distinguished research environment that elevates the quality and impact of cultural studies.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Saudi student wins silver at international astrophysics olympiad in Mumbai
Saudi student wins silver at international astrophysics olympiad in Mumbai

Arab News

time7 hours ago

  • Arab News

Saudi student wins silver at international astrophysics olympiad in Mumbai

NEW DELHI: A Saudi Arabian student won a silver medal at the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, which concluded in India's Mumbai on Thursday. The IOAA is an annual competition held to recognize talented high-school students from around the world in astronomy and astrophysics through a series of theoretical, practical and experimental tests. The event was organized this year by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education — a national center of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research — and took place in Mumbai from Aug. 11-21. A five-member team represented Saudi Arabia at the event, which featured more than 300 students from 64 countries. 'This year's competition was extremely challenging. The exams were long, difficult, and required a high level of intuition and time management. Teams were exceptionally well prepared, making the event even more competitive,' Talal Al-Dawood, supervisor of the astronomy and space program at Mawhiba — the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity — told Arab News after the closing ceremony on Thursday. 'Despite this, our students performed remarkably well. We are incredibly proud to have won our first silver medal, along with two honorable mentions.' Saudi student Jude Basem Al-Lahyani was awarded the silver, following her bronze medal at the Kingdom's IOAA debut at the 2024 edition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her teammates Hussain Hasan Al-Mubarak and Fajr Al-Obaidan obtained honorable mentions this year. 'They were incredibly happy to see the fruits of their hard work and dedication, as the countless hours they spent studying and preparing finally paid off,' Al-Dawood said. The IOAA was launched in 2007 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Students competing at the IOAA are required to be younger than 20 years old and must tackle three papers across 10 days spanning theory, data analysis and observations. The Saudi team was trained by Mawhiba — a non-profit endowment dedicated to nurturing young talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics — with support from the Ministry of Education, the Saudi Space Agency, and NEO Space Group. Al-Dawood said the students were chosen following 'highly competitive and rigorous qualification stages' that lasted almost a year, and added: 'This year's achievement will definitely inspire the next generation of the Saudi team.'

Surging Tourism is Polluting Antarctica, Scientists Warn
Surging Tourism is Polluting Antarctica, Scientists Warn

Asharq Al-Awsat

time15 hours ago

  • Asharq Al-Awsat

Surging Tourism is Polluting Antarctica, Scientists Warn

Soaring numbers of tourists and expanding research projects are increasingly polluting Antarctica, scientists warned Wednesday, a fresh blow for one of Earth's most pristine environments already threatened by human-driven climate change. In Antarctic areas where humans have been active, the concentration of fine particles containing heavy metals is 10 times higher than it was 40 years ago, the international team of researchers said in a new study. That change has come as the number of annual tourists visiting the white continent has risen from 20,000 to 120,000 over the last two decades, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. "The increasing human presence in Antarctica raises concerns about pollutants from fossil fuel combustion, including those from ships, aircraft, vehicles and supporting infrastructure," AFP quoted the study in the journal Nature Sustainability as saying. Ships carrying tourists are powered by dirty fossil fuels, which are the source of fine particles containing things like nickel, copper, zinc and lead. "Snow melts faster in Antarctica due to the presence of polluting particles in areas frequented by tourists," study co-author Raul Cordero told AFP. "A single tourist can contribute to accelerating the melting of around 100 tons of snow," said the scientist at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. The researchers -- from countries including Chile and Germany -- spent four years traveling 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) in Antarctica to measure the contamination. The presence of heavy metals has also increased due to scientific expeditions. Research projects that stay for an extended time can have up to 10 times more of an impact than a single tourist, Cordero said. The study acknowledged there have been "meaningful steps forward" in attempts to protect Antarctica, such as a ban on highly polluting heavy fuel oil and the tourism industry embracing electric-hybrid ships. "Nevertheless, our results show that more remains to be done to reduce the burdens of human activities in Antarctica," including speeding up the transition to renewable energy and slashing fossil fuel use, the study said. A different Nature study also published on Wednesday warned that potentially irreversible changes in Antarctica driven by climate change could lift global oceans by meters and lead to "catastrophic consequences for generations."

Riyadh hospital performs first cochlear implant surgery using robotic arm
Riyadh hospital performs first cochlear implant surgery using robotic arm

Arab News

time2 days ago

  • Arab News

Riyadh hospital performs first cochlear implant surgery using robotic arm

RIYADH: Marking an advanced leap in the field of surgery, a team at King Abdullah Ear Specialist Center, affiliated with King Abdulaziz University Hospital in the King Saud University Medical City, performed the region's first cochlear implant operation using robotic arm technology, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Also known as automatic implantation, this modern technology enables surgeons to insert the electrodes of the cochlear implant with extreme precision and high stability, enhancing patient safety and supporting optimal hearing outcomes. The robotic arm is characterized by ease of control, performance stability, and high accuracy in carrying out delicate surgical movements, thereby improving the quality of surgical care. King Abdullah Ear Specialist Center is considered one of the leading reference centers for cochlear implantation in the Kingdom and the wider region, with multidisciplinary medical expertise and advanced technologies that ensure the provision of comprehensive specialized care for patients with hearing loss.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store