Saudi universities unite at Darah event to innovate heritage preservation
RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Public Foundation for Research and Archives, Darah, concluded its three-day National History Lab on Tuesday at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, showing ways to preserve and celebrate Saudi history.
Themed 'History in the Eyes of the Future,' the event brought together 30 Saudi universities and 15 national and international organizations to inspire innovative approaches to documenting and sharing Saudi history.
The initiative featured two streams: the digital innovation track, which focused on developing technical solutions for documenting and sharing history; and the social impact track, designed to create initiatives that strengthen community connections to history.
A panel of 13 judges evaluated the submissions, supported by more than 20 facilitators who guided participants in refining their ideas.
Al-Jouf University took first place with its innovative project to preserve Saudi heritage through an online platform promoting historical sites across the Kingdom.
Wajd Al-Huzaim, a student from the winning team, explained the concept: 'Al-Majlis is a Saudi social media app connecting the Kingdom's regions through communities. Each region is represented as a 'majlis,' such as Majlis Al-Jouf, Majlis Riyadh, and so on.
'People share posts about historical sites, their homes, and interact through likes and comments.'
She said that the app awards badges for visiting historical sites where users can check in at these locations to earn badges. 'Once they collect a certain number, they achieve the title of 'guide.''
Al-Huzaim emphasized the app's impact, saying: 'It connects people to local landmarks and encourages citizens to promote their region's history. By turning Saudi heritage into a trend, it appeals to the younger generation, making history relevant and engaging.'
The event included workshops, exhibitions, and talks by various experts. At one of the booths by Darah, visitors were able to learn how colors and inks were traditionally extracted from plants.
Munirah Al-Qahtani, a researcher at Darah, said: 'In the past, our ancestors used these natural methods to color doors, windows, and houses where they would dissolve gum arabic to create a liquid substance that was mixed with the colors. This process ensured the durability of the piece and preserved its quality, preventing it from deteriorating over time.'
Aligned with Vision 2030, the National History Lab gave youth and organizations passionate about preserving Saudi heritage a platform to collaborate and compete, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
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