
Saudi students compete in tough nuclear science Olympiad round 2
The students conducted theoretical and practical tests, each over five hours, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently. The event began on July 30 and ends on Aug. 6.
These included an applied simulation which tested the analytical and creative skills of the students in the field of nuclear science, the SPA added.
The team of four students are awaiting the results of their tests, which pitted them against 52 students from 13 countries.
The Saudi students were selected for the competition after intensive training and qualification stages organized by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity.
The selection was completed in partnership with the Ministry of Education, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, and King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy.
This year's team are: Hassan Ali Al-Awad from Al-Ahsa, Azzam Khaled Al-Omari from Jeddah, Al-Baraa Saeed Awaji from Madinah, and Ibrahim Abdulaziz Al-Othman from Jubail.
This is their second Olympiad, having won one silver and three bronze medals at the inaugural event last year.
The International Nuclear Science Olympiad, which was set up by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2024, is a global scientific platform.
The event aims to promote the peaceful and safe use of nuclear technologies, and motivate young people to specialize and innovate in the field.
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Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Safeguarding biodiversity in a warming world
As global temperatures continue to rise, the resulting biodiversity loss has become one of the most urgent and underappreciated climate challenges. Yet within this crisis lies a tremendous opportunity for nations to lead with innovation, foresight, and inclusivity. Saudi Arabia, through its Vision 2030 reforms, is uniquely positioned to offer a regional model for protecting nature while advancing climate resilience and sustainable development. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded globally, with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts reporting an average surface temperature of 15.10 degrees Celsius — approximately 1.52 C above pre-industrial levels and 0.12 C warmer than 2023. This marks the first time global temperatures have exceeded the 1.5 C threshold for an entire calendar year, signaling an alarming acceleration in warming trends. Climate-induced warming is now one of the top five drivers of biodiversity loss, exacerbating other pressures such as land degradation and pollution. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that even small increases in global temperature can push entire ecosystems past tipping points, with desert, coastal, and coral reef ecosystems particularly vulnerable. The fact that each of the past two years set new records underscores the urgency of systemic climate action. In Saudi Arabia, biodiversity loss linked to climate change is increasingly visible. Marine heatwaves in the Red Sea have triggered extensive coral bleaching, affecting reefs that support more than 5,000 species, including fish, corals, invertebrates, marine mammals, seabirds, and mollusks, and contribute billions to the coastal economy. On land, extreme heat and reduced rainfall are accelerating desertification and shrinking the range of numerous native species such as the Arabian leopard, Asir magpie, and acacia trees. A recent study found that many Middle Eastern mammals may lose over 40 percent of their viable habitat by 2050 under high-emissions scenarios. Saudi Arabia is taking a proactive approach to environmental challenges. Through the Saudi Green Initiative, the Kingdom has placed nature-based solutions and climate adaptation at the heart of its national strategy. Since 2021, over 115 million native trees have been planted, more than 118,000 hectares have undergone ecological rehabilitation, and 18.1 percent of land has been designated for protection, with a goal to reach 30 percent by 2030. The role of science and technology in scaling these efforts is expanding rapidly. Saudi Arabia is integrating advanced tools such as LiDAR, hyperspectral imaging, and artificial intelligence-enabled species distribution models to identify climate-resilient restoration zones and track progress in real time. These tools allow conservation authorities to prioritize interventions where ecosystems can be most effectively protected or rehabilitated. At the heart of Saudi Arabia's environmental transformation is a growing conviction that protecting nature is essential to securing the nation's future. Adnan Masoudy & Hassan Alzain Local institutions such as the National Center for Wildlife and the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve have spearheaded the reintroduction of endangered species, including the Arabian oryx and houbara bustard, supported by climate-informed ecological planning. In parallel, marine biodiversity is being enhanced through coastal restoration, such as the regeneration of mangroves and seagrass beds, which not only store carbon but also buffer storm surges and enhance fisheries. These efforts are widely recognized as integral to Saudi Arabia's broader coastal resilience strategies. At the heart of Saudi Arabia's environmental transformation is a growing conviction that protecting nature is essential to securing the nation's future. Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, captures this emerging sense of purpose. 'Our vision for the future is clear: a Saudi Arabia where wildlife thrives, habitats are restored, and the natural balance is maintained for the benefit of all,' he said recently. 'NCW's dedication to protecting Saudi Arabia's natural legacy remains unwavering. We are confident that, with continued effort and collaboration, we can build a future where the natural world is preserved for generations to come.' This vision underscores the critical link between biodiversity stewardship and climate resilience — and affirms that conservation is not a peripheral effort, but a national imperative and a central pillar of the Kingdom's long-term sustainable development, environmental security, and economic resilience. Moreover, experts in the region echo the importance of strategic integration. As Chris Boland, director of the Arabian Biodiversity Consultancy, notes: 'Climate change isn't just reshaping ecosystems — it's rewriting the rules of conservation. Saudi Arabia has a unique opportunity to unite traditional ecological wisdom with cutting-edge science to protect its species and landscapes. This is not only about conserving biodiversity, but about future-proofing the Kingdom's natural heritage in a rapidly warming world. It's now or never.' His insight underscores the need for adaptive, forward-thinking strategies that address the complexities of conservation under uncertainty. Saudi Arabia's ambitions are further strengthened by linking biodiversity with economic development. The Dasgupta Review emphasized that biodiversity must be treated as an asset, not an externality, in national accounts. In this spirit, the Kingdom is exploring biodiversity credits, conservation-linked bonds, and blended finance to attract private investment into restoration. These market mechanisms, coupled with sovereign green bonds, can align conservation goals with Vision 2030's broader diversification agenda. Adaptation frameworks are equally essential. Dynamic adaptive policy pathways and robust decision-making offer decision-makers the tools to navigate uncertainty, evaluate trade-offs, and update strategies as conditions evolve. These approaches, already used in water and urban planning, can be applied to biodiversity governance, helping Saudi Arabia optimize restoration under climate variability. Saudi Arabia, through its Vision 2030 reforms, is uniquely positioned to offer a regional model for protecting nature while advancing climate resilience and sustainable development. Adnan Masoudy & Hassan Alzain Public engagement is another critical pillar. Burgeoning community-led initiatives are improving rangeland management and enhancing traditional conservation practices. Incorporating indigenous knowledge into policy design ensures that local needs and ecological wisdom are respected, while increasing legitimacy and social buy-in. Three strategic steps can help position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in biodiversity protection by aligning conservation efforts with scientific best practices, international collaboration, and inclusive public engagement. First, develop a national biodiversity and climate resilience dashboard that integrates remote sensing, AI, and open-access tools to inform policymakers and the public. Second, scale partnerships with international initiatives such as the Global Biodiversity Framework, the Global Mangrove Alliance, and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration to access knowledge, finance, and innovation. Third, expand environmental literacy by embedding biodiversity education into national curricula and encouraging sensitive eco-tourism that fosters appreciation for native ecosystems. The benefits of these actions are both local and global. For example, a recent study published in Nature Sustainability estimates that effective ecosystem restoration in arid environments can increase water retention by up to 25 percent and reduce heat stress in nearby communities by as much as 4 C. Another study in Global Change Biology found that restoring mangroves can deliver co-benefits for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and fisheries yield within just five years. Saudi Arabia's climate and environmental strategy reflects a growing international consensus: Protecting biodiversity is not only essential for ecological stability but also contributes directly to long-term sustainable development. Investing in biodiversity safeguards vital ecosystem services — such as clean water, fertile soils, pollination, and climate regulation — that underpin food security, health, and economic growth. As Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasized during the launch of the Saudi Green Initiative in 2021, environmental stewardship is a foundation for intergenerational prosperity and global cooperation. Ultimately, climate action and biodiversity protection are two sides of the same coin. This linkage has been central to international frameworks such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity. The outcomes of the recent UN Biodiversity Conference, which led to the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to conserve 30 percent of land and oceans by 2030, and UNFCCC COP29, which emphasized nature-based solutions and ecosystem resilience in adaptation planning, underscore the need for countries to adopt integrated strategies that address both crises simultaneously. Saudi Arabia's contributions to and alignment with these global goals demonstrate a strong commitment to the evolving agenda. While its progress remains comparable to many nations, its scale of ambition, particularly through the Saudi Green Initiative and ecological restoration pledges, places it in an increasingly influential position within international environmental discourse. • Adnan Masoudy is manager of corporate sustainability, environment, and biodiversity at Ma'aden. • Hassan Alzain is author of the award-winning book 'Green Gambit.'


Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
How Saudi Arabia's KAUST is building the tools, talent, and vision for generative AI
DHAHRAN: As Saudi Arabia accelerates its push to become a global hub for artificial intelligence, the research labs at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology are working to ensure the Kingdom doesn't just consume AI — but helps build it. On KAUST's Red Sea campus, the newly established Center of Excellence in Generative AI — CoE Gen AI — is at the heart of this effort. One of its founding members, Prof. Peter Wonka, is leading a team developing foundational models and tailored tools designed to align with Saudi Arabia's national priorities — from personalized education and energy modeling to AI-generated Arabic content. 'This is a really exciting time to be involved in AI,' Wonka, who is originally from Austria, told Arab News. 'This is the time of tremendous progress.' Saudi Arabia's ambitions are part of a global race to dominate generative AI. PwC estimates that AI will contribute about SR 878 billion ($235 billion), or roughly 12.4 percent of Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product, by 2030. According to research from McKinsey, generative AI could add between $2.6 trillion and $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy — with around 75 percent of that impact concentrated in customer operations, marketing, software engineering, and research and development. Under its national AI strategy, Saudi Arabia has pledged approximately $20 billion in cumulative investments by 2030, aimed at building AI infrastructure, research, and talent development, according to Reuters. 'It has been a very exciting year discussing with various industries in Saudi Arabia about their AI adoption and possible projects we can work on together,' said Wonka. 'Our 30 faculty cover a lot of expertise, making us an excellent and reliable partner for many industries in the Kingdom.' The CoE Gen AI currently includes faculty members working across five major research initiatives, supported by KAUST's Visual Computing Center, where Wonka serves as associate director. Each project maps to one of Saudi Arabia's national research, development, and innovation priorities — health and wellness, sustainability and essential needs, energy and industrial leadership, and economies of the future — alongside foundational AI research that supports applications across domains. One of KAUST's major translational focuses is education. Earlier this year, Arab News reported that AI would be integrated into the school curriculum starting in the coming academic year. The introduction of this nationwide AI curriculum aims to support the Kingdom's Human Capability Development Program, part of the Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification. The curriculum was unveiled in July by the National Curriculum Center, with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority. It features age-appropriate AI modules in the form of interactive and hands-on teaching. But Wonka cautions that simply adding AI isn't enough. 'It only makes sense with an additional understanding of other subjects and with a good grasp of fundamentals,' he said. At the university level, AI tools also have the potential of being misused. The result is a widening gap between students who treat AI as a shortcut and those who strategically integrate it into a broader learning workflow. 'People that possibly grew up without AI have better fact-checking skills,' said Wonka, emphasizing that over-reliance on these tools can produce incorrect or low-quality outputs. He encourages students to use generative tools to brainstorm ideas, rewrite for clarity, or structure outlines — but warns against letting the model replace original research. 'A paper written entirely by AI has no research, no ideas,' he said. That tension between power and reliability is central to KAUST's AI safety research. 'These tools can give wrong answers very confidently and sometimes even mix up elementary facts,' he said. 'Still, it may be too optimistic to hope for AI tools that give no wrong answers. A more pragmatic approach would be to learn how to use AI tools despite the fact that they may give wrong answers from time to time.' Beyond education, generative AI is poised to impact nearly every sector. 'For business communication, AI is already used for spell-checking, editing, and drafting complete letters or emails,' said Wonka. 'Doctors will heavily lean on AI tools to support diagnosing their patients … Cars will have more and more automatic driving features to assist humans in driving. Creative work, such as graphic design and photography, will greatly rely on AI assistance.' Yet, while the technology is advancing quickly, Wonka remains cautious. 'That is not something I would feel very comfortable predicting,' he said. 'A lot of people are just speculating.' Instead, he envisions a more subtle shift — AI gradually embedding itself into daily workflows. 'What I'm betting on happening almost certainly is more that AI will be integrated in everybody's life to make it 25 percent more efficient.' A key part of the CoE Gen AI's mission is to build tools that are culturally relevant and locally deployable. 'There are a lot of different companies that are interested in having local use of AI so that they don't send all their data to the big companies — because they're really worried about that,' said Wonka. To that end, KAUST is also investing in Arabic-language AI systems for tutoring, content generation, and search. 'The main emphasis of our work in AI in intelligent tutoring is to develop tools for personalized learning, personalized testing, and dual language support in both English and Arabic,' said Wonka. In visual content generation, his team is focused on personalization and the creation of culturally relevant content in both languages. Meanwhile, in the realm of smart cities, KAUST researchers are exploring how AI can support digital twins, architectural data analysis, and urban planning. 'Cognitive cities are able to learn, adapt, predict, and proactively respond,' he said. One open question, he added, is how far AI will go in replacing human roles altogether. KAUST has launched a new Center of Excellence in Generative AI to develop foundational models aligned with national priorities. The research spans five core areas, including personalized education, sustainable energy modeling, Arabic content generation, and smart city planning. Prof. Peter Wonka leads the initiative, emphasizing both academic rigor and practical industry collaboration within the Kingdom. 'Will we see most doctors' offices staffed only by robots, or will there only be human doctors using AI tools? It's important for everyone to invest time in learning about AI and using AI tools.' Success, he said, is measured both academically and practically. 'For translational impact, the university considers metrics such as the success of startup companies, the number and size of in-Kingdom collaborations and their impact, patents and their generated revenue, as well as successful research collaborations within the Kingdom and abroad that are externally funded. 'Ultimately, a lot of the success of the university is about collaborations. The CoE Gen AI aims to support in-Kingdom businesses and government entities to develop impactful AI projects.' Wonka joined KAUST in 2012 after stints at Arizona State University and Georgia Tech. With a background in computer science, computer vision, and urban modeling, he has helped shape KAUST's AI vision from its early stages to its current, ambitious scope. Now, as one of the Kingdom's leading researchers in generative AI, he is focused on ensuring that Saudi Arabia, his home for the last 14 years, is not just reacting to the global AI wave — but actively shaping it. 'I do believe that you'll see a lot of impact coming from AI,' he said. 'And I think as a researcher, it's really exciting to be on the forefront of something that is that exciting.'


Saudi Gazette
3 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi student wins bronze at 2025 International Nuclear Science Olympiad in Malaysia
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Arabia claimed a bronze medal at the 2025 International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO), held in Kuala Lumpur from July 30 to August 6, with 56 students from 14 countries participating in the global competition. The medal was awarded to Azam Khaled Al-Omari, a student from Jeddah, marking the Kingdom's fifth overall achievement in the competition's history, comprising one silver and four bronze medals. The Olympiad, officially endorsed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2024, serves as a global platform to promote the peaceful and safe use of nuclear technologies while encouraging young students to explore and contribute to this vital scientific sector. The Saudi national team underwent extensive preparation led by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education, and in collaboration with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy ( The competition includes two five-hour exams — one theoretical and one practical — requiring students to conduct experiments or simulations in nuclear science disciplines, with a strong emphasis on analytical thinking and creative problem-solving.