Olympiad delegates explore Saudi heritage, hospitality
Dhahran: International delegations taking part in the Asian Physics Olympiad, hosted by Saudi Arabia in Dhahran from May 4 to 12, enjoyed a dynamic schedule of scientific competitions, cultural activities, educational events and entertainment.
The enriching experience brought together 240 students from 30 countries and 110 international physics specialists, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Beyond the competitions, the program included educational and cultural visits highlighting Saudi Arabia's rich heritage and scientific progress, while promoting global youth engagement and cultural exchange.
Wearing traditional Saudi attire as a sign of respect, participants experienced the Kingdom's hospitality, sampled Saudi cuisine and took part in interactive events that fostered cultural connection.
This year's Olympiad holds special significance as it marks the 25th anniversary of the competition. For more than two decades, it has united talented youth from across the globe, encouraging scientific excellence and cross-cultural understanding.
The final results — organized by the Ministry of Education, the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals — will be announced during the closing ceremony on May 11 at King Fahd University in Dhahran.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
KAIN welcomes 60 students as part of Mawhiba Research Enrichment Program
RIYADH: The King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, established by King Saud University, will welcome 60 'gifted students' on Sunday as part of the Mawhiba Research Enrichment Program, a four-week initiative aimed at developing scientific skills and research experience among Saudi youth, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Run in collaboration with the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), the program 'harnesses the potential of gifted students, offering them hands-on experience in laboratories and production facilities, while introducing them to the fundamentals and ethics of scientific research under the supervision of specialized researchers,' the SPA wrote. Hamad Abdulaziz Albrithen, general supervisor of KAIN, explained that the institute's overarching goal is 'to serve the community by transferring knowledge to younger generations through the use of advanced laboratory equipment and the expertise of distinguished researchers from diverse scientific disciplines.' Ahmed bin Abdulkarim Al-Saleh, head of the Mawhiba program at KSU for 2025, highlighted the importance of such programs in providing exceptional students with the opportunity to conduct scientific research at KSU's top-tier research chairs and centers. Al-Saleh also noted that the program offers 'a wide range of skill-building activities, including Python programming, AI and its scientific applications, as well as enrichment trips to research centers beyond the university campus.'
Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia deploys drones to monitor coastlines, protect marine resources
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC), has launched a drone-based program to monitor Kingdom's 2,480-kilometers long coastal areas, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The NCEC will carry out the initiative in cooperation with the Marine Operations for Environmental Services (SAIL). Drones will provide live video feeds for real-time analysis, helping detect activities that threaten marine resources. Saudi Arabia Red Sea coastline in the west extends from the Gulf of Aqaba in the north to Jazan province in the south, measuring 1,830 km. In the west, the coastline is 630 km long, stretching from the northern border with Kuwait to the southern border with Qatar. Amer Bamoneef, director-general for monitoring network at NCEC, said each drone will operate for up to 55 minutes per sortie, covering 20 kilometers, with data instantly transmitted to control rooms. 'By leveraging advanced technology, we can expand coverage and detect harmful practices more efficiently," he said. Bamoneef added that drones enable quicker response, allowing teams to promptly investigate pollution sources and identify those responsible.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
These Canadian rocks may be the oldest on Earth
NEW YORK: Scientists have identified what could be the oldest rocks on Earth from a rock formation in Canada. The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt has long been known for its ancient rocks — plains of streaked gray stone on the eastern shore of Hudson Bay in Quebec. But researchers disagree on exactly how old they are. Work from two decades ago suggested the rocks could be 4.3 billion years old, placing them in the earliest period of Earth's history. But other scientists using a different dating method contested the finding, arguing that long-ago contaminants were skewing the rocks' age and that they were actually slightly younger at 3.8 billion years old. In the new study, researchers sampled a different section of rock from the belt and estimated its age using the previous two dating techniques — measuring how one radioactive element decays into another over time. The result: The rocks were about 4.16 billion years old. The different methods 'gave exactly the same age,' said study author Jonathan O'Neil with the University of Ottawa. The new research was published Thursday in the journal Science. Earth formed about 4.5 billion years ago from a collapsing cloud of dust and gas soon after the solar system existed. Primordial rocks often get melted and recycled by Earth's moving tectonic plates, making them extremely rare on the surface today. Scientists have uncovered 4 billion-year-old rocks from another formation in Canada called the Acasta Gneiss Complex, but the Nuvvuagittuq rocks could be even older. Studying rocks from Earth's earliest history could give a glimpse into how the planet may have looked — how its roiling magma oceans gave way to tectonic plates — and even how life got started. 'To have a sample of what was going on on Earth way back then is really valuable,' said Mark Reagan with the University of Iowa, who studies volcanic rocks and lava and was not involved with the new study. The rock formation is on tribal Inukjuak lands and the local Inuit community has temporarily restricted scientists from taking samples from the site due to damage from previous visits. After some geologists visited the site, large chunks of rock were missing and the community noticed pieces for sale online, said Tommy Pallizer, who manages the land with the Pituvik Landholding Corp. The Inuit community wants to work with scientists to set up a provincial park that would protect the land while allowing researchers to study it. 'There's a lot of interest for these rocks, which we understand,' said Pallizer, a member of the community. 'We just don't want any more damage.'
