KUWAIT: Sheikh Dr Ahmad Al-Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, inaugurated on Sunday the 11th edition of the Kuwait Science and Engineering Competition (KSEC) exhibition. The event, organized by the Kuwait Science Club (KSC) with the support of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
During a tour of the exhibition, Sheikh Dr Ahmad Al-Nasser visited various pavilions accompanied by KSC Chairman Talal Jassem Al-Kharafi and members of the Board of Directors. He engaged with participating students, discussing their scientific innovations, and met with members of the competition’s jury panel, which includes around 60 academic experts from local universities and scientific institutions. Commemorative photographs were taken with the students, jury members, and KSC officials.
In a press statement, KSC Vice Chairperson and Head of the competition’s higher committee Sheikha Sheikha Mohammad Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah described KSEC as a national initiative aimed at fostering a generation of creative youth in the fields of research and innovation. She noted that the competition has grown beyond a traditional contest, evolving into an integrated educational experience that spans the entire academic year.
Highlighting the success of the current edition, Sheikha Sheikha said the competition has solidified its position as a leading scientific platform, drawing students from both public and private schools across Kuwait. She credited sustained support from government bodies, private institutions, and civil society for the competition’s continuity and credibility, enabling it to represent Kuwait on international platforms. She also commended the efforts of professors and academic specialists who have consistently guided students since the competition’s inception, underscoring their role in ensuring fair and rigorous evaluation of projects.
KSC Board Member and Deputy Head of the higher committee Asrar Al-Ansari echoed these sentiments, stating that the competition serves as a comprehensive national platform dedicated to empowering young researchers and innovators. Al-Ansari emphasized KSC’s readiness to embrace promising scientific talent from all governorates, noting that this year’s edition features 22 diverse scientific categories, including the often-overlooked field of social and behavioral sciences.
She reaffirmed the Club’s dedication to cultivating a culture of scientific inquiry and innovation among youth, encouraging students at the intermediate and secondary levels to actively participate and showcase their talents. For his part, Dr Mohammad Al-Saffar, Head of KSC’s Development and Competitive Programs Sector, said the competition aims to foster a spirit of scientific research and innovation among pre-university students while providing a dynamic, competitive environment for talent discovery and development in STEM fields.
He described KSEC as a vital platform for knowledge exchange and future research collaboration. Al-Saffar praised the contributions of academic institutions such as Kuwait University, the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET), and the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) for supporting student participants, and lauded the pivotal role of KFAS in promoting scientific culture and student engagement in research. — KUNA
