Saudi Media Forum featured an exceptional dialogue session that highlighted the radical transformation in Saudi society’s engagement with scientific achievements, specifically the pivotal role of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity ( Mawhiba ) in preparing students for global competition at the ISEF exhibition.
From official to popular: A transformation in the media landscape
Under the title “The media is transforming ISEF and international competitions from official to international,” experts, with the participation of Fahd Al-Anzi, Deputy Secretary-General for Corporate Communication at “Mawhiba”, discussed how the media succeeded in transforming these achievements from mere official protocol news into success stories that top social media platforms and are the talk of the town, creating an unprecedented state of national pride in the “scientific champions” instead of being satisfied with celebrities in other fields.
ISEF: International Science Olympiad
Al-Anzi explained that the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is not just a school competition, but the world's largest scientific forum for general education students, bringing together annually the brightest young minds (more than 1,600 students) from over 70 countries. These students compete in 20 vital fields, including artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and biomedicine—fields that form the backbone of the future economy.
A history of achievements and human capital building
In the context of this historical expansion, it is important to note that the Kingdom's investment in gifted individuals is not a recent development, but rather the result of diligent institutional work led by Mawhiba in partnership with the Ministry of Education. This collaboration has resulted in the Kingdom winning more than 185 international awards at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) over the past years. This number not only reflects individual excellence, but also indicates the maturity of the scientific research system in the Kingdom's schools and the ability of Saudi students to compete with their peers from industrially and technologically advanced countries.
Strategic impact and Vision 2030
The impact of these participations extends far beyond winning medals; they directly contribute to achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to build a vibrant society and a thriving, knowledge-based economy. Graduates of the Mawhiba programs and participants in international forums form the core of future scientists and entrepreneurs who will lead the Kingdom’s research and development (R&D) sectors. Many of them have already enrolled in prestigious international universities and research centers, and have begun registering patents that benefit humanity.
The role of media in creating role models
The session concluded by emphasizing that the media played a pivotal role in “humanizing” the numbers, transforming rigid statistics into stories of struggle and inspiration, which encouraged thousands of Saudi families to invest in their children’s education and push them towards innovation paths, thus consolidating the Kingdom’s position as an environment that fosters science and talent on the international map.
