The UNESCO announces the names of the five winners of the UNESCO Fouzan International Prize, among them the Egyptian Hisham Emran in the field of technology. UNESCO has announced the names of the five winners of the UNESCO Fouzan International Prize for encouraging young scientists in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The winner from Cameroon, Africa, is Abdoun Atangana in the field of mathematics, with notable contributions to fractional calculus and the introduction of a new category, as well as a vision to establish an African Center for Mathematics.

The winner from the Arab Republic of Egypt is Hisham Emran in the field of technology, specifically in the automation of electronic design. He has made significant contributions to semiconductor design and has conducted innovative research in the field of electronic design automation, earning him an award at the Automation Conference in 2022.

From China, Asia, and the Pacific, Qiumi Fu won in the field of genetic sciences for her fundamental work on the early human history in Eurasia and studies to improve the extraction and sequencing of ancient DNA.

From Serbia, Europe, and North America, Jelena Valdik won in the category of green engineering for her contribution to the development of innovative green extraction techniques for obtaining products from medicinal and aromatic plants. Finally, from Argentina, Latin America, and the Caribbean, Federico Ari won in the field of science for his research on non-coding ribonucleic acid in plants, and his contribution to understanding the time required for DNA replication, earning him a global award from the Brazilian Society of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry in 2011.

UNESCO selects the winners based on the recommendations of an international jury composed of five distinguished and independent members. These individuals are highly reputable in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Among them are Professor Ghada Almutairi, one of the top ten influential engineers in the world, a researcher, inventor, and entrepreneur. She is a faculty member in the departments of biomedical engineering and nanotechnology and the director of the Center of Excellence in Nanomedicine and Nanoengineering at the University of California, San Diego.

Professor Didier Queloz, a Nobel laureate in physics in 2019, is a physics professor at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge. Dr. Edna Matamachou is a neurobiologist with extensive experience in academia and the private sector.

She is a co-founder of the Immigrant Women and Science Network in Canada and is committed to empowering and supporting women in the field of science. Dr. Vajiha Zawona, listed among the 100 most influential Africans, uses high-performance computing and remote sensing techniques to understand the effects of climate phenomena and changes in land use and land cover on water resources.

Professor Ngo Bao Chau, a Vietnamese-French mathematician, received the Fields Medal in 2010 for his work in algebraic geometry. He also received the Fields Medal at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Hyderabad. The prize consists of a certificate, a medal, and a monetary award of fifty thousand dollars for each of the five winners. It is worth mentioning that the honorees were recognized at a ceremony held in the main hall of UNESCO on June 19, 2023.

About the UNESCO-Al-Fozan Prize:

• The UNESCO-Al-Fozan International Prize is the first global award presented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to honor the achievements of young researchers in the UNESCO’s five regions worldwide, who have made significant contributions in their respective countries.
• The prize aims to develop and support education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), promote lifelong learning for work, and achieve sustainable development by equipping young people with the necessary skills for future professions.
• It is designed to support UNESCO’s efforts in enhancing specialization and competence in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and to emphasize the commitment of the Al-Fozan Foundation in promoting scientific achievements for the development of communities worldwide.
• The prize aims to enhance global scientific cooperation, disseminate science and technology, and provide young scientists with world-class research opportunities that elevate their creative abilities and contribute to communities.
• It also aims to raise public awareness and explore outstanding areas in developing countries to contribute to the building of a group of scientists, researchers, and engineers who can effectively participate in enhancing the global economy and achieving sustainable development in the long term.
• The UNESCO-Al-Fozan Global Prize is particularly important as the covered fields represent the main driver of human development, necessitating the support and development of prize categories in both advanced and developing countries.
• The prize aspires to promote gender equality in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics according to UNESCO’s objectives. It also seeks to develop a new generation of researchers in various scientific fields, qualified to address the challenges facing the world.
• The prize is overseen by a judging committee consisting of distinguished experts worldwide in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It is announced every two years and awarded to five young scientists representing the five UNESCO regions.

Website: https://unescoalfozanprize.org/