The Intel Bibliotheca Alexandrina Science and Engineering Fair (Intel BASEF) teams won two of the top positions in the 2016 International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF). The competition was held from 8 to 13 May 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. The Egyptian teams competed against 1,750 students from around the world in the biggest Science and Engineering Fair for pre-university, 14–18 year old students.
The Egyptian team that participated in Intel ISEF comprised 17 students from all over Egypt. Their participation was organized by the BA Planetarium Science Center, in collaboration with Intel Egypt and the Ministry of Education, and was sponsored by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) and the U.S. Consulate General.
The 10 qualified projects from Intel BASEF won several awards and acquired international recognition of scientists from all over the world, including Nobel laureates in various fields of science.
Winning students from Egypt include 18 year old Maria Hany Naguib, and 17 year old Samah Ayman from Maadi STEM School for Girls, Cairo, who won fourth place in the Earth and Environmental Sciences category for their project “Superconductive Hybrid Desalination”. Both students were qualified to participate in the international fair through winning in the Intel BASEF finals in Alexandria, as the BA had organized its regional fair, affiliated with the international fair, for the eighth consecutive year from 16 to 18 March 2016.
Additionally, 16 year old Haya Ahmed Mohamed from STEM School for Girls, Benisuef, and 17 year old Madouna Atef from STEM School for Girls, Cairo, won fourth place in the Environmental Engineering category for their project “Desalination by Pervaporation System”. Both students also received special awards for the same project, and they were qualified to participate in the international fair through winning in the Intel BASEF finals in Cairo.
The 2016 Intel BASEF aims to help 12–18 year old youths develop 21st century skills through focusing on knowledge and research, innovation, critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork. The students’ projects are assessed by university professors, specialized scientists and engineers, as well as professional volunteers in the industry.
