AUK Sponsor in 3rd Kuwait Science Fair Competition

The Kuwait Science Fair, the largest science competition founded by ExxonMobil Kuwait and Kuwait Energy, launched today the competition in its third run with continued support from the public and private sectors, to generate student interest and excitement in math and science and help inspire the scientists and innovators of tomorrow.

The third annual Kuwait Science Fair competition is endorsed by HE Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Minister of Oil, Minister of Information, and Chairman of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, for the third year in a row. Supporting the competition for the first time, HE the US Ambassador to Kuwait, Mrs. Deborah Jones, joined as its leading chief ambassador to support the efforts of the competition at large.

Following two consecutive and successful years, the founders of the Kuwait Science Fair are joined by returning sponsors as well as new partners:

Platinum sponsors for the second year in a row:
•   Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC)
•   Kuwait United Facilities Management Company (KUFM)
Gold sponsors:
•   Information Technology Institute (ITI)
Silver sponsors:
•   The Scientific Center
•   Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait
•   Asnan Clinic
Partners:
•   American University of Kuwait (AUK)
•   Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS)
•   Schlumberger Kuwait
•   Arab International Industrial Projects Company (AIIP)
HE Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah said: "The Kuwait Science Fair continues to encourage students to innovate in math and science, engages them to learn and explore science fields and to apply what they have learned at school under the supervision of the Kuwait Science Fair team of professionals. We look forward to the participation of more students this year and we hope to see these talented students excel in math and science on an international level."

HE The US Ambassador to Kuwait, Mrs. Deborah Jones, said: "The Kuwait Science Fair competition was founded on the vision of encouragement and support to engage students in science and math fields. The competition inspired many students looking forward to becoming innovators in fields of their interest. I've personally witnessed the excitement and anxiousness of these students as winners were announced last March. Many great and innovative projects were honored and recognized and many more were exhibited, showing that these students can excel and give their best when given the opportunity. Students will take our place in the world tomorrow, so it is important that we provide them with a platform to discover innovative solutions, and an opportunity to make their mark. I am proud to be a chief ambassador to the Kuwait Science Fair and I also look forward to support students in their journey to become the scientists of tomorrow."

The Kuwait Science Fair activities:

The third Kuwait Science Fair competition will launch on October 10th, with a continued commitment to encouraging students from over 150 schools in Kuwait to innovate in math and science and to pursue careers in these fields.

ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Kuwait Limited President, Mr. John Hoholick, said: "We launch another great and exciting competition this year, encouraging students to discover fields that witness a decrease in the number of professionals internationally. Back in 2008, ExxonMobil Kuwait and Kuwait Energy came together in a shared commitment to generate student interest in math and science and to encourage them to pursue careers in them. Our mission is to encourage each talented student to get excited about science and mathematics and pursue a long, exciting and rewarding career. What we've seen over the years is proof that students in Kuwait have great ambition and talent, and we need to encourage them to pursue and develop them. These students will be the future innovators of solutions to challenges we face today, and may face tomorrow. We look forward to another science adventure with students and we thank our partners for the support they continue to lend us."

The five-month-long competition, held in both Arabic and English, is divided into two phases: a registration phase and an experimental phase.

The registration phase starts with direct school visits, registration points, and one-on-one student sessions to help guide students through their application process, and the development of ideas for their experiments. After an initial review, the experimental phase starts with the "Best 100" projects continuing the development of their experiments and inventions until the final competition day. During the final days of the competition, projects are assessed by a judging panel comprising engineers, doctors, and science experts from Kuwait's most reputable organizations. Winners are finally announced in the final event ceremony.

Valuable prizes to excelling students:

This year, winners will be categorized by ranking, best in a category and special prizes winners. The first prize winner will receive a full scholarship in the bachelor degree of choice from the American University of Kuwait. AUK is an independent, private, equal opportunity, and co-educational liberal arts institution of higher education. AUK and its Ivy League partner Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire (USA) have worked closley together since 2003, when the two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

AUK President, Dr. Winfred Thompson said: "The Kuwait Science Fair is one of the few initiatives that unite students and schools from across Kuwait to excel in math and science. We are glad to present the first prize winner with a full scholarship to complete his, her, or their bachelor degree in one of the leading higher education institutions in Kuwait. We look forward to welcoming the most innovative and brilliant student or students to our university."

The first and second prize winners will also receive an internship opportunity at Schlumberger, the leading oilfield services and technology companies in the world. The first prize winner will have an opportunity to choose from over 50 locations from around the world to complete the internship.

The best projects in each of the four Kuwait Science Fair categories, namely biology, physics, earth studies and environmental studies, will also be awarded.

The Arabic International Industrial Projects (AIIP) will be presenting a cash prize of KD650 to the student with the most creative project in the environmental science field, and KD450 to each student with the most creative project in the physics, biology, and earth science fields.

Registration: The Kuwait Science Fair competition is open to all students in Kuwait between seventh and twelfth grade. Joining can be done online through www.best100.org starting October 10th. The Kuwait Science Fair team will visit schools across Kuwait, welcome students who wish to participate at the official KSF booth in the Marina Mall and can be contacted on the KSF hotline - number found on the website.

Auk sponsor in 3rd kuwait science fair competition