The ISEF 2025 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair recently wrapped up in Columbus, Ohio, and Saudi Arabia’s team made an impressive mark. The Kingdom’s 40 students returned home with a total of 23 awards, including 14 Grand Awards and 9 special prizes, proving that Saudi youth are making their mark in global science and innovation.
Moreover, Jiwan Alshabi secured second place globally at ISEF 2025. Talk about a proud moment.
ISEF 2025
ISEF 2025 is the world’s largest pre-college science competition, where students from around the globe present original research and projects across fields like energy, environmental engineering, medical science, and more. This year, over 1,700 students from 70 countries competed, showing off their talents and competing for top prizes judged by leading scientists and experts.
Saudi Arabia’s Strong Showing at ISEF 2025
Saudi Arabia’s 40 students brought home a strong haul from ISEF 2025: 3 second-place awards, 5 third-place awards, and 6 fourth-place awards across various scientific categories. This success highlights the creativity and hard work of Saudi students in fields ranging from energy to plant sciences.
Since Saudi Arabia began participating in ISEF in 2007, the country has now won a total of 183 awards, with 124 Grand Awards and 59 special prizes. This year’s results continue to build Saudi Arabia’s reputation as a rising leader in science and technology on the world stage.
Celebrating Saudi Talent and Partnerships
Dr. Khaled Al-Sharif, acting secretary-general of Mawhiba (King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity), credited the achievement to strong partnerships between Mawhiba, the Ministry of Education, and other national organizations. This collaboration supports Saudi students with the tools and encouragement they need to succeed at competitions like ISEF 2025.
Highlights from the Saudi Winners at ISEF 2025
- Second-place winners: Maryam Al-Muhaysh (energy), Areej Al-Qarni (environmental engineering), Jiwan Shaabi (environmental engineering)
- Third-place winners: Jumana Bilal (energy), Salman Al-Shahri and Lana Nouri (medical science), Lamia Al-Nefaie (environmental engineering), Fatima Al-Mutabagani (plant sciences)
- Fourth-place winners: Haneen Al-Hassan and Omran Al-Turkistani (energy), Fatima Al-Arfaj and Misk Al-Mutairi (chemistry), Abeer Al-Yousef (materials science), Ghala Al-Ghamdi (plant sciences)
- Special award recipients: Fatima Al-Arfaj, Areej Al-Qarni, Saleh Al-Angari, Abdulrahman Al-Ghannam, Sama Bukhamseen, among others
Spotlight on Jiwan Alshabi: Second Place & Special Recognition
One of the brightest highlights of this year’s ISEF 2025 was Jiwan Alshabi, a student from Ibn Rushd International School in Jazan. Jiwan earned second place globally in the environmental engineering category and also received a special award from DataClassroom, a U.S.-based research company.
Her project, titled “Innovative Application of Low GWP Refrigerants in Hydrate-Based Water Desalination,”focused on creating more sustainable and environmentally friendly water treatment solutions. Jiwan’s approach to eco-conscious innovation stood out among a highly competitive field, and her success is a proud moment not just for Jazan, but for the Kingdom as a whole.
Malhi bin Hassan Aqdi, Director of Education in Jazan, praised Jiwan’s achievement and acknowledged the collaborative support of her school, family, the Ministry of Education, and Mawhiba (King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity). He emphasized that Jiwan’s win reflects the power of nurturing young talent through strategic national partnerships.
Moving Forward with Vision 2030
The Kingdom’s achievements at ISEF 2025 align with Saudi Vision 2030 goals to nurture gifted youth, boost education, and promote innovation. Events like ISEF 2025 are vital in giving Saudi students a platform to develop their skills and show the world their scientific abilities.
What’s new in the Kingdom?
With so much happening across the country, there’s always something new and exciting to explore, like the upcoming Asaan Diriyah in the heart of Riyadh. You can read all about it here.
