Saudi Arabia Launches Madak Competition to Inspire Arab Youth in Space Sciences
The Madak competition, which was launched on Sunday by the Saudi Space Agency, aims to enhance the culture of research and innovation and inspire generations to engage in the space sciences.
Called “Space Madak,” the competition is aimed at students in the Arab world between the ages of 6 and 18. The winning entries will have the opportunity to journey to the International Space Station by the fourth quarter of 2024.
The competition comprises three tracks: the arts track targets students aged 6 to 11, the botany track from 12 to 14, and the engineering track from 15 to 18.
Supervised by Rayana Barnawi, the first female Saudi astronaut, who conducted 14 experiments aboard the ISS, the competition is a collaboration between the Misk Foundation and the Ilmi Science Discovery & Innovation Center.
Barnawi said the competition is a “unique opportunity for students in the Arab world to participate in a journey of discovery and innovation,” and will expand the horizons of young and ambitious generations while stimulating their creativity.
The objective of the competition is to cultivate skills and abilities among students in the Arab world and motivate them to explore the wonders of space.
It aims to enhance students’ critical and analytical thinking skills through the presentation of an experiment focused on studying the impact of the microgravity environment on plant growth.
The competition also aims to boost problem-solving skills by tasking participants with designing scientific experiments within a microgravity environment.
SSA CEO Mohammed Al-Tamimi said that the competition was open to all students in the Arab world, enabling them to explore a new horizon in space science and enhance their scientific skills to help enrich the space arena with pioneering contributions.
He added that Saudi Arabia, a leader in the space field, reaffirmed its commitment to stimulating creativity and excellence in the domain, both regionally and internationally.
Registration for the competition is open until April 30 at https://ssa.gov.sa/en/initiative/?path=/initiatives-1/madak-competition/
Established in 2018, the SSA was created to bolster the Kingdom’s standing as a leading regional and international center in the field of space. Its primary objectives revolve around space science and exploration, creating new opportunities within the industry while nurturing local talent to foster growth and advancement for the benefit of the nation and humanity.
