The Ministry of Information held a press conference for the Omani researcher and innovator Sumaya bint Said al Siyabiyah to shed light on her participation in the 14th Stars of Science programme through her scientific innovation 'Bio-analysis of microplastics in a new way of biology and nanotechnology'.
The conference was held on Monday at the ministry's headquarters in the presence of Mohammed bin Said bin Mohammed al Balushi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Dr Abdullah bin Ali al Amri, Chairman of Environment Authority and a number of media representatives.
Sumaya al Siyabi competes with three other inventors in this final stage. However, she obtained the highest, 91 per cent, from the jury, while the remaining percentage will be calculated based on the public's vote. Voting for the Stars of Science competition ends on Thursday at 7 pm, and the winner will be announced on Friday. The winner will get $300,000 to apply his/her project in practice.
In his speech, the Under-Secretary stressed the great importance of the participation of the researcher Sumaya and the role of her innovation in protecting the environment in an innovative and creative way. He confirmed the importance of supporting young Omani innovators and supporting Sumaya by voting.
Dr Abdullah bin Ali al Amri expressed his appreciation to the ministry for holding the press conference, as well as the role of other authorities and institutions in supporting Sumaya since the beginning of her participation in the programme.
He said, "We are confident that the scientific material presented through this innovation and research of the innovator is a strong and advanced scientific material that employs traditional sciences and modern technology to improve research efficiency".
From his side, Badr bin Ahmed al Habsi, Head of the Media Campaign of the Researcher, expressed in his speech his thanks to all the sponsoring and supporting institutions of the innovator, Sumaya al Siyabi, "the only woman from GCC countries qualified for the final stage in Stars of Science". He said that if Sumaya al Siyabi won, she would be the first woman in the Arab world to win the title during the 14 seasons of the programme.
During the conference, Sumaya said she spent two years working on this innovation at SQU. "Through the plastic invasion that threatens our health, I have provided this solution to treat the problem safely and environmentally friendly. This scientific innovation offers a promising solution to eliminate and safely dispose of microplastics using microbial mats and a nano-ZnO catalyst".
She explained that her project allows the Sultanate of Oman and the Arab world to make their mark in science.
"There is societal awareness about the aggravation of the problem of plastic infestation, which poses a great threat to the lives of living organisms, as it causes cancerous diseases to humans, and can lead to the extinction of some animals. This innovation represents a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution."
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