School Students Win Prizes at AUB Science Fair

Students showing off science projects

Nearly 160 students from 18 different schools across the nation won prizes for submissions made to the Science, Mathematics, and Technology Fair at AUB, which took place over the May 2 weekend.

The fair, which was organized by the Science and Mathematics Education Center (SMEC) and the Education Students Society at AUB, reviewed 350 science fair projects in math, science, or technology submitted by students in one of four grades: kindergarten, elementary, intermediate, or secondary. Prize winners included students from all the participating schools.

"It was really amazing to see the excitement of students participating in the fair, especially those from kindergarten," said Salam Shabib, the president of the Education Students Society.

This year's fair included the participation for the first time of the Al-Hadi Institute for the Deaf and Blind, whose students won prizes in various categories. "For me, the highlight this year was to see the participation of the Al-Hadi Institute students," said Tamer Amin, the SMEC director. "It's really inspiring to see students with disabilities actively participating."

For the past 15 years, the AUB Science Fair has been bringing together students from all over Lebanon to share their ideas and inventions with other students, teachers, and parents.

"One of our aims is to encourage research, critical thinking, a spirit of cooperation, and teamwork among young Lebanese," said Shabib. "This spirit of positive cooperation is needed in and out of school. Moreover, when students pursue an idea, research it, and transform it into a project, they feel an immense sense of gratification."

The students who won prizes came from the following schools: Adma International School, Al-Abrar Educational Center, International College (both in Beirut and Ain Aar), National Protestant College, Sagesse High School, the German School, Al-Kawthar High School, Salaheddeen Educational Center, Omar Al-Mukhtar Educational Center, Rawdah High School, Montana International College, Greenfield College, Eastwood College, Universal College of Aley, Al-Hadi Institute for the Deaf and Blind, and Al-Iman High School.