Announcement of the Winners of the Young Researchers Award at COP16 Conference

The Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, announced today the names of the winners of the "Young Researchers" award, as part of the activities of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, held in the capital Riyadh.

In his speech during the ceremony held at the Science Oasis Pavilion, Dr. Ghulam expressed his pride in the great success achieved by the conference, pointing out that the "Young Researchers" Award is a qualitative step to support scientific research and innovation in the face of desertification, land degradation and drought issues, pointing out that this award comes within the framework of the Kingdom's efforts to enhance its global environmental position, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, and to support regional and international initiatives.

Dr. Ghulam added that the award witnessed the participation of 209 contestants from 36 countries, who competed for 7 prizes with a total value of $70,000, funded by the G20 Global Land Initiative. He praised the distinguished role of the Science Park Pavilion in providing successful scientific and innovative models, and its contribution to transforming research into practical applications that serve decision-makers and global communities.

For his part, the Executive Director of the Regional Center for Dust and Sand Storms, Jumaan bin Saad Al-Qahtani, explained that the "Young Researchers" Award is the first of its kind within the Conference of the Parties, and aims to create a stimulating environment for competition in the field of scientific research, and encourage researchers to provide innovative solutions to address land degradation issues.

Al-Qahtani pointed out that the award aimed to enhance scientific and creative cooperation, in addition to motivating researchers to develop sustainable technologies in the face of environmental challenges, expressing his thanks to the organizing committee and all the supporting parties and participants who contributed to the success of this distinguished initiative.

At the end of the ceremony, Dr. Ghulam honored the winners, praising the level of participation, which reflects the commitment of international researchers to finding scientific solutions that contribute to achieving environmental sustainability and addressing climate challenges.