Abdullah Halawani, a high school student from the SRSI Program who worked with us at the MEGB Lab during the summer of 2024, has been selected as one of the top 40 students out of 291,000 initial candidates to represent Saudi Arabia at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). ISEF is the world’s largest international STEM research competition for high school students, and Abdullah’s selection places him among the most talented young scientists and engineers globally.

Abdullah and Dr Niketan, alongside the Saudi National Team for Science and Engineering, attending a workshop in Riyadh February 2025.

Abdullah’s journey to ISEF began with his participation in the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity (Ibdaa), an annual competition where students present original scientific projects evaluated by a panel of experts. His project, titled “A Novel Approach for Precise Delivery of Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals Using Polydopamine-Coated Fe Nanowires to Prevent Coral Bleaching,” was developed under the mentorship of Professor Alexander Rosado, alongside Dr. Niketan Patel and master’s student Alexandra Rodriguez. This innovative research addresses coral bleaching, a critical environmental issue, and showcases Abdullah’s exceptional skills and dedication to scientific inquiry.

Abdullah presenting his work on the Ibdaa finals.   

Abdullah’s achievement is a testament to his hard work, creativity, and the collaborative environment of the MEGB Lab. He will now join the Saudi National Team for Science and Engineering and compete at Regeneron ISEF 2025, which will be held in Columbus, Ohio, from May 10-15.

We congratulate Abdullah on this incredible milestone and wish him the best of luck as he represents Saudi Arabia on the global stage!

On the left, Abdullah and Alexandra at MEGB lab. On the right, Abdullah presenting his research project at KAUST.