Q&A WITH EMIRATES YOUNG SCIENTIST ABDULAZIZ FAHAD AHMAD ALRAEESI

HOW DID YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE EMIRATES YOUNG SCIENTIST COMPETITION IMPACT OR INFLUENCE YOUR DECISION ABOUT WHAT TO STUDY AT UNIVERSITY?

There was a very high level of competition. Omar and I are looking forward to more challenges – we want to make right choices at university, even if they are difficult. What our win taught us, is that, as long as there is ambition, it can be achieved and we can do it.

WHAT EXCITES OR INTERESTS YOU ABOUT SCIENCE?

The most important thing that distinguishes humans from many other creatures is our mind. Refining the mind and using it properly leads to discovery. And with the progress of science, life becomes easier, society develops, and we benefit from one another, as it happened with our research to help grade 12 students in the Applied Technology High School.

IF YOU WERE TO SOLVE A GLOBAL PROBLEM TODAY, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

The problem that most students in the world face in studying is boredom and a dislike of the subject. This is a global problem that must be properly solved to give students more passion for learning. Education is very important for the future because if you do not go to university, you will not get a job, nor will you be able to positively contribute to the world.

CAN YOU NAME ONE LOCAL AND ONE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIST WHOSE WORK YOU REALLY ADMIRE?

WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR FUTURE SELF IN 10 YEARS?

I would say always look at the top and do not give up the effort to achieve your ambition, no matter what difficulties you face. Move forward and work hard because a dream that is not acted on is just a fantasy, it cannot be reached.

The young student speaks about his love for the Arabic language and what motivated him to find ways to strengthen its adoption among youth.

NAME: Abdulaziz Fahad Ahmad AlRaeesi

AGE: 17

SCHOOL: Applied Technology High School in Fujairah

CATEGORY: Behavioral and Social Sciences

PRIZE: Emirates Young Scientist 2022 (the first place winner)

PROJECT TITLE:Applied Technology High School - Fujairah Students Reluctance to Study Arabic Grammar from the Viewpoint of Students and Teachers: Causes and Solutions

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EMIRATES YOUNG SCIENTIST COMPETITION IN 2022?

What stimulated Omar and I to participate in the competition is our love for the Arabic language.

HOW DID YOU SELECT YOUR EMIRATES YOUNG SCIENTIST PROJECT, AND WHAT WAS YOUR PROJECT ABOUT?

Our project is about the reluctance of grade 12 students at the Applied Technology High School in Fujairah towards studying Arabic grammar. They are not into Arabic grammar books, they are only focusing on subjects like mathematics and physics or other subjects, even though Arabic is an important subject in the educational process and in the traditional and religious customs in the UAE. We wanted to find out why students are not interested in studying Arabic grammar and what we can do to bring students towards it. This was the main question in the research. HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, AND WHAT WERE YOUR CONCLUSIONS?

After studying this problem, we saw that there are some techniques the teacher in the class should use. Like, a teacher does not have to lead a class in a rigorous way, he has to do something to bring passion to the students. Knowledge is gained by experience, so experiments in the school labs or classrooms will bring the students closer to the idea and make them more passionate about it.

HOW CAN WE GET MORE YOUNG STUDENTS IN THE UAE INTERESTED IN SCIENCE?

When we first registered for the competition, there were some who thought that a project focusing on Arabic and grammar would have no chance to compete with or win against engineering projects. But in fact, anything in any field deserves to win and be honoured as long as it is innovative, useful and leaves a prominent mark on students, teachers or people in general. It has to be useful. Our work, for example, was about making Arabic books more relatable to the students and helping them to identify with the local culture.

Locally, Ahmed Almheiri. He is one of the role models here in the UAE and he is one of a kind. He is very successful as a scientist, and he has made many contributions in the field of physics. Internationally, I do not think that there is another person who made such a qualitative leap in the world of technology as Steve Jobs. He was first to turn big computers into small, simple to use devices, like phones. So, he made a huge leap.

CAN YOU LIST THREE SKILLS THAT EVERY SCIENTIST SHOULD HAVE AND WHY?

First of all, perseverance because there is no path to success without overcoming obstacles. Secondly, creative thinking and innovation, because it is the base of every invention. And finally, curiosity, to learn more, because a person learns up until the last minute of their life.