2 minute read
Emirates Young Scientists
Q&A WITH EMIRATES YOUNG SCIENTIST ABDULLA KHALIL SULTAN
The young student reveals the life-and-death concerns that inspired his project and what motivated him to harness virtual reality technology for the safety of others.
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NAME
ABDULLA KHALIL SULTAN
AGE
12
SCHOOL
AL-HESSN BOYS’ SCHOOL FOR BASIC EDUCATION
CATEGORY INTERMEDIATE CATEGORY, GRADES 5-8
PRIZE AED 10,000
PROJECT TITLE
HELP VIRTUAL REALITY SMARTPHONE APPLICATION
PROJECT BRIEF
THE HELP VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) APPLICATION IS A SMARTPHONE APP THAT USES VR TECHNOLOGY TO FACILITATE FIRST AID FOR AN INJURED PERSON BY PROVIDING BASIC FIRST AID INSTRUCTIONS TO USERS THROUGH THEIR SMARTPHONES.
Last year, nearly 2,500 student science projects from 427 UAE public and private schools competed to receive one of 27 prizes honoring scientific merit. Ahead of the next Emirates Young Scientist Competition, likely to take place this fall, we spoke with senior category winner Meera Jasim to shed some light on the hopes and ambitions of the UAE’s future scientists and innovators.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EMIRATES YOUNG SCIENTIST COMPETITION IN 2020? I love a challenge and the opportunity to gain knowledge by observing the experiences of others.
HOW DID YOU SELECT YOUR EMIRATES YOUNG SCIENTIST PROJECT, AND WHAT WAS YOUR PROJECT ABOUT? A person may suddenly face difficult situations without any warning, with only a few minutes to save someone’s life or avoid complications such as fainting or amputation. Since the preservation of human life is a duty and joint responsibility of both individuals and society, providing help is a necessary humanitarian act. The HELP VR app provides users with information on how to help themselves or another injured person in an emergency before paramedics arrive.
WHAT DID YOU GAIN OR LEARN FROM YOUR EMIRATES YOUNG SCIENTIST COMPETITION EXPERIENCE? I learned that nothing is impossible and that with self-confidence and diligence we can achieve anything we want. I benefited from the experience of my peers participating in the competition and their way of thinking, which encouraged me to participate in more competitions.
WHAT EXCITES OR INTERESTS YOU ABOUT SCIENCE? What interests me most about science is that it does not end. When a person thinks that he or she has reached the end of science, it turns out that it is just a door to millions of new doors.
WHAT ROLE DO YOU HOPE SCIENCE/ RESEARCH WILL PLAY IN YOUR FUTURE LIFE? Science and research will be a main part of my life, which I look forward to engaging in with passion and enthusiasm.
HOW DO YOU HOPE SCIENCE/ RESEARCH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE UAE? I hope that it will contribute to further development, make people’s lives easier, and lead to the development of thought, which in turn leads to the development of a new way of life.
IF YOU WERE A SCIENTIST, WHAT RESEARCH QUESTION WOULD YOU WORK TO ANSWER? I want to work in genetics, processing and improving information in terms of health and intelligence.
HOW DID YOUR EMIRATES YOUNG SCIENTIST EXPERIENCE IMPACT OR INFLUENCE YOUR DECISION ABOUT WHAT TO STUDY IN COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY? I would like to study something rare and needed by our country. I hope that we will have the opportunity to study at university from an earlier age, so that we can shorten the time it takes to complete our studies, and take advantage of free time, especially in the summer. I hope to create a way for young students to enter the world of university studies in one way or another.
