Science Award for Saudi Student

Monday, 30 July 2007
By Kholood F. Al-Rhamah

AN invention by a Saudi high school student that monitors the safety of children won the Special Project award in the 11th International Scientific Gathering held in South Africa early this month.

The inventor, Jihad Abdullah Al-Falleh, calls the device "smart door." It is installed outside the door of houses to alert parents if their children have gone out. The device goes off depending on the height of people who walk past it as to exclude adults. A television inside the house can be set up to show goings-on outside the door.

"The inspiration behind my invention was a tragedy that befell my neighbor's son who left their house unnoticed and got hit by a car," said Jihad.

Abdullah Saeed Banaemah, supervisor of scientific gatherings from the Ministry of Education and head of the Saudi delegation in South Africa, said Jihad's achievement depicted a "great and the lively picture of education in Saudi Arabia."

Some of the other countries that participated in the 11th International Scientific Gathering were Kuwait, Germany, America, Russia, France, and Canada. About 5,000 scientific inventions were showcased.