RIYADH: The Ministry of Culture has introduced a camel studies grant, an initiative designed to highlight the essential role camels play in Saudi Arabia’s cultural, social, and economic spheres through rigorous scientific research.
The grant invites proposals that delve into various aspects of camel significance, including historical, cultural, social, economic, environmental, and health-related dimensions, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The historical dimension of the grant includes studies comparing the importance of camels across civilizations, historical and ethnographic analysis of camel-related traditions, and exploration of archival methods for safeguarding this heritage.
The cultural dimension focuses on the artistic and literary depictions of camels. Researchers are encouraged to conduct critical and literary studies on the representation of camels in Arabic and Saudi literature, including children's books. The field is open to studies on camel-related vocabulary and their portrayal in various artistic media, from visual and cinematic arts to engravings and sculptures.
The social dimension examines the role of camels in Arab and Islamic societies. Research topics include the local significance of camels, their social impact, traditions linked to camel ownership, and the influence of national camel events on communities, both locally and globally.
The economic dimension explores the financial contributions of camels and camel-derived products. Researchers can analyze the use of camel wool and leather in the fashion and furniture industries, assess the sustainability of the economic viability of camel products, and measure the financial impact of camel festivals and related institutions.
Meanwhile the environmental dimension will welcome research on sustainable land use for camel grazing, carbon dioxide emissions analysis, and the role of camels in maintaining ecological balance in arid regions.
Under the health dimension, researchers examine the medical and therapeutic applications of camel products, develop technologies for measuring camel meat quality, and focus on camel breed preservation and genetic mapping.
The launch of the grant coincides with the UN’s declaration of 2024 as the International Year of Camelids, as well as Saudi Arabia’s designation of 2024 as the Year of the Camel.
Saudi Culture Ministry launches camel studies grant
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Saudi Culture Ministry launches camel studies grant
- Grant coincides with the UN’s declaration of 2024 as the International Year of Camelids
Saudi scientific organization celebrates 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate Omar Yaghi
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology honors him with a reception at its headquarters in Riyadh
- Yaghi, the first Saudi recipient of a Nobel Prize, shared the Nobel Prize with 2 other scientists for their pioneering work in molecular chemistry
LONDON: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Riyadh honored Omar Yaghi, the Saudi scientist and recipient of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, with a reception at its headquarters in Riyadh on Thursday.
Yaghi is the first Saudi scientist awarded a Nobel Prize. He received it in December, alongside two other scientists, for their pioneering work in the field of molecular chemistry, and for contributions to energy, the environment and advanced materials.
He is also supervisor of the Center of Excellence for Nanomaterials for Clean Energy Applications, a collaboration between KACST and the University of California, Berkeley.
Munir Eldesouki, the president of KACST, said that the Kingdom is keen to recognize its scientific talents, in keeping with Saudi Vision 2030 and its goals relating to the fostering of scientific research.
Yaghi said he appreciated the support he had received from Saudi leaders during his career, and praised them for creating an enabling environment in which scientists are able to pursue world-class research, development and innovation.
Investment in national talent has created a research ecosystem that positions Saudi Arabia among the leading scientific nations, he added.
Thursday’s event, attended by the organization’s staff and students, also honored the winning teams from the recent “GenAI for Materials Discovery Hackathon,” which KACST organized in partnership with the University of California, Berkeley, and Academy 32, a nonprofit Saudi organization dedicated to research, development and innovation.
The celebration concluded with an interactive discussion session during which Yaghi talked with students and researchers, reflected on key milestones in his scientific journey, and shared insights into the factors that helped shape his career, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
