Jordan’s Young Scientists showcase innovation

The Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition has been a springboard for generations of Irish innovators – and now it is having the same impact in Jordan.

The Jordan Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition took place over the weekend, with 600 students presenting 230 projects to the judges.

Established by Ireland’s Embassy in Jordan, the exhibition has grown significantly since it was first established in 2022 when just 40 projects were showcased.

The winning project this year was from Jubilee College in Amman, with two young students developing a Comprehensive Beehive System, using an acoustic monitoring method that integrates artificial intelligence and signal processing techniques to classify hive conditions. The system facilitates real-time hive monitoring and enhances precision beekeeping by enabling the early detection of colony disturbances, including the absence of the Queen and assists with the improvement of hive management practices.

The winning students will travel to Dublin next January to showcase their project at the Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. They will also have the opportunity to explore Ireland's ecosystem of innovation by visiting universities, companies, innovation hubs, and local museums.

The second placed winner was the project, O-SAFE Liquid Bump, developed by students at an UNRWA School for Palestinian Refugees, Al-Baq’a First Preparatory Girls School. It is a liquid speed bump made with recycled materials designed so that the fluid adapts to varying vehicle speeds.

The third placed winner was a project was a project developed by a student at Islamic Scientific College for a project, Skyla, a comprehensive cyber security framework that specialises in security raw code using AI.

The competition took place at the Al Hussein Technical University in Amman, with schools from all over Jordan taking part.

Minister Neale Richmond praised the Jordan Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition as a critical way for Ireland to promote scientific enquiry among young people in the country.

We have seen over many years the impact the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition has in Ireland in terms of building young people’s interest and passion for scientific learning,” he said. “It is now having the same impact in Jordan. Taking part in the Jordan Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition will have a life-long impact on the students and will encourage young people to investigate careers in science and technology. I am particularly delighted that sixty per cent of students taking part are female.

The projects at this year’s exhibition covered a wide range of scientific and technological disciplines, including environmental solutions, renewable energy, robotics, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology. Each project reflects months of work by young researchers who identified real problems and developed original, evidence-based solutions to address them.

Jordan’s Minister for Education, Dr Azmi Mahafzah, attended the Exhibition this year, alongside the Ambassador of Ireland to Jordan, Marianne Bolger, the President of Al Hussein Technical University, Prof Ismael Al Hinti and Chair of JoYS, Mohammad Taboub.

For more information, visit www.jordanys.com