The Egyptian researcher, Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Basit Mohamed, who resides in the United States of America, launched a Ramadan competition in scientific culture and scientific research, directed to Arab children under the age of 18 and residing only in the Arab world.
The competition received wide response from students in various Arab countries, as the average number of participants every day was 30 students, and it also received the approval of many parents of students.
Ramadan exception
This competition is an extension of the “Little Arab Scientist” competition, which is held once a month, but it is held in Ramadan with an exception every day, as a scientific question regarding a theory from the theories of various disciplines, such as physics, mathematics, chemistry and others, is asked every day, provided that the answers are provided In a summary presented orally via video clip.
The researcher, Ahmed Abdel Basset, is responsible for covering the financial aspect of the award from his own money, which is what he has been doing during all the competitions that he has previously organized.
The first place winner in this Ramadan competition wins $200, the second place winner gets $150, and the third place winner gets $100.
Dr. Ahmed Abdel Basset Mohamed was a teacher in the Department of Physics at the Faculty of Science, Cairo University, before moving in 2012 to Qatar to teach physics at one of its universities, then moved to America and is currently an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Manhattan College.
Excellence and creativity
The "Small Arab World Competition" appears to be unique in the Arab world, both in terms of form and in terms of the owner of the initiative.
The competitions are usually organized by organizations, bodies or associations, but this time they came by one person who wanted to contribute to the development of scientific culture with his own effort.
Dr. Ahmed Abdel Basset said - in statements to Al-Jazeera Net over the phone - "One of the conditions of the competition is that the contestant answer through a video clip of no more than a minute, which is the condition that allows the student first to understand and comprehend the answers he provides because most of the students seek help in the competitions with a Google engine. You may find them giving answers without understanding them well, but the oral presentation enables them to do so.”
In explaining the objectives of the competition, Abdel Basset added that “the presentation or presentation via a video clip allows students to acquire presentation, presentation and analysis skills because it is noticeable that Arab students suffer from this aspect, as many of them face difficulties during the presentation or presentation, and this competition contributes to building their abilities in presentation and refining their speaking skills.
Regarding his preference for asking questions about scientific theories only, Dr. Ahmed said that scientific theories, whether in mathematics, physics, or other disciplines, are the basis of science and the pillars of scientific culture that we can instill in the minds of students to accompany them throughout their scientific career, and with which new horizons open up in the field of science. Research and dive into the sea of great scientific theories.
The role of parents
Because the competition is directed mainly at the children segment, the role of their parents in the success of the competition, by urging their children to participate, accompanying them in all its phases, and helping them to complete the videos, is evident here.
Dr. Ahmed Abdel Basset said, explaining the great role that fathers play in this competition;
"There is a big role for the students' parents in this competition. I have received responses from many of them encouraging me to take this initiative and calling me to continue working after the end of Ramadan."
He explained that the "Small Arab World" competition is part of his cultural program for Arab students, which allows parents to interact with what he is doing, and revealed that his educational platform, which he recently launched on the "Telegram" website, contains many of their comments and encouragement, and includes about 500 parents. They interact with his posts and tutorials.
Abdul Basit also opened a collective account on WhatsApp as an open space for parents of students to receive their suggestions and ideas in order to develop and improve the content, all in order to promote scientific culture.
Dr. Ahmed Abdel Basset concluded his speech on the need for students’ parents to be aware in order to urge their children to learn science and increase scientific culture at an early age, because this will put them on the path of scientific researchers and ride the train of knowledge and science.