The Faculty of Science at Beirut Arab University organized its 2nd Annual Virtual Science Fair for High School Students to encourage and support schools’ efforts, in the development of scientific minds and promote creativity, teamwork and independent thinking among students. 40 participating high school students from 11 different schools across Lebanon have submitted online a total of 24 video projects in three categories: Astronomy, Environmental sciences, Health & Life science, and STEAM. All projects were evaluated per brief by a curated panel of judges in a two-stage process: shortlisting and interviews.
The panel of VSF judges included:
Dr. Mohamad Abbas, Center of Astronomy, New York University Abu Dhabi
Dr. Sonia Abou Najem, BAU Alumna, Assistant Prof. of Biochemistry, Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE
Dr. Hadi Basma, Instructional Coach, Director of Education
Dr. Rana Khalife, BAU Alumna, Lecturer at University College London, Department of Biochemical Engineering, UK
Dr. Sara Fawaz, BAU Alumna, Post-doctorate Researcher Oxford University, UK
Internal jury members from the Faculty of Science, BAU
Dr. Walid Malaeb, Mrs. Alaa Abdallah, Dr. Mohamad Dakdouki, Dr. Nawal El-Hakawati, Dr. Safaa Baydoun, Mrs. Lama Fayyad, Dr. Rana EL Hajj, Dr. Noura Abou Zeinab, Dr. Mahmoud Khalil, Dr. Bilal Nakhal, Mr. Mohamad Kawtharani and Mrs. Mariam Rabaa.
During the first stage, 11 projects were shortlisted and announced via Zoom live streaming on Monday, May 16th.
After interviewing all shortlisted students, the panel deliberated and selected the Top 3 winning teams of BAU scholarships in Science Majors, 70% Scholarships on tuition fees for Math, Physics and Chemistry Majors and 40 % Scholarships on tuition fees for Computer Science, Biology and Biochemistry majors. Herein the Top 3 winning projects:
• First place: Salemtak Bkammemtak, by Salam Abi Ghanem, from Shouf National College
• Second place: A Flare like no Other, project by Tia Kastiro & Reina Fakhereddine, from Makassed Khaled Bin Al Walid - Al Horj College
• Third place: On the verge of collapse: The Lebanese diet, project by Mohamad Shouman & Razan Shahrour, from Rawadah High School
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