Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation Arab Researchers Award – Applications are Now Open – Apply Here
The Scientific Committee of the Abdul Hameed Shoman Prize for Arab Researchers announces the commence of receiving applications for the year 2025 (the forty-third session), which amounts to twenty thousand dollars. The award is given in appreciation of outstanding scientific output in the five years preceding the candidacy, the publication, and dissemination of which leads to an increase in scientific and applied knowledge, contributes to solving priority problems locally, regionally, and globally, and spreads the culture of scientific research, bearing in mind that the deadline for accepting nominations is March 31, 2025.
You can view the award manual for this course by clicking here.
Award Fields
The award is granted in the year 2025 (the forty third session) in the following fields and topics:
Medical and Health Sciences
- The Use of Stem Cells in Treating Incurable Diseases: Stem cells are among the most prominent recent medical discoveries that have provoked researchers’ interest in treating chronic and intractable diseases. These cells are characterized by their ability to regenerate and evolve into different types of specialized cells in the body, making them a potential tool for replacing or repairing damaged tissues. Stem cells are currently used in many therapeutic applications, such as the treatment of chronic heart disease, and type 1 diabetes by improving pancreatic function. Its role in the treatment of nervous system diseases, such as plaque sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, is also being explored. Despite the scientific and ethical challenges associated with this area, ongoing research reinforces the hope of providing radical treatments for many diseases that were considered intractable in the past.
- Biological Drug Delivery Systems Using Nanotechnology Techniques: Nanotechnological techniques represent a groundbreaking advancement in the field of medicine, where nanopharma delivery systems allow the targeting of sick cells or organs with infinite precision without affecting healthy tissue. These techniques are based on the design of targeted nanoparticles that can be loaded with medicines or therapeutic agents, and then programmed to reach specific sites within the body, such as cancer cells or inflamed tissues. These nanoparticles are used to overcome the body’s natural barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier, opening new avenues for the treatment of complex diseases such as cancers and nervous system diseases. Thanks to its ability to release drugs gradually and specifically, these technologies reduce overdoses and their side effects, improving treatment efficiency and patient safety. Nanopharma delivery systems are a practical example of technological advances that change the future of medicine towards more precise and effective treatments.
Engineering and Technological Sciences
- Alternative and Renewable Energy Storage Technologies: The field of energy storage is a pivotal element in the development of sustainable energy systems and the transition towards reliance on alternative and renewable energy sources. Energy storage technologies are diverse, encompassing chemical storage methods such as various types of batteries that support the operation of electronic devices and electric vehicles, as well as hydrogen, which is stored for later use in electricity or heat generation. Additionally, electrical storage methods include supercapacitors, known for their high charging and discharging speed, and mechanical methods such as pumping water into elevated reservoirs to generate electricity when needed and flywheels. Thermal storage technologies also stand out, relying on materials capable of storing and releasing heat, alongside innovative chemical technologies such as flow batteries, which offer effective solutions to meet the increasing energy demand. These advanced technologies contribute to improving the efficiency of energy production and distribution, enhancing the reliability of electrical grids, and supporting global efforts to achieve environmental sustainability.
- Smart traffic management systems: Intelligent traffic management systems are a fundamental component of the transition toward more sustainable and efficient cities. These systems leverage advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence and data analytics to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. They operate by collecting and analyzing data from sensors, cameras, and traffic signals, providing real-time information that helps in making better decisions for managing vehicle and pedestrian movement. These systems also enable the prediction of congestion scenarios and automatically guide drivers to alternative routes, contributing to reduced fuel consumption, lower carbon emissions, and enhanced road safety. Such smart solutions represent a critical step toward achieving sustainable mobility and improving the quality of life in urban areas.
Water, Energy and Food Sciences
- Water Efficiency Innovations and Technology: Innovations and practices aimed at improving efficient and economical water use using modern irrigation technologies, smart water management systems, the use of technology in monitoring and management of water networks to improve water use efficiency, and the promotion of sustainable agriculture practices that reduce water dependence and improve the efficiency of water resource use.
- Research and development in drought-tolerant crops: Crops that can grow in water shortages, seed technology and drought-tolerant crops, genetic modification and plant breeding to withstand drought, “climate-smart agriculture” to develop drought-resistant crop varieties, the use of artificial intelligence and big data to predict drought tolerance
Humanities, Social and Educational Sciences
- The Role of the Media in Manufacturing Consent: This topic focuses on the critical role of the media in shaping public consent. In other words, media outlets—whether government-owned or private—play a significant role in influencing public opinion on politics, supporting wars, and shaping views on various social, cultural, and religious issues. Hegemonic powers and state authorities rely on the media to set the stage for future agendas. Mass media, including mainstream media, government-owned media, social media, and other forms of media, play an essential role in gaining public consent on important issues. Research in these fields—media studies, cultural studies, and sociology—is crucial to understanding how societies’ views can be easily manipulated to manufacture consent.
- Artificial Intelligence and the Arabic Language: This topic explores artificial intelligence in the Arabic language, focusing on its uses, applications, accessibility, accuracy, depth, and expansion, among other related aspects. Here, we emphasize research that explores the use of artificial intelligence in the Arabic language in various domains, including AI in Arabic education, natural language processing (NLP), machine translation, business and industry, educational technology, Arabic dialect identification and processing, AI for Arabic health and medical applications and other key areas. This includes studies on the most effective AI tools available and those currently being developed in the Arabic language. Given that AI’s use in different domains is still relatively new, research comparing its effectiveness in Arabic to other languages is also an important area of focus.
Basic Sciences
- Conservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystems: This field focuses on studying and protecting ecosystems, with emphasis on the unique biodiversity found in deserts, terrestrial, and marine environments. It involves evaluating the impact of human activities, such as urbanization and industrial expansion, on habitats and addressing challenges resulting from climate change. Additionally, it encompasses the development of strategies for habitat restoration, the conservation of endangered species, and the sustainable management of resources to ensure ecological balance and enhance ecosystem resilience. In addition, it involves studying the marine ecosystems and biodiversity in regions such as the Red Sea, the Arabian Gulf, and the Mediterranean Sea. This includes assessing the effectiveness of conservation and protection strategies, analyzing the impact of human activities and climate change on marine life, and proposing sustainable solutions to preserve these vital ecosystems for future generations.
- Basic Sciences in Innovative Waste Recycling: Basic sciences play a crucial role in developing innovative techniques for effective waste recycling, particularly in areas affected by wars and conflicts, where infrastructure damage leads to the accumulation of large amounts of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, posing a direct threat to public health and the environment. Innovations based on basic sciences include technologies such as waste-to-energy, which helps convert waste into usable energy sources, providing sustainable energy alternatives. Additionally, biological treatment techniques using microorganisms are employed to analyze hazardous pollutants and convert them into less harmful substances, helping reduce environmental pollution. Furthermore, mobile waste processing units offer a flexible solution that allows waste to be treated at the affected sites, reducing the need to transport waste to distant processing centers. These innovative solutions contribute to debris and waste removal, reduce health risks, generate energy, and restore environmental balance. They also form an essential part of reconstruction efforts and enhance communities’ ability to adapt to the environmental and humanitarian conditions resulting from conflicts.
Economics and Administration Sciences
- Fintech: Fintech is used to describe new technology that seeks to improve and automate the delivery and use of financial services. In essence, fintech is used to help businesses, business owners and consumers better manage their financial operations, operations and lives. Financial technology encompasses all avenues for the development of financial systems such as banks, lenders, insurance companies, investment funds, securities markets, payment service providers, regulatory and oversight organs, etc.
- Intellectual capital: Intellectual capital refers to the range of intangible assets the company has, such as employee knowledge and expertise, organizational processes, and relationships with clients and partners. This includes three main branches: human capital that focuses on employee skills and expertise, relational capital that fosters relationships with clients and partners, and structural capital that supports the company’s organizational infrastructure. These assets contribute to a competitive advantage and increase the company’s economic efficiency.
To be nominated for the award
Please read the terms of nomination for the Shoman Prize for Arab Researchers in the award manual, once you meet the conditions, you are welcome to submit your application for the award via the electronic system, by following the following steps:
1- Create an account on the electronic system by clicking on the link and activating the account to enter the electronic system.
2- Enter personal data, contact information, and address.
3- Enter the information about the scientific production submitted for the award.
4- Entering work information and academic qualifications.
5- Upload the required attachments and submit the application.