Two female Emirati students topped their category of competitors at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles last week, the Emirates Foundation for Youth Development announced in a statement sent on Wednesday. The duo, Shamma Al Bastaki and Hayat Abu Al Hassan from Al Ittihad Private School, were recognised for their science project titled ‘Grains of Gold'. They were among 16 Emirati scientists who were selected for the Emirates Foundation's Think Science competition to participate in the fair. Finalists at the Intel contest were judged on their creativity, scientific thought, skill, and ability to showcase their visions in their projects. ‘Grains of Gold' won second place in the category of Environmental Sciences and Management for its applicability in real-life situations. Finding inspiration from a visit to the Middle East's first soil museum, the project demonstrated how to use hydrophobic sand — sand that is chemically manipulated to resist water — as a way to minimise water waste in soil. The young scientists were commended for their project's alignment with the UAE's vision to become green, and it is hoped that the technology will be used across landscapes in the UAE. "After this recognition at the fair, we are now ready to play a larger role in empowering and encouraging upcoming Emiratis' talent. We now feel even more confident in playing a leading role by investing our skills and capabilities for our youth,” Hayat said. "The Think Science Ambassador programme by Emirates Foundation has empowered us by providing us with the required knowledge, skills and tools to don leadership roles,” Shamma added. Source: Gulf News