Muscat – Nine student-led innovation projects have been selected to represent Oman at the 67th London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF), one of the world’s most prestigious gatherings for young scientists, to be held from July 19 to August 1 in the United Kingdom.

The Research and Innovation Authority (RIA) announced the selections on Wednesday, following a highly competitive national process that drew 738 STEM projects from students across the sultanate. After preliminary screening, 30 projects advanced to a final evaluation stage assessed by a specialist panel comprising experts from RIA, the University of Nizwa and the Military Technological College.

The nine selected projects span artificial intelligence, renewable energy, biotechnology, environmental sustainability and assistive technologies.

Among the standouts is Al Harees (The Guardian), an AI-powered platform developed by Aya bint Hamed Al Kindi to combat money laundering. Ayham bin Abdulaziz Al Mundhiri developed a biotechnology-based system that converts methane emissions into octene — simultaneously cutting greenhouse gas emissions and producing valuable industrial materials. Al Azhar bin Zahran Al Azri’s project, Hydrogenics, also made the cut.

Amna Al Jabri qualified with a project that converts sound energy into electricity through a thermoelectric model, while Murthad bin Khalfan Al Harthi was selected for a semi-interpenetrating hydrogel offering a sustainable biological alternative to PDMS used in microfluidic chip platforms.

The remaining four selected projects are Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Shehhi’s Synapse Cybe, Muhannad bin Saeed Al Saqri’s drone health monitoring system, Rashid bin Mohammed Al Shakili’s smart water leakage detection system, and Tasneem bint Saeed Al Farsi’s intelligent cane designed to assist visually impaired individuals.

Dr Salah bin Soumar Al Zadjali, Acting Director General of Programmes and Capacity Building at RIA, said the participation reflects the authority’s commitment to aligning national capabilities with Oman Vision 2040, particularly in education, scientific research and human capital development.

He noted that since Oman’s first participation in the London forum in 2016, the programme has attracted 1,167 student project submissions, with 48 Omani students having participated in previous editions. In 2025, Omani participants ranked among the world’s top 13 projects at the forum.

“These figures reflect the increasing interest among Omani youth in scientific research and innovation, as well as the success of national initiatives in identifying and nurturing talented young innovators,” Al Zadjali said.

The LIYSF provides participants with opportunities to present their research, exchange knowledge with international peers, and engage with leading scientists and academic institutions from around the world.