RIO DE JANEIRO — The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) has announced the inaugural participation of the Saudi Astronomy Team at the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA2024) in Brazil.

This milestone is the result of a collaboration between CST and the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), which included comprehensive training and preparation programs for the students.

The Saudi Astronomy Team consists of Jude Basem Al-Luhyani from the Makkah Education Department, Fajr Hassan Al-Obaidan from the Al-Ahsa Education Department, and Hussein Hassan Al-Mubarak from the Eastern Province Education Department. Each team member has completed approximately 590 hours of training, showcasing CST's commitment to nurturing national talent and empowering students to compete on a global scale in the Space sector.

This participation aligns with CST's broader goal of enhancing Saudi Arabia's capabilities in the Space industry by motivating students to pursue careers in Space and related fields.

Over the past 12 months, CST, in collaboration with Mawhiba, has implemented a series of rigorous training programs designed to prepare the team for the IOAA2024, which tests skills in astronomical observation, celestial mechanics, astrophysics, and cosmology.

As a regulator in the Space sector, CST is dedicated to offering a variety of educational and training initiatives aimed at equipping national cadres to keep pace with rapid advancements in Space and to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the field. — SG