COUNTRY FOCUS : OMAN

The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent , not-for-profit organisation that since 1817 has been committed to advancing science for the benefit of society . With more than 20,000 members in 100 countries , the Academy promotes scientific and technical knowledge , addresses global challenges with science-based solutions , and sponsors a wide variety of educational initiatives at all levels for STEM and STEM-related fields . Recently , the academy partnered with Ericsson and the Omani Ministry of Education ’ s Centre of Excellence to promote STEM related innovation in Oman .

A panorama of Muscat , Oman in late summer

Through the academy ’ s Launchpad Platform , teams of up to six students aged 13 to 17 are paired with a mentor who is a STEM professional , graduate student , or post-doctoral fellow . In the Fall Challenge , the teams designed smart homes that integrate technology to collect , process , and store environmental and health information . The data is to be used to promote the sustainable use of energy as well as the physical and mental health of the homes ’ residents .

With Ericsson ’ s support , 100 Omani students will participate in the programme each year through the Omani Ministry of Education ’ s Centre of Excellence . This past semester , teams from around Oman took on some big ideas to integrate IoT technology in homes . Some teams used Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) to improve Wi-Fi performance or IoT to improve quality of life for people with mobility challenges . One team investigated how Virtual Reality ( VR ) can improve interactions with smart devices while another incentivised the use of smart devices to save families money . While the projects vary , the themes are clear – how can students use STEM to improve their communities ?

“ We are pleased to work closely with Ericsson and the New York Academy of Sciences ’ Junior Academy ,” said Huda Al Dughaishi , Innovation Specialist at the Ministry

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