DHAHRAN: The King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals hosted its tenth Design Expo on Saturday, with senior students’ graduation projects highlighting solutions to real industry problems.

President of the university, Mohammed Al-Saggaf, spoke to each team and handed out awards. It was during his tenure as president that the new model for the expo was put into place.

“This exhibition is distinguished by the collaborative effort among students from different majors to create innovative projects,” the university said in a statement.

Mimicking industry standards, the university event also briefs the soon-to-be professionals on how to pitch and speak about their projects to the public, potential investors and educators.

“This exhibition will showcase various academic projects presented by our students in diverse fields,” the statement said.

A total of 1,063 students participated to present 185 projects “devising solutions for industrial challenges” in the following categories: artificial intelligence, automation technology, construction technology, digital transformation, drone technology, energy systems, environmental technology, health care technology, renewable energy, sustainability and technology enhancement.

The winning projects included an autonomous wheelchair that uses electromyography — EMG — a technique for evaluating and recording the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles.

Prizes were also awarded for the most entrepreneurial project, the most innovative project and the best elevator pitch, along with an award based on public voting and the president’s choice award.

The most humanitarian project award was handed to “Quick-Construct Housing for Refugees and the Impoverished,” to six students: Alwaleed Talal Abutaleb and Abdulaziz Talal Abutaleb from the architectural engineering and construction management program; Ayoub Abdullah Alsalamah from mechanical engineering; Ammar Omar Alhawsawi from electrical engineering; and Faris Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani and Bander Nasser Almubaddel from aerospace engineering.

“All of this is Saudi-made, even the manufacturing process. It’s the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia, the mechanism and everything — from designing to construction — was assembled by a Saudi company,” Almubaddel told Arab News.

In a record three minutes, the structure can be built and lived in almost instantly. Their target is the refugees in the Middle East — to offer durable, affordable, portable shelter that can be assembled easily and efficiently.

Abutaleb, who focused on the architectural elements, said: “What we brought to the table (is) that we designed the unit, the dimension, the process and the interior of the unit. We are responsible for the integration of the system within the unit, in addition to the construction and the assembling.”

Electrical engineering student Alhawsawi said: “I contributed the power system and all the connections required; and all the power systems that will be integrated into the unit.”

Aerospace engineering student Alsuhaibani added: “The unit is very simple to assemble — these materials that we used to construct the unit have a very high resistance for the heat. It has item resistance, and it can withstand the harsh environment in Saudi Arabia.”

The team will continue to work on the project beyond the classroom to make it useful in the real world.

ALKHOBAR: Alkhobar seafront bustled with activity as the farmers’ market, organized by the Culinary Arts Commission in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and the Eastern Province Municipality, came to town.

The three-day evening market, which ended on Saturday, showcased the seasonal bounties of the Eastern Province with homegrown goodies for sale, and quickly attracted more footfall despite the humidity and sweltering heat. 

The market featured 15 booths from 10 farmers who were mostly from neighboring areas, along with a few from other parts of the Kingdom.

The Culinary Arts Commission set-up a bookstand in which Saudi-centric, food-related books were on sale in both English and Arabic, as well as games, hoodies and socks.

The family-friendly event was a stone’s-throw from the waves of the corniche, where seating options were ample and offered the perfect spot to relax and snack.

Ghada Abdullah Al-Garyafi, a beekeeper from Qatif for the past four years, told Arab News about participating at the event. “As a Saudi beekeeper, I produce many types of honey in addition to derivative products. I make organic syrup, which is in very high demand, as well as organic honey vinegar.”

Additionally, she offers other items such as honey spoons — sealed spoons filled with honey that can be unwrapped and used to stir tea, or consumed directly.

She also used the event as a way to test out new recipes. “We introduced a new honey drink, with bits of passionfruit and other produce mixed in. I wanted to see the opinion of customers and the visitors to the festival, and they liked it very much.”

Speaking about taking up beekeeping, she explained that what started out as a fear became her whole life. “I used to be afraid of bees! I challenged myself during (COVID-19) period when my husband brought maybe four or five hives within a farm he rented. I would go with him and make a big fuss about being scared,” she said, laughing. “Little by little, he told me to get closer and that they wouldn’t sting me if I wore the protective gear. He showed me how to inspect the hives.

“Eventually, I overcame my fear, thank God, and became a honey producer. I worked during the mangroves season, which was my first experience. All of our production comes from the Eastern region, specifically from Qatif, Saihat, Safwa and Ras Tanura,” she said.

Other entrepreneurs at the market included the organic company, Planet of Plants at Jenan Al-Nakheel Farm, as well as many other local and regional goods.

Children could have their faces painted or their names written in Arabic calligraphy during the event. A live oud player serenaded the crowd.

The farmers’ market is just one of the stops in the commission’s seasonal tour, which will continue in the coming weeks.