The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) has announced the first participation of the Saudi Astronomy Team in the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA 2024) in Brazil. CST will collaborate in the event with the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba). This achievement comes after CST’s and Mawhiba’s joint programs that included training and preparing students.
Team and Training Overview
Three Saudi students—Jude Al-Luhyani, Fajr Al-Obaidan, and Hussein Al-Mubarak—will represent the nation. They hail from Makkah, Al-Ahsa, and the Eastern Province, respectively. Each has completed 590 hours of intensive training.
This participation underscores CST’s dedication to nurturing national talent for global space competitions. It aims to motivate students to pursue careers in space, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s capabilities in this sector.
Preparatory Programs for Success
Over the past 12 months, CST and Mawhiba have launched extensive training initiatives. These programs aim to prepare students for IOAA 2024, focusing on skills in astronomical observation, celestial mechanics, astrophysics, and cosmology.
CST continues to offer diverse training and educational programs as part of its regulatory role in the space sector. These efforts aim to equip national cadres to adapt to rapid developments and explore new opportunities.
Supporting Saudi Vision 2030
Originally established as the Saudi Communications Commission, CST‘s role expanded with new IT-related tasks. Since 2006, CST has handled DNS structure and filtering in Saudi Arabia, replacing KACST.
In line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program 2020, CST focuses on fostering growth in the IT and tech sectors. It aims to increase the market size by regulating, licensing, and attracting global investment in emerging technologies.
