An official government website affiliated with the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
King Khalid University has won the Princess Seetah bint Abdulaziz Award for Excellence in Social Work in its thirteenth session for the year 2025, specifically in the branch of Excellence in Environmental Sustainability for government and private entities, companies, and individuals.
The announcement of the university's victory came during a press conference held by the Award Foundation in Riyadh. This edition is held under the theme "Social Intelligence in the Service of Humanity," and the conference was attended by several Highnesses, Excellencies, leaders of government agencies, and representatives from the social and media sectors.
The Vice President of King Khalid University for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, Prof. Hamed bin Majdou’ Al-Qarni, explained that the university's win was for the initiative of the Beekeeping and Bee Products Research Center. This initiative presented a practical scientific model in employing scientific research to serve the environment and society through research initiatives that contributed to protecting biodiversity, developing sustainable environmental practices, and achieving a tangible social impact. It embodied the concept of social intelligence by building environmental solutions based on understanding the needs of the local community and transforming scientific knowledge into applied practices that serve both people and the environment.
Dr. Al-Qarni emphasized that this win reflects the university's direction in supporting applied scientific research and embracing initiatives that stem from community needs. It contributes to transforming scientific knowledge into a tangible impact that serves the environment and society. He noted that the university works to enhance this approach through an integrated institutional system that links scientific research with applied practices on the ground.
The Head of the Beekeeping and Bee Products Research Center at King Khalid University, Prof. Hamed bin Ali Al-Gharama, explained that the initiative originated from an urgent national need to protect the local breed of bees in light of the risks of hybridization and climate change, alongside escalating environmental challenges and the decline of vegetation cover in several regions.
He stated that the center works to enhance the integration between scientific research and environmental and social application through initiatives aimed at empowering beekeepers and rural families, improving their income, and ensuring the sustainability of their activities. This is done in parallel with meeting the increasing demand for honey analysis services and ensuring the quality of natural products, in addition to enhancing governance and institutional regulation for the beekeeping sector and its related products, which contributes to protecting natural resources, supporting environmental sustainability, and achieving a tangible social impact.
It is worth noting that the Beekeeping and Bee Products Research Center at the university achieved this award jointly with the Hail Region Municipality's initiative, “The Beautiful, Hail”.
