KKU Students Win First Place in Innovation Competitions at the International Mining Conference in Riyadh - King Khalid University

Under the generous patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and within the fifth edition of the International Mining Conference, students from King Khalid University achieved a milestone by winning first place in the Resource Sustainability track of the global mineral innovation competition "Future Minerals Pioneers" held in Riyadh, with the participation of more than 1,800 innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs from 57 countries around the world.

His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, honored the "GeoVolt" team of students from King Khalid University in the presence of His Excellency the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Cabinet, and Climate Affairs Envoy, Mr. Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, in recognition of their winning innovative project, which also received a financial prize of 150,000 dollars.

The team's victory came for a scientific innovation project that treats phosphogypsum waste, which is one of the largest industrial by-products resulting from the production of phosphoric acid. The project re-purposes and transforms it from a polluting environmental burden into a high-value industrial compound, thereby contributing to supporting environmental sustainability and raising the efficiency of resource use through precise and controlled chemical and thermal treatments that ensure the quality of the final product.

This coronation comes within the top positions in the competition for Future Minerals Pioneers, which reviewed innovative outputs providing qualitative solutions in the tracks of smart technologies, safety and security, and resource sustainability to meet the needs of the mining sector and support the achievement of a sustainable impact within it.

The "GeoVolt" team included student Rayan Mohammed Al-Bassami from the College of Medicine, student Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Muzay'il from the College of Engineering, and student Ziyad Khalid Asiri from the College of Applied Medical Sciences in Khamis Mushait.

The Dean of Student Affairs at King Khalid University, Dr. Saad bin Saeed Al-Qahtani, confirmed that this achievement is an extension of the great support and interest that research, innovation, and student activities receive at the university from His Excellency the President of the University, Prof. Faleh bin Rajaallah Al-Solami, and the Vice President for Educational Affairs, Prof. Saad bin Mohammed bin Dajam. He noted that this support contributed to creating a university environment that stimulates creativity and excellence.

He added that the participation of university students in global competitions enhances their scientific and research capabilities and hones their skills in transforming ideas into applied solutions with environmental and economic impact. He emphasized that the win of the "GeoVolt" team embodies the ability of university students to link academic knowledge with practical application and provide innovative models that serve society and support the sustainability of resources.

This achievement is an extension of King Khalid University's role as an official partner in this competition, as the university hosted the preliminary competitions for universities in the southern region during the qualification stages for the global competition.