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Fatima Al Kaabi is a young Emirati inventor who has won many industry honors in the UAE, such as the 2014 Robot Olympiad Award, the 2015 Emirates Pioneer Award as the youngest inventor in the UAE, and the 2015 Arab Robotics Award. Top Ten Inventors and Innovators of 2015, and Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak International Arab Youth Award in 2017. Al Kaabi said all of her achievements can be attributed to her passion for innovation and invention, which she honed since childhood. age. “I grew up in a family with parents who were interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields,” Al Kaabi said. “My father is an engineer and my mother is an IT student. Seeing them talk passionately about their work at the dinner table or them explaining to me how things work at home got me interested in STEM. and interest.”
From being gifted with a robotics kit at the age of seven, to watching sci-fi movies, shows and documentaries about technology and innovation, Al Kaabi has been exploring ideas and possibilities for years. “My love for invention has been with me since childhood and I continue to invent whenever I have free time as a personal passion for innovation. I was only 10 years old when I built the first robot that could take pictures .In the process of inventing, I try to expand my horizons and think outside the box as much as possible. For example, I developed a solar device charging pack, and a robot called The Teleporter that can take the place of sick children in school, in addition to electronic belts for the hearing impaired, and smart steering systems that stop people from texting while driving.” Elkabi explains that each of her inventions are inspired by a specific story or situation. “For example, in The Teleporter, I visited Tawam Hospital [in Abu Dhabi, UAE] “I saw kids there with cancer,” she said. “I realized their treatments were preventing them from going to school, and that made me think about a machine that could record lessons for them, similar to the distance learning we have in the United States. System” where it is today. It’s incredible how small, everyday things can inspire anyone to create something new with the resources at their fingertips. ”
Fatima is working on one of her inventions.Photo credit: Fatima Al Kaabi
However, Alkabi’s creativity didn’t always find a welcoming environment outside the walls of her home. “I’ve faced some backlash just because I’m a girl interested in STEM,” she said. “A lot of people didn’t make me feel welcome, thought I wasn’t suited for certain opportunities, or still had old-fashioned ideas about what women can and can’t do, but luckily my family was steadfastly supportive of me. . ” Attitudes toward young women excelling in STEM fields have changed over the years. “Today, young children, especially girls, have access to many resources to educate themselves and develop skills,” she said. However, Al Kaabi noted that the UAE has been particularly progressive in opening doors in technology for women and girls. For her, in 2015, when she was named the youngest inventor in the UAE, she felt like she was finally recognized by society at large. “It helped me gain some recognition in places where I was seen as a misfit, even though it came with a lot of responsibility,” she confirms. “I am honored to receive this title, especially that it comes from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Receiving the support and recognition from the government is one of the highlights of my journey.”
Investing in innovation: the future is already hereA new documentary backed by the UAE’s Mubadala Investment Company showcases the country’s efforts to accelerate a knowledge-based economy, and is expected to help raise awareness of the country’s young women pursuing and thriving in STEM careers. acceptance. So it’s no surprise why Al Kaabi was chosen as the host of this film. “Hosting this documentary has been a unique experience; having the opportunity to speak with those who are changing the world with innovation and technology is truly inspiring, and the fact that I am representing my country as an Emirati female inventor gives me the confidence to carry the National pride,” she said. While filming the documentary, Al Kaabi visited one of Mubadala’s investment projects, the Strata facility at the Nibras Al-Ain Aerospace Park in the city of Al Ain, which was established in 2009 to meet the growing demand for The needs of the developing aerospace industry. There, a large portion of the workforce is made up of young Emirati women, Al Kaabi explained. “It’s really impressive and inspiring to see them making and working on aircraft parts, which has always been considered purely masculine,” she said.
Related: The role Emirati women can (and should) play in the UAE’s digital transformation strategy
Fatima Al Kaabi received the reception together with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai The Emirates Pioneer Award made Fatima the youngest Emirati inventor in 2015. Photo credit: Fatima Al Kaabi
Recently, the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report The UAE has been revealed to be one of the top five countries in the world to have made significant progress in closing the gender gap and striving for gender equality, despite the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic hampering progress on gender equality. Did this. many countries. In fact, the UAE ranks among the top Arab countries in promoting the status of women in all fields, including space and science, technology, engineering and mathematics. An example of the country’s forward thinking can be seen in the announcement that Nora Al Matrooshim, the first Arab female astronaut, will join her colleague Mohammed Al Mulla Al Mulla) together form the second batch of the Emirati astronaut program. Al Kaabi said this is just one sign of how the UAE is increasing educational and job opportunities for young women in STEM fields. “Gender stereotypes will soon be a thing of the past, with STEM subjects seen as exclusively masculine and with a lack of visible female role models to inspire the next generation of young girls,” she said. “Additionally, schools are more encouraging of STEM subjects to give young girls the skills and confidence to succeed, and the public is becoming more aware of how parents can encourage their daughters to study STEM as much as they encourage their sons – that’s what I think.” In my opinion. I feel very lucky in my family. ”
Al Kaabi credits her family with playing a big role in motivating her to excel in her STEM career, but noted that she has other role models. “I would also like to thank Reem Al Marzouqi, an inventor and engineer who created a car that can be driven entirely with your feet,” she explained. “She also developed an interactive robot for children on the autism spectrum. As you can see, much of her work revolves around creating inclusive spaces and devices for the benefit of humanity. Rem was kind enough to mentor me Addressing some of the challenges women face has a face in this field and has supported me throughout the process.” Another woman who has supported Al Kaabi in her career is Roudha Bin Baher. “She is an Emirati engineer and the only woman to compete in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning category at the WorldSkills Competition,” Al Kaabi explained. “Her work has since gained global recognition and inspired women around the world to follow suit. She also launched a mentoring program with Danfoss Engineering to increase female representation in the field, emphasizing that this is a place where both men and women can areas of participation.”
Looking to the future, Al Kaabi believes it is vital to continue to push the envelope when it comes to work and gender roles, with a focus on continuing to engage girls and women in STEM and providing an environment in which they can thrive. “I think amplifying the stories of female inventors and recognizing the struggles we face can have a huge impact,” she said. One day, Al Kaabi hopes to earn a Masters and PhD in Artificial Intelligence (AI), then start her own AI company, or even become an AI professor – we are sure she will continue to inspire more girls across the UAE to follow suit.
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Fatima poses with a robot as part of a project she is involved in at an event organized by Expo 2020. I amAge courtesy: Fatima Al Kaabi
Focus on the future: Fatima Al Kaabi’s advice to young women considering a career in STEM
1. Keep looking for programs or initiatives that can help you realize your dreams “The UAE has been a pioneer in encouraging young people to take an interest in STEM education, and various entities such as Mubadala or Abu Dhabi National Oil Company have provided opportunities for people like me to better understand these fields and potentially Pursue a career based on that.”
2. Be your own source of inspiration “When I was growing up, I didn’t have many female role models to look up to, but now we’re surrounded by female success stories, like Emirati innovator Maryam Al Hashimi, who made gasoline and solar panels out of plastic. Alia Al Mansu A great example is also the space genetics experiment here, which focuses on studying the genetic expression of heat shock proteins induced by stressors found in space. These are some of the young female talents in the UAE who are role models for success for our women.
3. Think beyond the known – trust the process “While you may not know much about STEM and where it can take your career, remember that life is about pursuing a career that you love and are passionate about. It may seem difficult at first, or both. Be challenging, but don’t forget what got you thinking about STEM in the first place: your love of education and making a positive impact on those around you. It may take you years to figure out which specific area of STEM you prefer , but I guarantee you’ll feel entitled to succeed in your field unlike anything else.”
4. Don’t be intimidated by male-dominated teams “When you enter a field that was previously dominated by men, it’s normal to feel nervous about whether you can do as well as they do. Don’t sell yourself short or sell yourself short. You can be as successful as anyone if you put your mind to it.” Commit yourself to learning and remember you are doing it for a greater purpose. As long as you remember why you got into a STEM field, this will motivate you to succeed despite all the obstacles.”
5. You are your best teacher “While we are seeing more and more resources welcoming young children, especially girls, and teaching them how to build projects and code, I taught myself the basic skills needed to explore innovation. I turned to the internet, specifically YouTube, to understand the basics knowledge, you can too. Remember, your education extends beyond the classroom too – the world can be your teacher if you know where to look. You can also look out for my courses; I speak in schools across the UAE and am a An enthusiastic mentor. I also enjoy conducting hands-on workshops for people of all ages.”
related: Working for Tomorrow: Alanoud Al Hashmi, CEO, The Futurist Company
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