Omani Students Earn Global Recognition at ISEF 2026
Some ideas begin quietly.
A school lab. A classroom discussion. A question that refuses to stay small.
This week, four Omani students carried that kind of work to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, known as ISEF 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. The fair was held from May 9 to 15, bringing together young researchers from different parts of the world to present projects across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Among those students were young innovators from Oman — and they returned with international recognition.
A Fourth Place Win in Environmental Engineering
Ward bint Badr Al Balushi and Remas bint Qais Al Balushi, from Al Amal School in South Al Batinah, won fourth place worldwide in the field of environmental engineering.
Their project focused on a passive system based on ophiolite, using plasmonic photocatalysis to treat water produced during oil extraction.
It is a scientific project with a very Omani connection. Ophiolite is part of Oman’s geological landscape, and here it appears not only as something found in the mountains, but as part of a student-led idea for addressing an environmental challenge.
In a way, the project connects two stories at once: Oman’s geology beneath the surface, and the creativity of students looking for new ways to solve real problems.
Recognition in Social and Behavioural Sciences
Oman’s achievement did not stop there.
Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Zarouni and Abdul Rahman bin Khalid Al Balushi, from Saad bin Abi Waqas School in North Al Batinah, received a special award and student membership from the American Psychological Association in the field of social and behavioural sciences.
Their project focused on an artificial-intelligence-based system designed to analyse and support student interaction in classrooms.
Together, the two Omani projects show different sides of young innovation: one looking at environmental challenges connected to industry, and another exploring how technology may support learning inside classrooms.
More Than a Competition
ISEF is one of the world’s largest science competitions for school students. In 2026, finalists competed across 22 scientific categories, with awards, scholarships, and prizes offered to young researchers from around the world.
For students, reaching a stage like this is not only about winning. It is also about learning how to explain an idea clearly, defend research before judges, meet students from other countries, and discover how far a school project can travel.
For Oman, these achievements add another quiet chapter to the country’s growing student innovation story.
A Young Idea from Oman
What makes this moment meaningful is not only the awards themselves.
It is the image behind them: students in Oman spending months shaping an idea, testing it, refining it, and then standing with it on an international stage.
A project that begins in a classroom can sometimes reach much further than expected.
And for young people dreaming about science, research, and discovery, that can mean more than any trophy.
Sources
Oman Daily: فرق طلابية عمانية تحقق إنجازات علمية بالمعرض الدولي للعلوم والهندسة آيسف 2026
Society for Science: Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair
Society for Science: Regeneron ISEF 2026 attendee information
Society for Science: Regeneron ISEF 2026 full awards
Hassan Al Maqbali
Content Creator & Website Manager at Omanspire
Hassan Al Maqbali is a dedicated content creator and the website manager at Omanspire, where he writes passionately about Oman's culture, history, and the timeless stories that shape the nation’s identity. His work reflects a deep love for the Sultanate and a commitment to sharing its beauty with the world.
Driven by a desire to widen global understanding of Oman, Hassan creates narratives that present the country through diverse perspectives—capturing its people, heritage, landscapes, and evolving cultural heartbeat. Through Omanspire, he hopes to bring readers closer to the spirit of Oman, one story at a time.
