In a momentous achievement that elevates the Kingdom’s presence on the global academic stage, Jude Basem Al-Lahyani secured a silver medal at the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA), recently held in Mumbai, India.
Representing Saudi Arabia within a team of five high-achieving students, Jude outshone more than 300 participants from 64 countries in a fiercely competitive environment comprising theoretical, practical, and observational challenges demanding deep knowledge and precise time management.
This silver medal follows her bronze-winning performance at the 2024 IOAA in Rio de Janeiro—demonstrating a clear upward trajectory in her academic excellence and growth.
Her teammates, Hussain Hasan Al-Mubarak and Fajr Al-Obaidan, also received honorable mentions, showcasing the high caliber of the team’s preparation and performance.
This accomplishment is the culmination of rigorous training orchestrated by Mawhiba, with support from the Ministry of Education, the Saudi Space Agency, and NEO Space Group. The students went through nearly a year of intensive qualification and preparation.
Their success stands as a powerful inspiration to aspiring young Saudis and underscores the Kingdom’s strategic investment in STEM education and space sciences as a pathway to global academic leadership.
