IBDAA Expo showcases creations by young Jordanian talents

AMMAN — It was an extravaganza of talent on display in Amman on Tuesday, with young innovators showcasing their world-class creations. 

Electric cars, anti-asphyxiation machines, anti-hacking software and botanical extracts that treat cancer are just a few examples of products made by Jordanians between the ages of 15 and 25 under the umbrella of the IBDAA Society. 

Her Majesty Queen Rania inaugurated the IBDAA Expo 2017, which was held in Amman to showcase the work of young Jordanians.

Among the innovators is 21-year-old Ammar Majali, who created an anti-hacking software with a detection rate of 95 per cent. 

“The system has a higher hacking detection rate than any other in the world market today,” the electrical engineering student told The Jordan Times on the sidelines of the event. 

Queen Rania toured the expo, accompanied by IBDAA President Maha Darwish, stopping at each booth and listening to briefings on the creations. 

Her Majesty stopped at the “Hekayati” booth, where a group of interactive Arabic stories focus on enhancing children’s critical thinking and creativity. 

The Queen also spoke to youths who built a car with an environment friendly engine that uses water to increase efficiency in the vehicle’s operating system, as well as an oxygen-recycling vending machine.

Queen Rania listened to the participants explain how their projects and inventions came to fruition, and expressed her gratitude to their parents and teachers who encouraged them to come this far, according to a statement released by Her Majesty’s office.

Innovations featured at the expo also included robotics, whose designers have won an international award for best mechanical robotic design. 

In addition, a team of students showcased their project, titled “Fatabayanoo”, an initiative that challenges myths that go viral among people in science and religion.

With a picture posted from the expo on Her Majesty’s official Instagram account, the caption read: “Great talent and creativity at the IBDAA Expo 2017! ‏#Youth #Pride #Jordan #LoveJO”.

Established in 2008, IBDAA is a non-governmental non-profit organisation whose mission is to support Arab youth’s creative talents by supporting their innovative projects.

Its long-term goal is to prevent talented youth from moving abroad in search for better work opportunities. 

Since its founding, the organisation has supported 100 projects.

“We are very proud of our beneficiaries. They are very talented and have excellent ideas that can easily be turned into successful ventures,” said IBDAA vice president, Hadeel Al Dineh.