12 Hayat Sindi

Dr. Hayat Sindi

Time period:

1967 – present

Subject:

Biotechnology, Science Education

Biography:

Dr. Hayat Sindi is a Saudi Arabian biotechnologist passionate about science innovation and empowering young people to engage in science. She obtained a degree in Pharmacology from King’s College, leading up to her PhD in biotechnology in 2001 from Cambridge University. Dr. Sindi has distinguished herself in the field of science, as evident through her many accolades such as being named a Science and Public Leadership Fellow in 2010.

Summary of their contributions:

Passionate about science education, Dr. Sindi created many initiatives within this field.  She co-founded Diagnostics for All in 2007, which aims to create medical diagnostic devices that are both affordable and portable. In 2011, Dr. Sindi founded the Institute for Imagine Ingenuity, which aims to inspire younger generations to engage in science education and innovation. Dr. Sindi has also been involved with many notable organizations including the United Nations, as an advisor for various scientific issues around sustainable development.

Integration with the BC Secondary Science Curriculum:

Dr. Sindi’s work fits in well with Anatomy and Physiology 12, specifically topics including disease and biotechnology. When discussing various diseases, one could highlight the unique medical devices from Dr. Sindi’s ‘Diagnostics for All’ initiative. This also ties in biotechnology concepts, by exposing students to the power of technology in the field of medicine and science as a whole.

In terms of curricular competencies, Dr. Sindi’s work closely aligns with the applying and innovating category. Relevant competencies include:

• Contributing to finding solutions to problems at a local and/or global level through inquiry
• Cooperatively designing projects with local and/or global connections and applications
• Considering the role of scientists in Innovation

References:

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Hayat Sindi. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Hayat-Sindi/633504

National Geographic. (2023). Explorer profile: Hayat Sindi, biotechnologist. National Geographic Education.https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/explorer-profile-hayat-sindi-biotechnologist/