King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Expanding Access to Scientific Literacy: The SDG Collection by KAUST, UNDP & Frontiers for Young Minds
Finalist, Benefitting Society
About
The SDG Collection: How Science Can Help Us Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals is a collaborative initiative led by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), in partnership with Frontiers for Young Minds and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Saudi Arabia. The project started in 2024 and it was designed to inspire younger generations by connecting science and technology to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It offers
accessible, engaging scientific articles written by scientists for children, and also live interactive sessions, and video interviews between researchers and kids, making complex sustainability topics easier to understand. To support inclusive scientific literacy and broaden regional reach, the Collection is also translated into Arabic, ensuring accessibility for children across the MENA region and beyond.
Top 3 learnings
1. Scalable and Expanding Impact: Establishing strong frameworks, partnerships, and early youth engagement enabled the project to grow organically, evolving from a local initiative into one gaining national and international recognition.
2. Strengthening the Link Between Academia and Society: Direct engagement between researchers and young audiences helps reshape perceptions of academia as inaccessible, highlighting the real-world relevance of scientific work and reinforcing connections between research and societal priorities.
3. Visibility Drives Momentum: The success of the UNCCD COP16 event demonstrated how strategic exposure at major global platforms can significantly enhance a university’s educational and societal impact, encouraging replication and broader participation beyond the initial community
Sustainable Development Goals
| 2026 | |
| Benefitting Society | |
| Finalist, International |
