Lamya A. Al-Zadjali

Omani scientist and educator promoting women's participation in STEM fields in the UAE and beyond.

Lamya A. Al-Zadjali is a pioneering Omani chemist and academic who transformed education in the United Arab Emirates. Born in 1975 in Muscat, she earned her PhD in Materials Science from the University of Cambridge, returning to the UAE to address the underrepresentation of women in STEM. In 2003, she founded the American University of Sharjah's Women in Science Initiative, which has increased female enrollment in STEM programs from 15% to 45%.

Her research on nanotechnology applications in renewable energy has secured $2.3M in grants, leading to partnerships with Masdar Institute. Lamya co-authored the UAE's first national strategy for women in STEM (2016), which inspired similar policies in Qatar and Jordan. She hosts the annual Women in Innovation Summit, featuring leaders like World Economic Forum delegates.

Her advocacy extends to rural communities through the STEM Mobile Lab, a program reaching 10,000+ students annually. Lamya's TED Talk "Building Tomorrow's Scientists Today" highlights her belief that gender equality in science is a global imperative. Recognized by Scientific American as a 'Champion of Change,' her work continues to redefine educational equity in the Middle East.