Sulafa Alghamdi

Pioneering Saudi female scientist advocating for STEM education and gender equality

Sulafa Alghamdi is a Saudi Arabian chemist and founder of STEM4All, an initiative bridging gender gaps in science education. Born in 1995, she became the first woman from her region to earn a PhD in nanotechnology from MIT (2022). Alghamdi’s advocacy intensified after Saudi Arabia’s 2018 reforms allowing women to drive, which she called a 'symbol of progress.' She argues, 'STEM fields still lag—only 15% of Saudi scientists are women.' Her nonprofit trains girls in robotics and AI through pop-up labs in conservative areas, reaching 5,000+ students by 2023.

In 2021, Alghamdi co-founded Saudi Science Hub, a platform connecting female researchers to global collaborations. Her TEDx Riyadh talk ('Breaking Lab Glass Ceilings') went viral, with translations into Arabic, Urdu, and Mandarin. Critics accuse her of underestimating cultural challenges, but Alghamdi responds, 'Change requires discomfort.' Her work influenced King Salman’s 2023 decree mandating 30% female participation in tech sectors. Alghamdi also partners with UNESCO to adapt STEM curricula for Arabic schools, ensuring content reflects local issues like desertification. Her team’s solar-powered water purification system, developed with MIT, is now deployed in Yemen, saving 200 villages from drought. Alghamdi’s LinkedIn profile (LinkedIn) lists 20+ patents, proving Saudi women can lead global innovations.