Saudi researcher named UNESCO ambassador

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PARIS, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabian researcher Hayat Sindi was tapped as a UNESCO goodwill ambassador to support science education, the U.N. agency in Paris said.

Sindi's being named to the post recognizes "her work to create an ecosystem of entrepreneurship and social innovation for scientists, technologists and engineers in the Middle East and beyond, her efforts to bring the youth closer to innovators and her dedication to the ideals and aims of the organization," U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said Monday in a release.

As a goodwill ambassador, Sindi will support science education, especially encouraging more girls to study science disciplines, and support the visibility of UNESCO's natural sciences programs, particularly life science education.

Sindi was a key contributor to medical testing at or near the site of patient care, specifically designed for people who do not have access to hospitals and medical facilities, UNESCO said. The agency noted that Sindi invented a biochemical sensor with thermo-elastic probes and developed the Magnetic Acoustic Resonance Sensor.