Suhad Bahajri
Encyclopedia
Suhad Bahajri Alkendy is a Saudi chemist, the first female chemist in Saudi Arabia
. She also the first Saudi woman to win an international award in London
.
. In the secondary school certificate exam in 1970 she was rated as the fifth student in the Kingdom. She obtained advanced degrees in English and mathematics Morten Hall School in 1971, and a certificate in English from the University of Oxford
. Next she attended the University of Wales
, and graduated with a bachelor degree in biochemistry
in 1975. She then obtained a doctorate
in clinical biochemistry from the same university, with her thesis "The Nucleic Acid Enzymes in Blood Serum During Pregnancy".
, which was called Fouad I University at that time. When she began her study in Britain for biochemistry her professor of chemistry encouraged her to study this major.
in London
, one of the world's most prestigious universities. She discussed the results of this study in Spain
and she was honored with her scientific team.
Another research topic was a study of the effects of chlorine on the residents of the city of Jeddah
, a study of the causes of obesity in Saudi society, and the impact of food on the health of the local community.
In 2002 she was awarded a prize for the best summary of a joint research with King's College, and presented her research at the Global Conference on Health and Nutrition in London.
Bahajri participated in a world conference that was attended by about fifty world experts from the highest levels with attendees from the United States
, Belgium
, Denmark
, Germany
, Britain
, Sweden
and others. Dr. Bahajri was the only Arabian participant.
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. She also the first Saudi woman to win an international award in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Early life
Bahajri's genius was apparent from a young age. She was in the Scientific Section at school in JeddahJeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
. In the secondary school certificate exam in 1970 she was rated as the fifth student in the Kingdom. She obtained advanced degrees in English and mathematics Morten Hall School in 1971, and a certificate in English from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. Next she attended the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
, and graduated with a bachelor degree in biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
in 1975. She then obtained a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in clinical biochemistry from the same university, with her thesis "The Nucleic Acid Enzymes in Blood Serum During Pregnancy".
Entering the field of chemistry
Her father was the first chemist in Saudi Arabia. He graduated from Cairo UniversityCairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
, which was called Fouad I University at that time. When she began her study in Britain for biochemistry her professor of chemistry encouraged her to study this major.
Achievements
During the two and a half years she conducted scientific research in the field of nutrition at the King Fahad scientific research laboratory, she studied the influence of chromium in pregnant women through studies on mice. She discovered that treatment with chromium led to a reduction in blood sugar levels to within normal limits for pregnant women, thereby reducing the required daily doses of insulin. This research was approved and registered in King's CollegeKing's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, one of the world's most prestigious universities. She discussed the results of this study in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and she was honored with her scientific team.
Another research topic was a study of the effects of chlorine on the residents of the city of Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
, a study of the causes of obesity in Saudi society, and the impact of food on the health of the local community.
In 2002 she was awarded a prize for the best summary of a joint research with King's College, and presented her research at the Global Conference on Health and Nutrition in London.
Bahajri participated in a world conference that was attended by about fifty world experts from the highest levels with attendees from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and others. Dr. Bahajri was the only Arabian participant.