From mcclatchydc.com:
NABLUS, West Bank — When Palestinian teenager Aseel Abu Leil looked around her hometown of Nablus for inspiration for the world’s largest science fair, she couldn’t help but note the obvious.
“We are not known for peaceful science here,” the 14-year-old said.
Nablus, which was a flash point for violence during the first and second Palestinian uprisings, was later identified by Israel as the hub for the production of rockets and suicide bomber vests.
“I didn’t look outside, I looked home,” Aseel said. That’s where she noticed some of the logistical problems that her blind aunt faced.
Along with classmates Aseel Sha’ar and Nour El Arda, she invented an obstacle-detecting walking stick. They entered the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair alongside 6 million global contestants, and were chosen to be among 1,500 finalists to attend the world’s largest science fair next month in San Jose, Calif. Link to article…