Dr Mohammed Al Ahbabi, director general of the UAE Space Agency, presents Alia Al Mansoori, from the Al Mawakeb school in Dubai, with her award as the winner of the Genes in Space competition. Christopher Pike / The National
Alia Al Mansoori presents her project for the Genes in Space competition. Christopher Pike / The National
L-R: Khaled Al Hashmi, director of space missions for the UAE Space Agency, Laura Koot, managing editor of The National, Kevin Foley, global sales and marketing for space exploration for Boeing, and Dr Mohammed Al Ahbabi, director general of the UAE Space Agency, present Alia Al Mansoori with her award for winning the Genes in Space competition. Christopher Pike / The National
Yamazaki Naoko, a Japanese former astronaut, speaks during the final presentations for the Genes in Space competition. Christopher Pike / The National
Yamazaki Naoko speaks with the finalists during the final presentations for the Genes in Space competition in Abu Dhabi. Christopher Pike / The National
Dr Mohammed Al Ahbabi, director general of the UAE Space Agency, speaks during the finals for the Genes in Space competition. Christopher Pike / The National
Finalists Akio Shirali, Matteo Sottocornola and Wilson Huijsmans from Cranleigh School in Abu Dhabi present their project during the finals for the Genes in Space competition. Christopher Pike / The National
Yamazaki Naoko, a former astronaut, poses with the finalists of the Genes in Space competition. Christopher Pike / The National
Judge professor Luisa Cochella asks a finalist a question during the Genes in Space final presentations. Christopher Pike / The National
Winner Alia Al Mansoori stands with fellow finalists during the award ceremony for the Genes in Space competition. Christopher Pike / The National
Finalist Haneefah Badar, from Brighton College in Abu Dhabi, presents her project at the Global Space Congress in Abu Dhabi. Christopher Pike / The National
Finalists Zakaria Rahman and Nikhil Potula, from Brighton College in Al Ain, present their project at the Global Space Congress in Abu Dhabi. Christopher Pike / The National
Finalist Karun Isaac, 14, from the Gems Modern Academy in Dubai, presents his project at the Global Space Congress in Abu Dhabi. Christopher Pike / The National
An Emirati girl from Dubai who dreams of one day planting the UAE flag on Mars is the winner of the national Genes in Space competition.
› Read the full story here: Winner of Genes in Space competition hopes to plant UAE flag on Mars