Sirin Hamsho facts for kids

Serene Hamsho (Arabic: سيرين حمشو), also known as Sirin Hamsho, was born in Hama, Syria in 1986. She is a talented Syrian engineer and inventor who specializes in renewable energy. Serene is especially known for her important work in the field of wind energy.

Her achievements were recognized by the BBC's 100 Women list in 2016. She was also featured in the final event of the program's international edit-a-thon that year. Besides her engineering work, Serene Hamsho is also a TV presenter and a well-known media personality. She hosted her own show on Iqraa TV in 2010. She also gained public attention with her short film "Immigration" in 2015 and more recently with "The First Message."

Serene Hamsho's Educational Journey and Career

Serene Hamsho has an impressive educational background. She earned a bachelor's degree in electronic engineering from the University of Kalamoon in Syria in 2008. Later, she received a master's degree (MSc) in the management of renewable energy from the University of Versailles in France. In 2017, she continued her advanced professional education at the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Working with Wind Turbines

In 2012, Serene Hamsho joined General Electric in Schenectady, New York. There, she works as a Wind Turbine Electrical Design Engineer. This means she helps design the electrical parts of large wind turbines that create clean energy.

Studying Engineering and Law

It's interesting to know that besides her degree in electronic engineering, Serene also holds a bachelor's degree in Islamic law from Damascus University in Syria. She is also involved in several important groups. She is a board member of the Al-Andaluse Islamic Studies Center in Syria. She also works as a consultant at the Center of Women of Faith and Leadership at IGE in Washington D.C. Additionally, she is a board member of New York Interfaith for Power and Light.

An Inspiring Invention Idea

Serene Hamsho once worked on an invention to protect the electrical parts inside a wind turbine. She noticed that these parts could get damaged because of the constant movement of the turbine. This made her want to find a way to keep them safe.

She explained in an interview that she thought of a design to solve this problem. However, the prototype (an early model) of her invention was not continued. This was because she couldn't respond to an "office action," which is a request for more information from the patent office. Even though her patent idea wasn't fully developed, Serene Hamsho is seen as an inspiring Arab woman. She showed great determination and creativity during a challenging time in her home country.

Awards and Recognition

Serene Hamsho has received several awards for her work and leadership. In 2018, she was honored with the IEEE Women in Engineering award for "Women in Leadership." The same year, the Arabs Americans Association of Engineers and Architects gave her an honorary award.

Serene's Personal Life

Serene Hamsho is married to Omar Al Assad, who is a French scientist and also an engineer educated at MIT. They have two daughters and live in Schenectady, New York.

Serene holds citizenship in both France and Syria. In early 2017, she faced a personal challenge when a temporary travel rule was put in place in the United States. While she was in Qatar with her children, she was unable to return home to the U.S. for a period. She was able to come back to the United States on February 26, 2017.