Abu Dhabi: Children stared excitedly at the fire, which changed colours every time a new chemical was carefully sprinkled onto it. Nearby, a group of others played at making music, learning the science behind a turntable with ease. And all across the hall, interactive exhibits captured the interest of adults and children alike as the third edition of the Abu Dhabi Science Festival got underway in the capital.
The Festival, which is organised by the Technology Development Committee (TDC) in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), aims to create a passion for scientific fields of study among children aged between five and 15 years of age. It was inaugurated on Thursday by Shaikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court.
“[Through this Festival], we hope to engage the future scientists, engineers and innovators that live across the UAE in exciting workshops and shows designed to spark their curiosity. A number of signature new events will also enthrall them, including a show in which massive balloon sculptures are made and another in which daring flyboarders soar before visitors,” Lana Ghandour, science and technology promotion projects manager at the TDC, told Gulf News.
This year’s event is being conducted at new locations that offer more space, including the Yas Island du Forum and the Abu Dhabi Corniche’s East Plaza, and organisers said it aims to cater to 50,000 more visitors compared to 2012. For the first time, the Festival’s regional tours of exhibits and displays, which reached only out to children in Al Ain and Al Gharbia in previous years, will also travel to Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain.
On the morning of the awaited event’s first day, a number of organised school tours had already begun, and pupils from across the emirate tried their hands at various workshops. These were delivered by trained university students, known as Science Communicators.
“I had visited the Science Festival last year, and I am even more delighted this year to see that there are more workshops and displays this year. I cannot wait to try my hands at the turntables, which really helped me understand more about the science of sounds and wavelengths last year,” said Rithika Narain, a Grade 6 pupil at Brighton College in Abu Dhabi.
The enthusiastic 11-year-old added that learning Science had numerous benefits.
“I know that many children my age think that Science is a difficult subject. But even if you don’t choose to study the subject in the future, knowing about topics like health is always good. And science is invention, so learning it can help make life easier,” Narain added before she proceeded with her class to an interactive workshop.
Mohab Mohammad, a 10-year-old pupil at Ghayathi Boys’ School who had travelled to the festival from the Western Region, said he was most excited about seeing the exhibits that featured cars.
“Science is one of my favourite subjects, especially because we can experiment with so many different things. Like right now, I was surprised to learn that introducing sodium to the flame creates a gold-orange colour, while lithium turns it purple!” Mohammad said.
The ten-day festival this year is expected to see about 25,000 organised school visits from across the emirate, organisers said.
The event is open to visitors of all ages every evening until November 23.
