Abu Dhabi: It may be a science festival, and as its name suggests, creating interest in scientific fields of study is its primary goal. But the slew of activities being organised as part of the Abu Dhabi Science Festival 2012 is also working wonders to inspire young minds across the emirate.

While schoolchildren from remote areas in Al Ain and Al Gharbia (Western Region) are being exposed to careers they have never thought of, university students who are working to convey concepts to young children at the event are also gaining valuable professional skills.

“The children in our charge are rarely exposed to very dynamic careers, especially as they live in the Western Region. As a result, most of them do not even think of doing something beyond the usual. But coming here to the festival and having other young Emiratis explain scientific concepts to them has really stirred up their aspirations,” Nick Dicarolis told Gulf News.

Dicarolis is a social studies teacher at The Glenelg School in the Western Region town of Madinat Zayed. He was accompanying a group of nearly 30 schoolchildren to the science festival’s main venue in Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

“My group has already participated in a workshop where they have studied a real cow’s heart, and separated the components of blood in a mock blood laboratory,” Dicarolis said.

“More than any of the festival activities however, the pupils, 99 per cent of whom are Emirati, are really inspired by the Emirati university students who are working as Science Communicators at the festival. For them, these Science Communicators represent fields and achievements they can aspire to,” he added.

“The most important thing I learnt today was that there is hope. If only we work hard, there is so much we can achieve using science,” said No’man Satti, a 13-year-old Pakistani pupil who visited the festival as part of a group from the Emirates Private School in Al Ain.

Such inspiration is one of the primary targets of the Abu Dhabi Science Festival, which was first launched in 2011 by the Technology Development Committee, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec).

“The festival allows children to move away from traditional education and develop practical analysis, creative and problem solving skills. These, in turn, build leadership skills among today’s generations that will help develop our economy further,” Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, director-general of Adec, said earlier at a conference to announce the 2012 festival.

When asked, Science Communicators at the festival also said the event has been greatly beneficial for them.

“This is my first time working here, and my communication skills have actually improved while teaching children how to build a model hydrogen-powered car. In fact, I am actually speaking much more fluently in English,” said Abdullah Al Hamad, a 20-year-old Emirati student at the Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi.

The festival runs at various venues across the emirate until October 20, including the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi Corniche, Al Wahda Mall and Mushrif Mall in Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain Mall in Al Ain and City Mall in Al Gharbia (Western Region).

It is being held under the patronage of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.