The 10th edition of the Abu Dhabi Science Festival (ADSF) opened today at its three locations of A’l Bahar on Abu Dhabi Corniche, Al Jahili Park in Al Ain, and City Mall in Al Dhafra. Organised by the Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), the 10-day festival heralds the official launch of UAE Innovation Month.
During the first week of February, and in collaboration with the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation in the Prime Minister’s Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, ADEK is also coordinating the UAE Innovation Month activities organized by Abu Dhabi Government entities in the capital. These activities showcase and promote cutting-edge initiatives implemented by government, academic and private sector institutions, as well as strengthen the UAE’s position as an international centre of innovation.
The Abu Dhabi Science Festival is one of the most significant science events in the region, and this year it completes 10 years of success, inspiration, innovation, and creativity. Over the years, ADSF has played a pivotal role in building local capabilities to deliver STEAM subjects using innovative methods. Today, around 50% of the content offered by the festival is locally generated by various stakeholders within Abu Dhabi.
In line with the aspirations of the Abu Dhabi Plan, the UAE National Innovation Strategy, and UAE Centennial 2071, ADEK ensures the future-readiness of learners by equipping them with the necessary 21st century skills to meet Abu Dhabi’s current and future needs.
Over 10 days, Festival visitors will have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of unique interactive workshops, including Defying Gravity, Scientists’ Lab, Mission to Mars, Einstein Show, All Aboard the STEAM Train!, Energy Lab, Smart Abu Dhabi, Dig Up a Dinosaur, Power it Up, and many other interactive workshops that aim to educate and motivate the younger generations, strengthening their passion for science, and upgrading their skills in an engaging environment.
More than 80 young innovators from across the UAE are expected to present their projects, and 20 signature innovations will be showcased in Abu Dhabi.
In addition, 75 workshops and scientific activities will be organised in the capital with over 19,000 students expected to attend. At Al Jahili Park in Al Ain, over 8,000 students will be participating in 22 interactive workshops while close to 1,500 students will take part in five interactive workshops in Al Dhafra City Mall. Overall, at least 120,000 visitors and 28,000 students are expected to attend the Festival’s captivating events.
ADSF aims to motivate today’s students to expand their learning experiences, encouraging them to showcase their creativity and innovation while preparing them to become future leaders, as the festival offers an array of rich educational experiences in an exciting atmosphere that sparks students interest in specializations within Abu Dhabi’s strategic sectors.
The Festival opening was attended by H.E. Sara Musallam, Chairperson of ADEK, H.E. Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Member of the Executive Council and Chairman of Department of Community Development, H.E. Amer Al Hammadi, Acting Undersecretary at ADEK, H.E. Salama Al Ameemi, Director General, Ma’an Authority for Social Contribution, Shatha Al Hashimi, Director of the Mohammad bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, Mr. Obaid Al Dhaheri, Dolphin Energy CEO, representatives of various Abu Dhabi Government Entities and the media.
Speaking at the grand opening, H.E. Sara Musallam, ADEK Chairperson, affirmed: “2020 is a very exciting year for the UAE. As we prepare for the next 50 years, we are delighted to be kick-starting UAE Innovation Month in the capital. This year, the Abu Dhabi Science Festival celebrates a decade of success, during which it has inspired young minds, supported them to realize their aspirations and captured the imagination of the nation, thus, contributing to the development of human capital in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. We look forward to welcoming students, their families and the general public to enjoy the festival.”
Commenting on Dolphin Energy’s involvement in this year’s event, Mr. Obaid Al Dhaheri, CEO, of Dolphin Energy Limited, said: “Over the past 10 years, ADSF has invested tremendously in providing the means to nurture creativity in children and the youth, and promote their development to become future scientists and engineers. We are proud to have been sponsoring this festival for a decade in an effort to inspire thousands of visitors to support Abu Dhabi’s ambitions to become a world class centre for science, technology and innovation.”
ADSF also hosts a number of strategic initiatives that are aligned with its innovative learning environment. The most important of these initiatives are: ‘INNOVATOR 2020’, which is an annual event to award innovators in the UAE, ‘Rize Enrichment Programs’ that work on developing students’ existing skills and developing new ones in STEAM subjects, and the ‘Lema?’ interactive program for schools, which inspires students and ignites their passion for STEM.
The Abu Dhabi Science Festival runs until the 8th of February and is open for school students from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and then for the public from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm on weekdays, and from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm at weekends.
