ABU DHABI // It was hard to work out which of the 42 workshops was most popular at this year’s Abu Dhabi Science Festival on the Corniche.
“They’re all at capacity,” said Dr Linda Silver, the festival’s associate director of content. “They’re all popular.”
Attendance figures for the festival’s opening weekend weren’t immediately available on Saturday, but if the dense crowds pouring into the beachfront grounds were any indication, the number of participants this year could well beat last year’s record of 150,000 people.
“All I can say is it feels busier,” said Dr Silver. “We were at absolute capacity yesterday, all workshops and shows were totally sold out here and at Sharjah and Al Ain. So, it’s good that we have the Science Village because that’s all drop-by. All the activities in there you just drop in and out of. It’s essentially helping with the overflow.”
The Science Village on the Corniche houses workshops are sponsored by local companies and, like many of the interactive challenges at the science festival, they are hands-on and invite children to get their hands dirty and experiment with the elements of science.
In the Thixotropic Liquids workshop, for example, the children scientists learnt how a liquid — cornstarch mixed with water — can temporarily act as a solid when under pressure. To prove the point, the children happily pounded trays of the gooey cornstarch.
“We’re trying to make them see how it’s easy to make something fun from science,” said Mohamed Al Messabi, 18, an Emirati who is volunteering at the festival as a science communicator. “They’re playing, they’re having fun and they’re learning. When they realise that science is fun, they can concentrate on their studies more.”
Unlike the regular science festival workshops that require pre-booking, children can just show up for the Science Village activities without having to sign up in advance. Also, many invite the parents’ participation.
In My Green Home, parents and children work together in 15-minute increments to build a smart house out of cardboard and sensors to learn about solar technology, said Mohammed Al Zaabi, the chief executive of Zeroohm, which sponsored the activity.
The 25-year-old Emirati said he loved science when he was growing up and wants to help promote that same sense of wonder and curiosity he felt as a child in other children.
“I love science, I love maths and I love physics,” said Mr Al Zaabi. “Science, if you don’t understand it, it will be like magic for them. Once you know the concept behind it, you will be amazed.
In-between workshops, younger children lined up at the Water Light Graffiti exhibit where they used wet paint brushes to light up white LED bulbs on a black board.
Dr Silver said: “At night, you can imagine how it pops. Essentially, they’re using water to paint. It’s art and science together. It’s a little bit of the technology but we love the idea of being able to show creativity with it as well.”
Eleven-year-old Emirati Ragad Al Durra said she was impressed with this year’s line-up of activities.
“I really like it because it has so many stuff that I didn’t know and I learnt about it a lot,” said Ragad. “I came here to learn more stuff and I liked it a lot, so thumbs up for it.”
The festival continues until November 22.
rpennington@thenational.ae
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
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Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
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UAE WARRIORS RESULTS
Featherweight
Azouz Anwar (EGY) beat Marcelo Pontes (BRA)
TKO round 2
Catchweight 90kg
Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) beat Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)
Split points decision
Welterweight
Gimbat Ismailov (RUS) beat Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR)
TKO round 1
Flyweight (women)
Lucie Bertaud (FRA) beat Kelig Pinson (BEL)
Unanimous points decision
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) beat Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)
TKO round 1
Catchweight 100kg
Marc Vleiger (NED) beat Mohamed Ali (EGY)
Rear neck choke round 1
Featherweight
James Bishop (NZ) beat Mark Valerio (PHI)
TKO round 2
Welterweight
Abdelghani Saber (EGY) beat Gerson Carvalho (BRA)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) beat Igor Litoshik (BLR)
Unanimous points decision
Bantamweight
Fabio Mello (BRA) beat Mark Alcoba (PHI)
Unanimous points decision
Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magomedsultanov (RUS)
TKO round 1
Bantamweight
Trent Girdham (AUS) beat Jayson Margallo (PHI)
TKO round 3
Lightweight
Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) beat Roman Golovinov (UKR)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Steve Kennedy (AUS)
Submission round 2
Lightweight
Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)
TKO round 2
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
HAJJAN
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
