ABU DHABI // Children will have the chance to help solve a crime, work in a blood lab and watch scientific experiments when the Abu Dhabi Science Festival returns in November.
Organised by the Technology Development Committee (TDC) and the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), the festival aims to spark passion in science through games, shows and interactive displays.
Organisers say it is going to be bigger and better than before, with the 10-day event, which will run from November 14 until November 23, moving premises to the du Forum on Yas Island.
Activities will also be held on the Corniche, while a regional roadshow will see the festival’s science activities in Al Ain, Al Gharbia, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain.
“Now in its third edition, the Abu Dhabi Science Festival is pushing farther towards realising its aims of instilling a passion for science and technology within our youth,” said TDC director general, Ahmed Al Calily.
“The continued success of the festival is testament to the need of such activities that deliver great science content in a fun and accessible way.”
Visitors will have dozens of activities and exhibitions to pick.
This year, new attractions include signature shows such as MTV’s Crazy Lab, the Zapata Flyboard Show and balloon sculptor Jason Hackenwerth.
To accommodate new attractions, a space at the du Forum has been created called Launch Pad, where festival partners can show their work, ideas and concepts to visitors in an informal way.
In addition, popular workshops will be returning with refreshed content, offering youngsters a chance to unwrap an Egyptian mummy, experiment with a blood lab or go behind the scenes to analyse evidence and solve the mystery in a crime scene investigation workshop.
Ibrahim Al Ansaari, general manager of Dolphin Energy, the gold sponsor of the event, said: “As we enter the third year of our sponsorship of the festival, we are delighted to endorse an event which has overwhelmingly demonstrated the importance of engaging the emirate’s youth in science, technology and innovation [STI].
“These three areas are critical to our operations and our support not only highlights the value we place on STI but also helps us to engage and inspire the young so that we can encourage them to consider future careers as engineers.”
The inaugural festival in 2011 attracted 100,000 people, with 20,000 more visiting the following year.
This year, festival organisers anticipate more than 150,000 school and university students, teachers and parents will visit the event.
“As part of the Abu Dhabi 2030 vision, it is vital to become familiar with science and technology in order to fit into a globally competitive market environment,” said Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, the director general of Adec.
“During the 2012/2013 academic school year 10,861 students across private and public schools in the emirate of Abu Dhabi entered the science stream, and with events like the science festival more students will be encouraged to take up science subjects.”
"As part of the new school model, science promotes theory and application, while encouraging students to become independent thinkers."
“Students enjoy the subject rather than memorise it.”
Organisers say more than two thirds of the event will differ from previous years to maintain interest.
The festival will open daily between 3.30pm and 8.30pm on weekdays and 12 noon until 9pm on weekends.
A full list of shows, exhibits and workshops can be found at www.abudhabisciencefestival.ae.
jbell@thenational.ae
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Fanney Khan
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Rating: 2/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Race 3
Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars
THE BIO
BIO:
Born in RAK on December 9, 1983
Lives in Abu Dhabi with her family
She graduated from Emirates University in 2007 with a BA in architectural engineering
Her motto in life is her grandmother’s saying “That who created you will not have you get lost”
Her ambition is to spread UAE’s culture of love and acceptance through serving coffee, the country’s traditional coffee in particular.
German intelligence warnings
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- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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New schools in Dubai
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
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- The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
- It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
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- Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012.
- Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
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Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
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----
Seren Gough-Walters (Sharjah Wanderers mini, Wales rugby league international)
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Erin King (Dubai Hurricanes mini, Ireland sevens international)
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THE DETAILS
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Price, base: Dh1.2 million
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Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
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Torque: 900Nm @ 1,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.3L / 100km (estimate)
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
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PRISCILLA
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RESULTS
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: Najem Al Rwasi, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)
2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
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4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m
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'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
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- Sheryll Murray
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