Abu Dhabi, UAE: The 2015 Abu Dhabi Science Festival (ADSF) was officially launched today by HE Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, accompanied by HE Hussain Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, HE Dr. Amal Al-Qubaisi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Education Council and HE Dr Mugheer khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of Health Authority, HE Ahmed Saeed Al Calily, Director General of Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee, Rt. Hon. Donald Wilson, Lord Lieutenant and Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, HE Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, HE Rashid Lahej Al Mansoori, Director General, Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Center.
During his tour, HE Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan commented: “ADSF is the largest event of its kind in the region and is now an internationally renowned event. International and local government and private entities have worked together for ADSF to encourage our students to think innovatively across a range of areas including environment, space and marine sciences, among many others. The programme of events has been carefully designed to provide tangible and engaging content, which enlightens the senses, opens the mind and helps children learn practical skills they can use in the future.
We thank HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for his continuous support of the education sector and his commitment to ensuring that UAE youth are equipped with the necessary skills to become leaders of the future.
We all have a role to play in encouraging our youth to innovate. As announced by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, this is the year of innovation and we need to focus on research and innovation across all industries in the country to achieve our goals. These goals continue the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who built the UAE on a solid base of development, setting a precedent for future progress.
We thank the Abu Dhabi Education Council and the Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee organizing this festival that will help us create an innovative generation of the future. We also thank the Edinburgh International Science Festival (EISF) for their cooperation and expertise, which have proved invaluable in helping us to deliver the festival to the very highest international standards.
Her Excellency Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, Director General of ADEC, praised the ongoing support received by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of ADEC, for stressing on the important role science related subjects play in contributing to the development of the educational system. She emphasized that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects enhance the culture of creativity and innovation, while refining and improving skills and talents of students as per the Abu Dhabi 2030 vision to develop a knowledge based economy.
During the event, ADEC’s Director General thanked Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, for inaugurating the important event which highlights the importance of exposing youth to different innovative science and cultural programs and activities, which comes in line with ADEC’s strategic plan to graduate a competent and well prepared workforce of knowledgeable students.
“ADEC is keen on encouraging students to take part in STEM related fields that help promote innovation, research and a sustainable education environment. The ADSF is part of ADEC’s key initiatives to encourage students to experiment, investigate and explore through workshops and attractive presentations that are tailor-made for different age groups. ADEC and TDC have organized this event to allow students to become acquainted with different science subjects and knowledge, and take part in innovative experiments and activities,” emphasized Her Excellency.
The award-winning ADSF 2015 is a unique event organized by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) and the Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee (TDC). Taking place until 22nd November, the 11-day science extravaganza opened to a full capacity audience on launch day at a new location within Mushrif Central Park. Designed to excite and inspire young minds across the UAE in the wondrous world of science, ADSF features breathtaking experiments, exhilarating attractions and spectacular shows. Offering a dynamic mix of family-friendly fun, visitors can also enjoy the action at partner location Al Ain Zoo, which will host special shows all through the festival period.
Merging science with entertainment, activities at ADSF cover a variety of topics: from the human body and the natural world to creative technology and space science – all delivered through interactive exhibits, fun workshops and spectacular shows. Bringing back popular workshops from previous years and offering engaging new experiences, the festival is set to excite youth from across the Emirates with an eclectic choice of science activities; from locally inspired exhibits to an amazing variety of international entertainment. Local content makes up 40% of the programme offering with these activities specifically tailored to the interests of UAE audiences.
H.E. Ahmed Saeed Al Calily, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee said: “Developing a well-equipped talent base is a key building block in creating a knowledge-based economy, with science and technology education crucial to ensuring a forward thinking, innovation focused society. Through informal education initiatives such as the Abu Dhabi Science Festival, the government aims to ignite a passion within our children towards science, technology and innovation from an early age. By sparking their interest now, we will encourage them to pursue educational paths and consequently, careers within these related sectors.
He added: “To date, the Festival has engaged thousands of children and families and the event’s steady growth year on year demonstrates the appetite amongst our children to explore and engage with science and technology. Through our partnership with the Abu Dhabi Education Council and our distinguished industry and academic partners, we are able to jointly nurture a passion for science that will blossom into career aspirations for our future scientists, doctors, engineers and innovators.”
The Festival content will be delivered by over 700 ‘Science Communicators’ who have been recruited from Higher Education Institutions around the UAE. Trained by world-class experts, the Science Communicators will bring science to life in a way that excites and engages the next generation of scientists. The festival achieves wide family engagement and is ideal for children visiting with their families or as part of organized school visits. Facilitated in collaboration with ADEC, school visits will take place throughout the duration of ADSF with 6000 students expected to attend.
TDC has partnered with leading brands from around the UAE including Tawazun and Dolphin Energy. Local companies providing a rich variety of content for the festival include Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC), Abu Dhabi New York University, Emirates Foundation, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Family Development Foundation, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, Total Academy, Bidaya Media, Abu Dhabi Astronomy, Yas Marina Circuit, the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Mad Science, Nutty Scientists, Edutech, Handasa, and ZerOhm.
H.E. Saif Mohammed Al Hajeri, CEO of Tawazun, the presenting sponsor of ADSF said: “We are pleased to continue supporting the 5th edition of the Abu Dhabi Science Festival. The event has brought the learning experience of technology and engineering to the UAE youth, moreover, it has contributed in building a robust science base in the country”. He added: “We are looking forward to take part in the success of the event which inspires annually thousands of young people, parents and teachers who visit this dynamic festival.”
Commenting on Dolphin Energy’s involvement as Gold Sponsor, Mr Adel Ahmed Albuainain, CEO, Dolphin Energy Limited, said: “We are very excited about this year’s programme and delighted to be involved in the Abu Dhabi Science Festival for the fifth year running. Our activation programme is designed to offer learning in a fun, exciting and engaging manner so that youths across the UAE are encouraged to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering and maths.”
The fifth edition of ADSF is organized by Abu Dhabi Education Council and the Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee in partnership with Tawazun as “Presenting sponsor”, Dolphin Energy as “Gold Sponsor”, ADNOC and Etihad Airways as “Affiliate Sponsors”, Abu Dhabi Media Company as “Exclusive Media Partner” and the Edinburgh International Science Festival (EISF) as “Programming Partner”, with the Festival produced by Flash Entertainment.
For more information and to book spaces at the various workshops taking place at the festival, please visit the official festival website www.abudhabisciencefestival.ae and join our social media platforms in Instagram and Twitter: @adsciencefest and in Facebook: Abu Dhabi Science Festival.
© Press Release 2015