The second Abu Dhabi Science Festival has surpassed the success of 2011’s inaugural event. With the numbers of parents, students and teachers up on last year, the Festival is now firmly established as a major annual community event and one that is integral to Abu Dhabi’s efforts in building a knowledge-based economy.

The 11-day Festival attracted more than 120,000 visitors, an increase of 20 per cent on 2011. Over 20,000 students from 224 schools attended through organized tours coordinated with the Abu Dhabi Education Council, up 33 per cent on last year. The number of science communicators (local students trained to deliver activities at the Festival) also increased by 60 per cent on 2011. In addition to the two sites in Abu Dhabi, the Festival also reached out further to the community through events in Al Ain and Al Gharbia. The number of followers on social media also witnessed a great increase and reached 22,000.

Held under the patronage of H.H. General Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Abu Dhabi Science Festival is a strategic initiative by the Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee (TDC) dedicated to the engagement and inspiration of the nation’s youth with exciting science related hands-on activities as part of a wider plan geared towards building a talent base in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).

H.E. Ahmed Saeed Al Calily, Director General of TDC, emphasized the importance of the Festival, saying: “Science and technology are at the heart of our country’s vision to develop a knowledge-based economy. This year’s Festival has reached out to more people throughout the Emirate than ever before. The increase in visitor numbers this year and especially in student numbers is a clear indication that Abu Dhabi Science Festival is relevant to this important segment. Our aim is to embed the importance of Science and Technology in the minds of future generations.”

As a sign of how the Festival is enthusing local children, Nouf Al Marzouqi, a 10-year old student who visited the Festival during the school tour program glowed with confidence saying, “I definitely want to be a surgeon. We learned how to use keyhole surgery to save people’s lives and make them feel better. I will study hard to become a successful surgeon when I grow up; this is what I want to do and to do it for my country.”

Mona Al Sheikh, a 14-year old fascinated by the ‘Robotics and Electronics’ theme across the Festival added, “Maths is my favourite subject but now I wish to learn more about the technology that makes things move. I loved the Lego Robosports workshop where I programmed my own robot! I want to invent the most useful robot ever!”

Collaboration with some of the leading Universities in the UAE was a particular accomplishment; 800 university students recruited and trained as science communicators, many returning from the previous year, were a key factor in the Festival’s success. Mr. Al Calily praised the young men and women for their work at the Festival, adding that: “the program has helped students acquire invaluable skills in communication and leadership enabling them to pursue their aspirations with greater confidence.”

One such science communicator is Ibrahim Al Rashidi who commented: “After attending the program in 2011, I was proud to join the Science Communicator Alumni this year and return to the Festival. We really had a superb training, giving us career-enhancing skills, but the real joy is bringing wonder and inspiration to the children as they learn hands-on about science, exploring and experimenting.”

Engagement with the wider community was a particular focus of this year’s Festival. This was facilitated through a series of outreach initiatives: A school tour by the two mascots of the Festival, ‘Hamad’ and ‘Fatema’, touring schools prior to the Festival promoting it to pupils and teachers. Organized school tours from 224 schools brought students in daily with 450 teachers having received training and access to online resources to maximize success. Shopping mall activities, where a daily show played at four malls spread over the Emirate, brought the delight of science to members of the public who could have missed the school initiatives.

Mr. Al Calily also emphasized his determination to continue moving forward: “This year’s success is motivating, but we are engaged in a long-term project to build our nation’s future human capital. Planning has already started to ensure we deliver an even better Festival next year.”

Mr. Al Calily also praised the Festival partners: “The contributions of our partners has been fundamental to the Festival’s success. I want to see the Festival broadening its base of local partners, helping it further the engagement of our community across the Emirates.”

The Abu Dhabi Science Festival is organized by TDC in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Education Council as Education Partner, Edinburgh International Science Festival as Programming Partner, Tawazun as Presenting Sponsor, Dolphin Energy as Main Sponsor; in affiliation with ADNOC, Etihad Airways, Total and Masdar; and produced by Flash Entertainment.

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