UAE students get experimental with five-day Sharjah Science Carnival

Sharjah Museums Department partners with Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program to foster scientific innovation.  

SHARJAH, April 20, 2016: Students in Sharjah buttoned up their lab coats and fired up their Bunsen burners for a carnival of science organized by Sharjah Science Museum.

The Sharjah Science Carnival is taking place from April 17-21 at various locations in Sharjah, including schools, the Sharjah Science Museum, and the Maktaba at Al Qasba.

Students are conducting a wide range of experiments that encourage them to be the UAE’s future innovators and scientists. These include using solar energy, testing hydrogen powered vehicles, experimenting with acid and base compounds, and studying parts of the anatomy including the brain, lungs and heart.

The week-long roadshow is a collaboration between Sharjah Museums Department and the Mohammed bin Rashid Smart Learning Program. The program is a nationwide initiative that has been instrumental in transforming the UAE’s education system. It offers a new mode of teaching through the integration of technology in classrooms, while meeting the best international standards.

Manal Ataya, Director General of Sharjah Museums Department, said: “The aim of the Science Carnival is to present science in an engaging way that encourages students to see the fun side of physics, chemistry and biology.

“We are very pleased to be partnering with the Mohammed bin Rashid Smart Learning Program to make science come alive for students in locations all over Sharjah. This event is part of our objective of taking the incredible learning experiences in our museums out into the wider community.”

The carnival kicked off on Sunday at Fatima Al Zahraa High School for Girls in the Al Garaen area of Sharjah. The students tried out a range of interactive experiments that taught them about science in a fun and engaging way.

The list of activities included experiments in physics and chemistry, such as using liquid nitrogen to make ice cream, discovering why popcorn pops, and the scientific idea behind cotton candy floss.

The roadshow then moved to Al Manar School at Sharjah, where students got to grips with the full range of physics, chemistry and biology activities.

H.E. Mohammed Gheyath, Director General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Programme, said: “education is a key facilitator that will drive the 2021 Vision, with knowledge integration in science, technology and other subjects playing an instrumental role in producing a generation that is ready to compete in the global marketplace. Since the start of our strategic partnership with Sharjah Museums Department, we have witnessed a wave of opportunities to support each other’s educational missions and help our students explore new skills through physical and mental interactions. We hope to create an educational network for our students fosters interactive both learning and teaching - Sharjah Science Carnival does just that.”

The Sharjah Science Carnival of part of SMD’s aim to engage with the wider community through a series of reach out programs including school visits, environmental clean-up operations, and initiatives that benefit people with disabilities.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Smart Learning Program was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in April 2012. The initiative is aligned with UAE Vision 2021 to become a knowledge-based economy through the integration of technology in education. Through the Program, the UAE is investing heavily to bring the latest technology to schools, and encouraging the development of creativity, analytical thinking and innovation.