Kids fall in love with science at the Expo 2020 Dubai

DUBAI: Expo 2020 is bursting with events and activities to immerse future generations in the sciences and inspire them to become the innovators and change-makers needed for a brighter future for us all. With less than two months to go until doors close on March 31, be sure to make the most of this wealth of learning opportunities.

Take the Dubai Cares Pavilion, found in Expo’s Opportunity District, where kids of all ages can dive into a full-circle learning experience that focuses on the future of work – to understand what lies ahead and how we are preparing future generations for increased disruption and adaptability.

Entertaining and surprising hands-on digital experiences await at the Germany Pavilion, blending creative environmental ideas with real-life results, with the Russia Pavilion teaching about the science of the brain – delving into some of the most important discoveries of the 12th century, and their transformative impacts on our lives.

Curious future scientists can also head to the Slovak Republic Pavilion, home to playful exhibitions, holographic communications and the country’s first hydrogen-powered car – not to mention a space robot and flight simulators.

Those interested in the future of aviation need look no further than the Emirates Pavilion, which showcases advances in engine propulsion, thrust and fuel economy for next-gen aircraft. Here, visitors can design their own aircraft – combining cutting-edge biometric tech and personal preferences for wings, fuselage and engines to create the aircraft of tomorrow.

Elsewhere, Alif – The Mobility Pavilion takes visitors on a voyage through time and space to discover how people, goods, ideas and data are interacting in ever more complex ways, including the virtual world of the 21^st century – brimming with data – to the city of the future that offers a glimpse of how mobility could evolve in the years and decades to come.

A visitor journey, containing a selection of key science- and technology-focused stops across Expo 2020, can be found here.

Interested in programming? Eight to 14-year-olds can also get first-hand experience building their own robots at the Mobility Pavilion. Meeting at1000 in the retail zone every Saturday and Sunday morning, each session lasts 90 minutes. Budding programmers are encouraged to arrive early, with spots given on a first-come, first-served basis.

Be one of tomorrow’s female coding stars at the Australia Pavilion on February 12, and sign up for one of three one-day coding camps, facilitated by social enterprise Code Like a Girl, which provides girls and women with the confidence, tools, knowledge and support to flourish in the world of coding.

Elsewhere across Expo, catch one of the three ‘Mad Lab’ scientists, or ‘edutainers’, as they perform eye-popping scientific demonstrations – daily from different spots across the site – that defy logic, and delight passers-by young and old.

And don’t forget the 150-plus programmable robots across the site, deployed by Terminus Group, the World Expo’s Official Robotics Partner. Fitted with features such as multi-touch displays, 5G network capability, AI-driven object mapping and object detection, these robots – with one of Expo’s mascots, Opti, proving particularly popular with children – are performing a variety of tasks, such as greeting visitors, performing in special displays, and providing visitor assistance, as well as helping with food and beverage delivery and hospitality services.

Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science focuses on the reality that science and gender equality are both vital to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, of which the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a key part. 

With this in mind, Expo 2020 also hosted a dedicated event recently, co-curated with the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MOIAT), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). Held at Expo’s Nexus for People and Planet from 1400-1800, the event will celebrate the contributions and achievements of women in science and technology, and encourage the next generation of young women and girls to pursue careers in the field.

It also features a 40-minute interactive workshop, ‘Studio Learning: Decoding Coding’, led by Accenture, Official Digital Services Partner of Expo 2020. Set to break down the fundamentals of coding, the session – aimed at high school seniors, undergraduates and young professionals – will demystify programming for attendees looking to learn something new. No prior experience is needed, but a phone and a sense of curiosity is certainly required.

Source: Expo 2020 Website