The Ministry of Education (MoE) yesterday announced the winners in
the ‘Emirates Young Scientist Competition and the ‘Junior Innovators Challenge’
during the 4th edition of the National Science, Technology and
Innovation (NSTI) Festival 2020 held in Dubai Festival Arena. The 5-day
festival witnessed great momentum of activities and events aimed at promoting
innovation among students and at the community level.
Female students Noora Ahmed Al Zaabi, Juwairiya Haitham and Mariya
Al Balushi from Al Shifa Bint Abdullah Girls School came in the first place in
the ‘Emirates Young Scientist Competition’ thanks to their (Noora Braille)
project.
The ceremony, organized by the MoE, was attended by H.E. Jameela Al
Muhairi, Minister of State for Public Education, H.E. Dr. Thani Al-Zeyoudi,
Minister of Climate Change and Environment, H.E. Sarah Bint Yousif Al Amiri,
Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, H.E. Dr. Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi,
Assistant Undersecretary for Care and Activities Sector, and a large number of
officials, educational leaders, educationists, students and parents.
The MoE praised its strategic partners’ support, outstanding
contributions and specialized prizes given for the ‘Emirates Young Scientist
Competition’ during the NSTI Festival, noting that the MoE’s strategic partners
included Ministry of Defence, Dubai Police, Emirates Group, Ministry of Climate
Change and Environment and Area9 Lyceum.
The current edition of the ‘Emirates Young Scientist Competition’
attracted 2,472 projects submitted by 5,791 male and female students from 427
UAE government and private schools. The competition simulates multiple fields;
namely, technology, biological sciences, environment, chemistry, physics,
mathematics and social and behavioral sciences and enables students to
participate later in dedicated global scientific events as per each student’s
discipline and project submitted to the competition.
During the NSTI Festival, a student retreat was held and saw the
participation of an elite group of students as well as officials and
decision-makers from the government and private sectors. This year’s student retreat
focuses on discovering and supporting entrepreneurs while in school with the
students discussing several scientific mechanisms that would enable the
authorities concerned to discover students who are brilliant in
entrepreneurship and launch effective initiatives that would create a school
environment that fosters and stimulates entrepreneurship.
The festival also featured a scientific conference, which served as
a vital platform for exchanging ideas and sharing experiences. The conference
displayed success stories and provided an opportunity for inspiring and
motivating students by a group of UAE ministers, Emirati dignitaries and
international speakers, who highlighted various topics on the conference
agenda. The scientific conference was held in the first 3 days of the festival.
The festival offered 34 prizes, 18 of which were cash prizes
offered by the MoE, 8 dedicated prizes offered by several entities
participating in the festival, 3 prizes for the participants in the ‘Junior
Innovators Challenge’ and 4 prizes for the best teacher in each category of the
‘Emirates Young Scientist Competition’. A dedicated prize was also offered to
the best participating school, bringing to AED326,000 the total cash prizes.
09/02/2020
