Fest for youngsters’ innovations

Dubai — Several UAE ministers, astronauts, budding scientists, students and families are all going to be at one place starting today — the National Science, Technology and Innovation (NSTI) Festival at the Festival Arena.

This year’s festival will also host its first Young Scientist Award, which will recognise and reward a young student for their science project. The Industrial Revolution X programme, which trains Emiratis in fourth industrial technologies, has also been launched as part of the festival, in which 78 students have already been selected to take part in.

Former Nasa astronaut Mike Massimino, Minister of Artificial Intelligence Omar bin Sultan Al Olama and Udacity CEO Sebastien Thrun are some of the top attendees. The Ministry of Education will award winners of projects that fall under four core fields — technology, social and behavioural sciences, biological and ecological sciences, and chemical, physical and mathematical sciences. A total of 100 projects will be displayed at the fair by 233 students while 77 ideas submitted on behalf of 89 elementary students will be pitched at Fikrati (translates to Idea).

On February 18, the Family Festival will hold a 3D printing competition for 150 students from private and government schools. The NSTI Festival starts today and ends on February 19. There is an onsite registration and entry is free of cost for the public.

sarwat@khaleejtimes.com