UAE Space Agency hosts Mars camp in Australia
This scientific expedition will go a long way towards incentivising our youth to pursue technological advancements in the field of space and science.”
Maytha Hamad Al Habsi,
CEO of Emirates Foundation
ABU DHABI — The UAE Space Agency has launched a Mars Summer Camp, running from August 4 to 12 in Adelaide, Australia, to generate enthusiasm among students for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The Mars Summer Camp is being organised in collaboration with the Mike Roach Space Education Centre at Hamilton Secondary College and the Think Science programme of the Emirates Foundation.
The camp covers a number of key topics and concepts related to space science and exploration, including the expansion of the universe and the challenges of space travel. It also covers topics related to astronomy and the atmosphere, the effects of microgravity, and rocket science.
The camp will also provide students with the opportunity to design, build and evaluate a Mars rover model using the Lego Mindstorms EV3 technology. In addition, students will participate in mock astronaut training sessions and undergo physical fitness and readiness tests for space travel.
Before departing the UAE on July 31 for Adelaide, Dr Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, directorgeneral of the UAE Space Agency, met participating students and their families and thanked and congratulated them for their participation in the camp. Al Ahbabi explained to parents how the camp has the potential to shape their children’s future careers and provide them with practical scientific expertise and expand their knowledge of the space sector and the sciences.
Al Ahbabi said: “We are delighted to have launched this summer camp in Australia and to collaborate with the Emirates Foundation Think Science programme and the Hamilton Space School. This camp is one of the four launched by the agency in 2018.”
Maytha Hamad Al Habsi, CEO of Emirates Foundation, said: “Through our partnership with the UAE Space Agency, we aim to inspire, encourage and celebrate youth across the UAE by providing them with unique learning opportunities to further develop their scientific knowledge, and enabling them to become active participants in achieving the UAE’s Vision 2021 by adopting science as a key pillar of a knowledge-based economy.
“This scientific expedition will go a long way towards incentivising our youth to pursue technological advancements in the field of space and science. We are constantly working together with our partners to offer such opportunities for our youth to excel in the area of scientific innovation and to apply their academic knowledge for the benefit of their society.”