Al Neyadi to broadcast weekly videos from space to inspire pupils across the UAE
Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi will speak to pupils in the UAE every week during his six-month mission on the International Space Station.
He will offer an insight into what space is like using live streams and recorded videos broadcast to hundreds of schools in the country.
The talks were announced yesterday and will be part of an education project by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and the Emirates Literature Foundation.
“We’ll be releasing a video every week, some will be live streams, that will be shown in classrooms,” Salem Al Marri, director general of the space centre, told The National. “The content we’re planning with our partners is educational content – how do you live and eat in space?
“It also links to reading books and that will be the core message.”
The foundation organises the Emirates Festival of Literature, which runs until Monday.
Authors from around the world participate in the event, promoting books and helping to support a reading culture.
Schools also take part in events, with hundreds of pupils expected to attend presentations and book signings.
Dr Al Neyadi and fellow UAE astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri attended the festival in the past to encourage pupils to read.
“I think reading is very important – I think it’s kind of the beginning step to pretty much everything that we do,” Mr Al Marri said.
Videos of Dr Al Neyadi in space could also encourage young people to take a greater interest in science, technology, engineering and maths, Mr Al Marri said.
Maj Al Mansouri livestreamed parts of his eight-day mission to the ISS in 2019.
He recorded videos that showed how he prayed, ate and exercised in space.
Isobel Abulhoul, chief executive of the foundation, said its work on the initiative with the space centre would lead to the launch of a new website called ELF in Space.
“It will have a mass of interesting facts, fun jokes about space and some of the historical facts about space,” Ms Abulhoul said.
“It should become a really good education resource.
“All of the sessions will be subtitled between Arabic and English, so language is not a barrier.
“We’re trying to interest students with space through books, but in a fun and entertaining way.”