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Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, wife of the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region
•Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee's 'lema?'school outreach program, a proven engagement tool for science with local school children
Abu Dhabi - The Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee (TDC) recently welcomed Mubadala Development Company as theofficial platinum sponsor of its acclaimed 'lema?' school outreach program. The partnership underlines both entities' commitment to promote science, technology and innovation (STI) amongst the younger generations to support the development of a diverse talent basein the emirate.
A key initiative from TDC, the 'lema?' schooloutreach programfollows global best practicesin the methodsapplied to stimulate interest in scienceand technology amongst the youth. This is achievedthrough demonstrating at schools exciting scientific experiences and creating significant lasting memories for students. The aim is to instill a passion for science, and ultimately to inspire youth to pursue education and careers in STI. By working hand in hand with strategic partners sharing the same vision, such as Mubadala, TDC aims to contribute to the nation-wide efforts to develop thehuman capital, in line with the national innovation strategy and the Abu Dhabi vision 2030.
On this occasion, H.E Ahmed Saeed Al Calily, Director General of Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee said: "The creation of a knowledge-based economy can only be achieved if we continue to invest in our human capital, and in particular developing our youths' skills inScience, Technology and Innovation. It is important to providethe right tools and methods thatwould engage and stimulate our youth; our 'lema?'program is a proven success in this area. It isequally important tofind the right partners who canfacilitate the expansion and accessibility of such programs, enabling even more students to participate. Mubadala'ssupport and partnership propels us even further along the path to build the foundations for a knowledge based economy."
Homaid Al Shemmari, Chief Executive Officer, Aerospace & Engineering Services at Mubadala,said: "We are committed to engaging and inspiring the next generation of the UAE's workforce to pursue careers in science, technology and innovation, a sector which will see exponential growth in the future. Our partnership with TDC allows us to directly contribute to the development of our nation's youth and foster the creation of a diverse talent base for the UAE."
TDC's 'lema?'programtakes an informal approach to science education, andcomprises a combination of interactive workshops and shows designed to engagechildren in grades 3 to 7. Since its launch in 2013, the'lema?'programhas excited and engaged with more than 50,000 students in 100 public and private schools in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Gharbia with its innovative and fun approach to science education.
The program is continuing itstour to reach more schools, enabling even more students across the Emirate to experience the excitement of 'lema?'.Interested schools can contact lema@tdc.gov.ae to book a tour or visit www.lema.ae to learn more about the program and its activities.
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About Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee
The Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee (TDC) supports the development of a vibrant Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) environment in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. TDC focuses on promoting STI within the community through a wide range of strategic initiatives and programmes including:
•The Abu Dhabi Science Festival, an annual festival that aims to inspire the nation's youth by providing science-related hands-on activities and experiences to build local talent in STI.
•The 'lema?' science school outreach program. 'lema?', which means "Why?" in Arabic, takes science to the next generation by providing informal science learning demonstrations and experiences to thousands of students in grades 3 to 5 and their teachers.
•Abu Dhabi Science Center, a state of the art facility designed to stimulate scientific curiosity within the nation's youth and inspire them in Science, Technology and Innovation through exciting themed galleries and interactive learning experiences.
•The Takamulprogram, a national innovation support program developed to assist inventors turn their ideas into products, solutions and services of societal and economical value. Takamul currently supports innovations in the Health & Medical, ICT, Clean-tech, Semiconductor, Oil & Gas Services, Energy, Advance materials infrastructure and lifestyle industries.
•The INNOVATOR program, a comprehensive program designed to nurture innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship within the UAE community. Comprising four main components: the Show, the Space, the Tour and the Magazine, INNOVATOR actively supports talented tinkerers both amateurs and professionals (ages 13+) throughout the different stages of their innovation development; from the moment of inspiration to creation.
For further media information, please contact:
Hiba Berrekia
Impact Porter Novelli
Tel: + 971 56 6630691
Email: h.berrekia@ipn.ae
© Press Release 2015
