SHARJAH- Nearly 700 high school students from 35 Sharakah partner schools from across the country took part in the popular day-long physics fair entitled FUNtastic FZX 2019, held at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) on Thursday, 14th February, 2019.

The event, which aims to bridge the gap between university and high school students, shows that physics can be fascinating and provides the students with the fundamental understanding of how most things around us work. Sponsored by the UAE Space Agency and organised by the AUS Office of Enrolment Management in collaboration with the Department of Physics, the event was the fifth physics open-day held by the university and the first science-based event to attract such a large number of high school students.

The event comprised live displays, competitions, interactive lectures by physics professors, a teachers’ forum discussing conceptual issues in teaching physics, various hands-on activities, and demonstrations of physics principles and their wide applications. More than 55 projects submitted by participating schools competed for top awards based on two categories: physics-relevance and space-relevance. JESS School Dubai won the top slot in the Space Projects, with Sharjah American International School in Dubai; Dubai Scholars Private School in Dubai; Al-Shola Private School for Girls in Sharjah, and International Community School in Abu Dhabi also being recognised.

First place in the Physics Projects category went to Al Shola Private School for Girls in Sharjah, with Al Dawha School in Sharjah; International Community School in Abu Dhabi, and GEMS Wellington International School in Dubai also winning acclaim for their submissions. The successful teams won iPads, airpods as well as other prizes. Dr. Bj?rn Kjerfve, Chancellor of AUS, while opening the event and welcoming the students said, "We are happy to see so many of you here on campus.

AUS is known throughout the region for its wonderful campus life and world-class academics. There are tremendous opportunities open to students who pursue STEM subjects, physics included. If you combine that knowledge with a background in liberal arts, you will find yourself succeeding in whatever path you wish to pursue in the future." Emphasising the importance of holding this event, Dr. Mahmoud Anabtawi, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at AUS, said, "By bringing school students together and showcasing their different projects in a university setting, we are hoping to enrich their experience and encourage them to explore further in science in general and in physics in particular."

Dr. Ali Alnaser, Head of the Department of Physics at the AUS College of Arts and Sciences, said, "We are extremely pleased to welcome such a large number of students from our Sharakah partner and other schools to campus. This is the first physics open day that we have held after the launch of our bachelor’s degree in physics last semester." On behalf of the UAE Space Agency, Dr. Eng. Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, said, "We are delighted to sponsor FUNtastic FZX 2019 physics fair, which gives hundreds of Emirati students from across the UAE a chance to enhance their understanding of physics, a STEM subject of significant relevance to the space sector, along with encouraging scientific and technological collaboration between UAE students to develop innovative physics and space projects." "Our collaboration with reputable universities like the American University of Sharjah is part of our mission as the UAE Space Agency to encourage young Emirati students to pursue STEM education and inspire them to get involved in the space sector, which aims to develop Emirati human capital in scientific and technological fields," he added. Funtastic FZX is held as part of the Sharakah programme under which AUS has signed Memoranda of Understanding with a number of secondary schools in the UAE.

According to the agreements, AUS offers workshops to teachers and students; it offers patronage of selected research, cultural, social and sporting activities and events organised by the Sharakah partner school; awards partial scholarships to deserving students selected from lists provided by the schools, and offers university preparation courses, including SAT and TOEFL, as well as recruitment of outstanding students from varied sociocultural and economic backgrounds to AUS.

© Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2019.