ABU DHABI // Developing and supporting science and technology competitions for the UAE’s youth are essential for addressing the need for students and professionals in the field.
Companies are struggling to find qualified graduates with a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics background, said Clare Woodcraft, chief executive of Emirates Foundation.
“If you look at the UAE’s growth, it is all in exciting industrial fields. We have a problem if our academic institutions are not producing enough students in these fields. We want to try to fill that gap,” she said.
To get youngsters to consider Stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects as an area of study as well as a career, a more practical approach has to be introduced, she said.
“We have noticed the way that science and technology have been taught traditionally is not inspiring the youth enough to have careers in these sectors.
“For example, it doesn’t explain what chemical engineers actually do and, goodness me, there is a huge demand for chemical engineers in the UAE.”
Ms Woodcraft said competitions such as the foundation’s annual Think Science contest and The National Space Programme, an initiative offering high-school pupils and university students a chance to have their projects launched in space, are key to inspiring youth and showing them the practical benefits of Stem subjects.
“Competitions such as this one help the youth understand how they can contribute to space exploration and how it relates to the technology here on Earth. They help crystallise the connection between academic training and solving real problems on the ground.”
The foundation is one of 12 companies and organisations which are partnering The National on The National Space Programme.
Asma Tayyem, senior project lead of the Think Science competition, said the answer to inspiring and motivating youngsters in Stem fields would not be found in classrooms and curriculums. “We believe extra-curricular activities are the main tool to spark interest in science among the youth,” she said.
Abeer Gibril, senior project lead for the contest, said The National Space Programme helps “students maintain an interest” in Stem subjects, which was crucial as studies have shown a gradual drop of interest in the field as they get older.
Although the foundation is developing partnerships with private sector companies in the space industry, Ms Tayyem said Genes In Space, the high school category of The National Space Programme offering students a chance to witness their winning DNA experiment launched into space, was different. “In Think Science, students are competing with the final product, but in Genes In Space they are researching and brainstorming ideas to find results,” she said.
“What these competitions do is help us create a love of science,” said Dr Sabha Al Shamsi, director of social inclusion at the foundation.
Submissions are being accepted for Genes in Space from pupils in Grades 7 to 12 at genesinspace.org, with the deadline set for February 3.
To find out more and get involved, follow #theuaespacestory on social media.
tsubaihi@thenational.ae
