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Children get close and personal with science in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi - The Abu Dhabi Science Festival (ADSF), organised by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek), was inaugurated on Thursday and will run until November 18 at both Khalifa Park and the Al Ain Zoo.

Teaching kids about the the chemistry of smell, the working of small engines like lawnmower, making kites using environmentally friendly materials and learning about animal conservation, are some of the science workshops conducted on the first day of the science festival in Abu Dhabi.
The Abu Dhabi Science Festival (ADSF), organised by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek), was inaugurated on Thursday and will run until November 18 at both Khalifa Park and the Al Ain Zoo.
 "This is an exciting event and I'm so happy to participate in it," said 10-year-old Nourah Nasir, a Grade 5 student from Baniyas School. "I have learned how to make a flying kite using papers, a thread and bamboo sticks, all these are non-degradable materials and are environment friendly.
Tala Sawan, a pharmacy student from Al Ain University told Khaleej Times during the inauguration of the festival at Khalifa Park that she had volunteered to teach the kids the importance of conserving the environment. "This is a great chance for us to pass on important knowledge to these small children. Kids love kites and we came up with an idea of making an environmentally friendly kite using no-plastic materials," said Sawan.
"We explained to the kids about the negative effects of plastics to the environment and the importance of conserving the environment."
Mahara Al Shihi, a Grade 4 student and her friends from Al Faq School participated in the Arabian Aromas where they were taught about the chemistry of smell. "I have learned about the different smells and how important a good smell is in our lives," she said. "I had chosen the bubble bath smell and I was shown how to mix it."
Helen Hiley, from the Edinburg International Science Festival in Scotland, which helps in organising the festival and teaching various science skills to children, lead the 'Animal Agents' workshop which taught kids from Al Nahruwain School in Al Ruwais about the importance of animal conservation, their inhabitants, and their various adaptations. 
"It has been amazing teaching these kids about how important to preserve and protect animals and birds," said Hiley.
"The children love animals and are keen on learning how they can protect them. We have taught them how they live, their inhabitants and how they can adapt to certain environment which helps them develop the love for animals and the need to protect them while they are still young." 
Among other learning workshops for kids were Mini Mechanics where children were taught on how small engines work to help them learn practical skills, underwater robots, micro-coper and coral learning.
Authorities said student participation in this year's Abu Dhabi Science Festival is expected to reach 17,000 students, an increase of 13 per cent compared to last year.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com