The 2020 edition of the Dubai Science Festival takes place from 23 - 31 Jan. SciFest Dubai’s knowledge partners include Dubai’s KHDA and the UK National Space Academy.
The theme of this year’s festival is Emerging Technologies and the festival takes at various schools, universities, and science venues in the city.
The aim is to celebrate science through the arts and promote scientific literacy and STEAM education.
The 2020 edition of SciFest Dubai is presented in partnership with Awecademy - a future-focussed educational organization based out of Toronto, Canada, that is disrupting traditional high school curricula and inspiring students to bring about civilisation-level change. Through an online platform and off-line programs, Awecademy future-proofs high school students, educators, and industry leaders with new smarts and critical survival skills by combining innovative curricula with machine learning, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology.
Click here for the 2020 schedule of events.
Registration
Click here for the full programme of events.
Please contact info@scifestdubai.com for details of school incursions
See below for a few highlights of this year's festival
Opening Ceremony | Thursday 23 January 2020 | 10:00am - 12:00pm
Emerging Technologies: The Future of Work, Education & Humanity's presence in Space
We are living through a remarkable time in human history. Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Robotics and 3D Printing are advancing at an exponential rate. These emerging powerful tools are creating a future where we have access to an abundance of resources, live on Mars, or even upload our consciousness into machines. But are we prepared to live in such a world? This series of talks will provide our youth with an overview of the future of work, education and humanity as a whole.
Click here for the full programme of events and to register.
On 26 January 2020 at Dubai Future Foundation's AREA 2071
Meet our meteorite expert, Tom Varden (Astronomer, Griffith Observatory, USA) and listen to him talk about shooting stars and falling meteorites.
Under the guidance of Astronomer Tom Varden, students will get to see (and, in some cases, touch and handle) a range of different meteorites and moldovites,
These sessions include a combination of improvisation, theatrics, and narrative embellishments to tell science-themed stories to a young audience.
Cafe Scientifique is a meetup group to talk about astronomy, science, technology, and the future, in a friendly and informal setting. The focus is less on lectures and more on having meaningful conversations and meeting interesting new people.
These solar viewing sessions allow for safe telescopic observation of the sun using special solar filters to view sunspots, solar flares, and the corona of the sun.
SciFest, in partnership with Awecademy, presents an award-winning series of future-focused, interactive educational sessions and workshops for learners.
These on-stage performances are sure to entertain, educate, and enlighten audiences of all ages but particularly the young ones.
The Cosmic Dome is an indoor mobile planetarium that acts as a simulated spaceship, packed with highly informative tour shows that provide students with new experiences while exploring the wonders of the universe.
The Star party is an opportunity to hang out with astronomers, look through telescopes, and talk about the stars.
Based in the U.S., Tom Varden is an artist, astronomer, scientist, photographer and keynote speaker. He is the founder of Black Rock Observatory, the finest mobile observatory dedicated to public outreach in the world. He operate the hardest-working telescope in the business for Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, USA.
At Dubai Future Foundation's AREA2071
Workshops | Emerging Technologies: The Future of Work, Education & Humanity
Secondary School Workshops | Ages 13-16
Click on the images for details
Click here for full schedule and to register.
There are many trends, such as technological automation and the rise of the contingent workforce, that are revolutionizing the future of the work. What is the impact that technology will have on our careers? What jobs will be lost and which ones will be created? What are some of the most exciting emerging industries? This workshop will explore these questions - and many more - with the goal of preparing learners for the workforce of the future.
Exponential technologies such as artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, virtual reality, biotechnology, and digital medicine are a major source innovation, invention, and discovery. Breakthroughs in this area have the potential to positively affect billions of lives. This workshop will explore the impact of emerging technologies on the way we live and work
We’ve all read the headlines: the robots are coming, and they will take our jobs. But the reality is more nuanced. Exponential growth in technology will disrupt entire industries but also create new ones. Many experts are asking the big questions: what jobs will be replaced by technology? Which ones will remain? How many will be created? This workshop will provide an introduction to the different effects of technological automation on the
Emerging technologies are providing us with powerful tools to tackle global challenges and contribute to human progress. How can we use exponential technologies - such as AI or Robotics - to end poverty, increase access to resources or create more sustainable sources of energy? This module will explore some of the ways innovators are using technology to have a positive impact on the world and inspire youth to follow their lead.
Technology is already transforming the way we teach and learn. Digital classrooms, global online collaborations, and personalized learning are just the beginning. What will these technological trends in EdTech lead to? What will the word “education” even mean 30 years from now? This workshop will provide learners an overview of the technological trends that are revolutionizing the educational sector.
Future of Education, the Contingent Workforce & the Gig Economy. Technology is already transforming the way we teach and learn. Digital classrooms, global online collaborations, and personalized learning are just the beginning. What will these technological trends in EdTech lead to? What will the word “education” even mean 30 years from now? This workshops will provide learners an overview of the technology trends that are revolutionizing the future of education.
Workshops | Emerging Technologies: The Future of Work, Education & Humanity
Primary School Workshops | Ages 10-12
Click on the images for details
Click here for full schedule and to register.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an exponentially growing technology that will revolutionize entire industries. AI is expected to have an impact on all major fields including big data, healthcare, education, security and much more. In order to be prepared for the future, we need to understand what AI is and what its applications are. This workshop provides an overview of different types of AI, industry trends and future predictions by experts in the field.
What does it mean to be a Cosmic Citizen? At its core, the cosmic perspective is about zooming out & seeing the big picture. It involves acknowledging our place in the cosmos & stepping back to contemplate our purpose in the grand scheme of things. Learners who complete this workshop will leave with a better understanding of our place in the universe & how they can contribute to the future of our species. We will explore the rights & responsibilities of cosmic citizens and & its importance.
The United Nations Millennium Declaration, signed in September 2000 commits world leaders to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, discrimination against women amongst many more global challenges. How can students contribute to meeting the Millenium goals? This module will provide young minds with the skills, mindsets and values to tackle the Millenium Goals.
Exponential technologies such as artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, virtual reality, biotechnology, and digital medicine are a major source innovation, invention, and discovery. Breakthroughs in this area have the potential to positively affect billions of lives. This workshop will explore the impact of emerging technologies on the way we live and work.
We live in a world of accelerating change. New industries are constantly being born and old ones are becoming obsolete. A report by the World Economic Forum reveals that almost 65 percent of the jobs elementary school students will be doing in the future do not even exist yet. Both the workforce and our knowledge base are rapidly evolving. What are the skills future generations will need? This workshops will give an overview of the critical survival skills that our youth will need.
Contributing to human progress in a meaningful way requires certain mindsets and ways of thinking. Moonshot Thinking is one of those mindsets. Instead of looking to make a 10 percent gain or improvement in a current product or idea, moonshot thinking involves aiming for a 10x improvement of the status quo. This workshops will explore what Moonshot Thinking is, examples of notable moonshots and more importantly, how we can all adopt the mindset.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where will the festival be hosted this year?
The opening ceremony on 23 Jan 2020 and closing event on 1 Feb 2020 will be hosted at Dubai Future Foundation’s AREA2071, in Emirates Towers. All other events (solar viewing, stage shows, meteorites talk, and workshops) will be hosted in schools in Dubai that register with us. You are welcome to host events for your students at your school.
Can we host events at our school?
Yes, when you confirm a booking for an event, the SciFest Dubai team will come to your school to provide the programming.
Is there a participation fee for the events? If so, how much?
The participation fee is AED30 per student per event.
Is there a minimum or maximum number of students required for the events?
For hosting events at your school for your student, the following outlines the number of students required per session(minimum-maximum):
Solar-viewing: 40-60 students
Workshop: 20-30 students
Storytelling & Mobile Planetarium: 20-30 students
Science Stage Show: 50-200 students (depending on school auditorium capacity)
Meteorite Talk and Museum: 50-200 students (depending on school auditorium capacity)
How can I make a registration for an event?
You can make a booking via this registration link. Please enter the events that you are registering for and the confirmed number of students. A member of the SciFest Dubai team will then contact you to confirm the details of your registration.
When is the registration deadline?
Registrations will be confirmed on a first-come-first served basis. The deadline to register your school is January 10th 2019. Please note that in all previous years, registrations for the festival have filled up weeks in advance.
Will students receive certificates for their attendance?
Yes, students will receive digital certificates for their attendance. In order to receive these, the school educators are required to email the full names of all the students within ten days of the festival.