Finding solutions to the water crisis

DUBAI - ‘The Big Science Challenge’, a competition aimed at secondary schools across the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Jordan and the United Kingdom, is inviting entries from students aged between 11 and 16. Students can research and design an original, innovative solution to a problem concerning water, either locally, nationally or globally.

By (Staff Reporter)

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Published: Tue 8 Nov 2011, 9:57 PM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 7:41 AM

The competition runs until February 3, 2012.

“Water is the focus of the initiative as it is a critical resource for everyone around the world. The Big Science Challenge will bring young people from the Middle East and the UK together to address real challenges facing our global society and develop the skills they need for work in a global economy,” said Patrick Brazier, Middle East and North Africa Regional Director, British Council.

The Ministry of Education in the UAE expressed its strong support for the initiative as 3,000 schools across the region are being invited to participate by sending student entries.

All entrants will be encouraged to collaborate with students in other participating countries to share ideas and exchange information, emulating how international scientific co-operation and discovery works in practice.

“By focusing on one of the world’s biggest issues, the competition will give young people a true taste of what real scientists are working on and allows them to put their own scientific research and technological skills into practice. With most of the region’s population under the age of 30, it is imperative that we do what we can to support public programmes for training and skills development. There is a shortage of engineers and it is important to address this for the next generation through the region’s youth,” said Rob Watson, Middle East Regional Director for Rolls-Royce.

Entries will be judged at a national level by a panel of experts. The winning teams from each Middle East country will be awarded a visit to London for a week-long programme of cultural exchange and educational activities. In addition, students will get a unique insight into real-life research and engineering processes during a visit to one of the biggest Rolls-Royce centres in the UK. Students from one winning school in the UK will also win a five-day visit to Dubai to experience life in one of the most dynamic, iconic Middle Eastern cities.

muaz@khaleejtimes.com


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