Abu Dhabi-based Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (Kustar) has announced the launch of  its new 1000 sq ft discovery centre set up in partnership with Intel Corporation.

Sheikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chief of the Crown Prince Court and deputy chairman to the Board of Trustees of The Kustar inaugurated the new facility at the University's Abu Dhabi campus.

A joint venture between Kustar and Intel, the discovery centre aims to offer a rare 'behind-the-scenes' glimpse into Intel's world of high technology in the UAE Capital, said a statement from Kustar.

Sheikh Hamed stressed the importance of initiatives aimed at engaging the young people of the UAE in scientific and technical studies, in line with the vision of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Sheikh Hamed emphasized that encouraging Emirati youth to pursue technical careers through education will enable the UAE to reap the benefits of a sustainable knowledge-based economy.

'The Discovery Centre takes visitors through the complex world of silicon technology, from sand to silicon chips. Students and other guests will learn about microprocessor history, computer chip design and manufacturing, chip factories, and technology careers in a dynamic and stimulating educational environment.'

'Designed to help the UAE community understand the role of technology in the 21st Century and the way it influences how we live and work the Centre is set to play a vital role in encouraging local young people to pursue exciting technical careers,' he added.

Home to a series of Intel interactive showcases, visitors will also be immersed in the world of micro-miniature computer chips, helping them understand what happens when millions of electronic components are packed onto quarter-inch squares of silicon and time is measured in billionths of seconds, the Kustar statement said.

“At Kustar we don’t only seek for excellence in education, we also seek to play a role in complementing the nation’s efforts to raise awareness of the value and importance of education and research in the field of technology,' said Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Kustar's interim president.

'We are building strong partnerships with international world-class institutions such as Intel Corporation which are ultimately cementing sustainable career opportunities for our young people and the development of our knowledge economy,' he remarked.

“Kustar is a world-class institution promoting research in the field of science and technology and the Discovery Centre is the perfect complement to its mission,' said Samir Al Schamma, regional general manager, Middle East & North Africa, Intel.

'By providing a forum through which students and residents alike can learn about the importance of technology in the 21st Century, Kustar is encouraging Arab youth to seriously review the field of technology as a viable and dynamic career,' he added.

Key showcases include the learning of ‘Binary Code’, the language of 0’s and 1’s to send, process and receive information, ‘Binary Rain’, an exhibit that allows guests to play with binary numbers in a unique interactive digital projection, and ‘Get Digitized’, an area that showcases the latest digital technology, personal computers and special effects. 

Another area of interest to visitors is the ‘Intel Fab’, a unique opportunity to learn about what goes on in one of the most technologically advanced factories—an Intel 300-millimeter fabrication facility (fab).

They can learn about Moore’s Law and how it applies to the next generation of microprocessors, as well as learn what it takes to plan, design and manufacture tiny silicon chips, the Kustar statement said.-TradeArabia News Service