Boeing, the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) and Mubadala Development Company have partnered to bring the Curiosity Machine, an engineering focused design programme, to the UAE.

The Curiosity Machine programmes teach Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning through hands-on engineering design challenges, each of which presents fundamental science or engineering concepts and asks students to use simple materials to come up with possible solutions.

 “Through the coordinated development of interactive and educational programmes, with our partners ADEC and Boeing, we are bringing best-in-class training tools to our local schools. The programme promotes the collaborative process between teachers and parents, encouraging them to take a more active role in their children’s education,” said Homaid Al Shimmari, chief executive officer, Aerospace & Engineering Services at Mubadala.

“The Curiosity Machine is an excellent programme that is in line with our broader efforts to encourage UAE youth to explore future studies and careers in aerospace and engineering fields, and facilitates the building of a knowledge based economy for the UAE.”

Working with Al Afaaq public school in Abu Dhabi, Boeing, ADEC and Mubadala recently launched an afterschool programme for students in grades three to five. The five-week programme will meet after school one day per week and will bring young children together with professional engineers, to solve a different engineering design challenges inspired by Boeing.

Families and teachers will participate with the students to complete these hands-on science and engineering projects, which develop skills like curiosity, creative problem solving and persistence - important for future study or work in growing fields like aerospace.

“Boeing is in its 100th year of business and we know that a talented workforce is key to succeed for another century,” said Bernard Dunn, president, Boeing Middle East, North Africa and Turkey. “By investing in high-quality, engaging education, we want to empower a new generation of aerospace visionaries that have abilities, belief and interest in STEM.”

Iridescent, the US based non-profit that created the programme, trains professional engineers, scientists, and parents to deliver cutting-edge STEM education to children and their families and its engineering design challenges are inspired by real world applications of science and engineering. – TradeArabia News Service