The Dubai Future Foundation is set to collaborate with Haykal Media to launch the Arabic edition of Popular Science magazine, a world-renowned monthly scientific publication founded in 1872.

Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, vice chairman of the Board of Trustees and managing director of the Dubai Future Foundation, said: “Building the future requires a concerted effort from everyone, particularly from an empowered and knowledgeable young generation. Launching the Arabic edition of Popular Science magazine is a welcomed step in the right direction. The magazine simplifies complex scientific concepts in an effort to disseminate them among young Arabs and inspire them to direct their energy towards innovation and creativity.”

“Popular Science is one of the world’s leading scientific and technological publications and a valuable source of information on the latest breakthroughs. Launching the Arabic edition of the magazine adds to the UAE’s mission to spread knowledge. The initiative empowers individuals and engages them in the efforts to build the future, developing their skills and expertise to be effective and future-ready leaders,” he added.

“The United Arab Emirates is inspired and motivated to spread knowledge and innovation to build a better future for the region. Saying that, today the initiative will empower the Arab youth and scientists with cutting edge scientific findings.”

Abdulsalam Haykal, founder and chairman of Haykal Media, publisher of Popular Science Arabia, stated: “By localizing the unique content of one of the oldest scientific journals in the world, we seek to provide the opportunity to Arab readers to access specialized, useful, and trustworthy content in their language. There is a hunger for knowledge in the Arab world, but there are few good quality sources available.

“Therefore, we see that there is a significant opportunity in investing in this sector over the medium and long-terms. There will also be wide-spanning and valuable impact on development and growth, through encouraging invention and scientific research, and in empowering youths to enter these fields.”

Haykal added that Popular Science Arabia magazine and website will contain original content from Arab researchers and scientists from the region’s best universities and research centers, in addition to translating the original magazine’s content.

“We are proud to launch this project in the United Arab Emirates, the land of the new Arab renaissance,” Haykal said. “We have formed an exceptional partnership with the Dubai Future Foundation, and have found within them a clear vision in line with our own to enrich Arabic scientific content.”

“Popular Science has always been a publication of the world, and that becomes even more true now that there is an Arabic edition,” Eric Zinczenco, CEO of Bonnier Corporation, publisher of Popular Science stated. “We’re thrilled that more people will be able to read about the innovations and discoveries we highlight every day.”

Popular Science has been translated into 30 languages and distributed in 45 countries around the world, winning more than 58 international awards. In 2014, the number of copies sold in the US reached 1.3 million. Furthermore, the magazine attracts a large social media audience of 3.4 million followers on Facebook, one million on Twitter, and 19,800 on Instagram. Meanwhile, the magazine’s videos on YouTube were seen by 12 million viewers.

Since its original launch, the magazine has published articles from renowned scientists all around the world, including Charles Darwin, William James, Thomas Edison, and Michio Kaku. The magazine’s content features important topics in sectors of strategic importance and discusses the future of such fields as transportation, health, astronomy, renewable energy, water, education, technology, and the environment.

The first issue of the magazine will be distributed on April 16, alongside the launch of the website popsci.ae. - TradeArabia News Service