ABU DHABI // Young minds in the country’s schools and universities must be inspired by the infinite potential of space and its role in the future of mankind.
That is the message from the UAE’s involvement in World Space Week, which begins on Sunday.
Dr Mohammed Al Ahbabi, director of the UAE Space Agency – speaking days after Nasa announced the discovery of flowing water on the long-thought-barren red planet Mars – said World Space Week in the UAE would be used to drive interest in space among staff, students and pupils at the country’s schools and universities.
“This will also be a way to justify our investment, so we try to send messages through social media about the importance of space to highlight that space should be celebrated and what humankind achieves in space should be recognised and supported in the future.”
He said the UAE Space Agency was working with organisations such as satellite telecoms Yahsat and Thuraya and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre to develop Emirati talent.
“We will push a lot of educational material on social media,” Dr Al Ahbabi said. “One of the key missions of the agency is to develop the UAE’s capabilities and human capital when it comes to space and science, so we will push all that content for those organisations to use for their campaigns.”
He said space and the technology to explore it provided unlimited support for humankind.
“Our life today depends greatly on space – communication, navigation, aerospace and airlines,” he said. “It’s not only to the public but to the Government, agencies, students, academia and industry to recognise that this capability around us brings invaluable support and services to our life.”
Marwan Shoueiki, planetarium manager at Sharjah Centre for Space Sciences and Astronomy, said greater awareness needed to be raised in the UAE about the benefits of space.
“It’s a non-stop process,” he said. “Efforts should always be made towards this because it’s not easy for people to understand every single benefit of space, so it’s our role to provide this in an easy manner with exhibitions and planetarium shows. We will be open for space week to show our programmes.”
Matthew Cochran, chairman of Defence Services Marketing Council in Abu Dhabi, said the space sector was gaining momentum in the UAE.
“The space agency’s participation in World Space Week is aligned with the declaration by the UAE Supreme Committee that there would be a federal week this year that highlights all sectors of innovation,” he said.
“Space being one of the priorities, it is fitting that the agency will be participating in the UAE Innovation Week in November.”
He said breakthrough discoveries such Nasa’s announcement of flowing water on Mars helped to drive interest.
“It is now changing the priorities of companies, governments and now of individuals in the way they think about education.”
For more information about space week events, go to www.worldspaceweek.org
cmalek@thenational.ae