Kids learn via interactives, talks, debates and workshops at Bahrain Science Centre

The theme of activities in the Bahrain Science Centre during December 2012 and January 2013 will be ‘Bahraini Innovation’, but this topic will be broadened to also include innovations and superlatives from the whole Arab world.

Bahrain boasts many superlatives of its own. It has archaeological records of one of the oldest known civilizations (Dilmun), and the largest number of burial mounds in the world (originally over 85 000). It also features in the world’s oldest and most enduring piece of literature, the ‘Epic of Gilgamesh’, in which Bahrain was the home of eternal youth.

The first oil strike in the Middle East was made in Bahrain (1931/32) and the first oil exports from an Arab country were from Bahrain (1930s). Bahrain was also the first Arab country to begin diversifying its economy away from total dependence on oil and gas (ca 1975).

In the fields of scientific discovery and technological innovation, Arab countries can boast many firsts through the pioneering works of the Abbas bin Firnas, al-Kindi, the Banu Musa brothers, al-Razi, al-Muradi, al-Jazari, Ibn Khaldun, Ibn al-Haitham, Taqi al-Din and many others, but that’s another story.

The Arab world today boasts many world firsts and superlatives on the engineering front. These include the first city (Uruk in Iraq; 3200 BC), earliest high-rise building city (Shibam in Yemen; 16^th century), tallest building in the world (Burj Khalifa in Dubai; 828 m), tallest hotel as part of a multiplex (Makkah Royal Clock Hotel; Saudi Arabia), tallest all-hotel building (Rose Rayhaan by Rotana in Dubai; 333 m), tallest hotel atrium (180 m; Burj al Arab in Dubai), tallest residential building (413.4 m; Princess Tower in Dubai) and the largest shopping mall in the world (Dubai Mall; 548 127 m²).

Then there is the 50 floor Bahrain World Trade Centre which is the first skyscraper in the world to integrate wind turbines into its design. Hence the building has received several awards for sustainability as the sail-shaped buildings on either side are designed to channel wind through the gap to provide accelerated wind passing through the turbines.  Tests show that the building shape has the potential to generate electricity.

The largest airport in the world is King Fahd International Airport (DMM) near Damman in eastern Saudi Arabia. Its area (780 km²) is greater than that of Bahrain! The largest alternative energy city is Masdar City in Abu Dhabi (6 km²; started in 2006) and the longest driverless metro network in the world is the Dubai Metro (74.694 km).

The largest draped flag is in Rayak, Lebanon (325 x 203 m) and the longest straight road (240 km) is in Saudi Arabia (Harad to Badha). The Qatar-Bahrain Friendship Causeway (40 km) will be the longest causeway in the world when it is completed (the King Fahd Causeway, at 27 km, is currently the third longest marine causeway in the world).

Join us at the Bahrain Science Centre in December and January as we celebrate Bahraini, and Arab, contributions to the world!

The Bahrain Science Centre is located in Building 334, Road 109, Block 801, Riyadh Avenue, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain and can be contacted on 17686466.

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Press release issued on behalf Bahrain Science Centre. For further information, please contact Shereen Shabnam on +971 507690087/ 504828177/ shereen@mtestudios.com.

About Bahrain Science Centre (BSC):

The Bahrain Science Centre (BSC) is an interactive educational facility that targets children, youth and families of Bahrain. It is located in building 334, Road 109, Block 801, Riyadh Avenue, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain. The science centre has six interactive exhibition galleries, an auditorium, four laboratories and a café/shop.

The role of the BSC is to promote awareness of the importance of science and technology, complement the school curriculum, stimulate curiosity and innovation, and create a forum for public debate on science and technology issues. The topics covered by current exhibitions include junior engineering, human health, the five senses, earth sciences and biodiversity.

Focusing on hands-on learning using interactive displays and people-centred programmes, such as science shows, Bahrain Science Centre also strongly promotes creativity and innovation as well as cross-generational learning. The science centre will also endeavour to promote an awareness of Bahrain’s contributions to science and technology and a strong Bahraini identity. It is an ideal family edutainment destination.