Boeing, the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) and Mubadala Development Company, the Abu Dhabi based investment and development company, have partnered to bring the Curiosity Machine, an engineering focused design program, to the UAE.
The Curiosity Machine programs 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 programs, with our partners ADEC and Boeing, we are bringing best-in-class training tools to our local schools. The program 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 program 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,” he added.
Working with Al Afaaq public school in Abu Dhabi, Boeing, ADEC and Mubadala recently launched an afterschool program for students in grades three to five. The five-week program 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.
Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, School Operations Executive Director, said: “Explore Science Together, part of the Curiosity Machine program in the US, will not only help build children’s curiosity, innovation, creativity and passion through science and engineering, but will also encourage parents to take part in hands-on science activities at home with their children, which is part of ADEC’s mission, to encourage parents to partner with schools to help boost their children’s education further.”
Families and teachers will participate with the students to complete these hands-on science and engineering projects, which develop skills 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. 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,” said Bernard Dunn, President, Boeing Middle East, North Africa and Turkey.
Iridescent, the U.S. based non-profit that created the program, 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.
Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems. A top U.S. exporter, the company supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in 150 countries. Boeing products and tailored services include commercial and military aircraft, satellites, weapons, electronic and defense systems, launch systems, advanced information and communication systems, and performance-based logistics and training.
Boeing’s relationship with the Middle East extends back to 1945. Since then, Boeing has established a number of offices across the region, first in Riyadh in 1982, then a dedicated Boeing Defense, Space and Security (BDS) office in Abu Dhabi in 1999, a regional headquarters in Dubai in 2005 and a new office in Doha in 2010. In addition, Boeing has field service teams across the region and two distribution centers for airplane spare parts in Dubai.
