DUBAI // Pupils had to do some quick-thinking when set their tasks at the annual Inter School Science Challenge at Knowledge Village on Tuesday.
More than 400 pupils from Grade 6 to Grade 13 took part in The Emax Young Innovators 2013 science festival and challenge.
Many of the students said they had only received notice of the event a day or two beforehand and were still wrapping up end-of-term projects and writing final exams.
In teams of two or more, they were challenged to create a scientific exhibit or experiment in one of three categories – science collage, invention and innovation, or recycling.
The festival’s theme was “simply innovate” and also featured a 30-question science quiz.
“The whole idea here is one, to give them hands-on experience, build a healthy, competitive spirit and secondly, that they learn something,” said Reena Banerjee, founder and director of the host company, Big Idea.
“So they can do anything and be as creative as they wish.”
For some, crunch-time fostered simple but powerful problem-solving creations.
Using just a regular pen, tape and an empty bag of crisps, Grade 7 pupils Rohan Raman and Niraj Nandish, from J S S Private School in Dubai, came up with a type of stylus for smartphone or tablet computer users.
They inverted the cleaned bag and wrapped it around the top end of the pen, securing it in place with tape.
While one end of the pen still worked, Rohan flipped it over to demonstrate how the end with the chip foil could be used to animate touch screens.
“Static electricity passes through it and goes on the tablet, that’s how we can use it,” said Rohan, 12.
“It recycles the chip bags, so they don’t go to waste and it also saves people money because it works the same way as a normal stylus.”
Rohan said his device is a tweaked version of a common hack found online that suggests how users can convert regular pens into touchscreen pens.
“Usually, on the internet, they use foil and a sponge which is damp but this metal is better because you don’t have to dampen it every time,” he said.
Aayash Hegde and Rishon D’Souza, Grade 9 pupils at the Westminster School in Dubai, invented a cycle-powered phone charger.
Using a homemade circuit board and a dynamo, the two 14-year-olds were able to generate electricity by using friction that travelled from the back wheel of the bicycle through a micro USB plug connected to the phone.
It takes about one hour of stop- and-go cycling to power up to 5 per cent of the phone’s battery.
“You can use it in your daily life and it’s quite affordable,” Aayash said.
Rishon added: “And you can generate electricity without polluting.”
Many of the displays centred on conservation and using fewer natural resources.
The inventions impressed Hema Narula, a schoolteacher who volunteered as a judge, going from table to table assessing students’ work.
“I found a tremendous amount of understanding among the students about the cause of this huge amount of waste we are generating and the need to actually recycle,” Mrs Narula said.
“First of all we had the awareness part and then they actually worked out a viable option on how you could actually recycle.”
Winners of each category took home trophies, medals and a commemorative certificate.
rpennington@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Zidane's managerial achievements
La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman
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The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
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Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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'Downton Abbey: A New Era'
Director: Simon Curtis
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan
Rating: 4/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
