Organisers of the Abu Dhabi Science Festival are combining all the right elements to ensure this year’s show is the best one yet
NOW In its third year, the Abu Dhabi Science Festival (ADSF) will welcome back old favourites aswell as new scientific spectacles and dazzling displays, with over two thirds of the content new for the 2013 festival, which runs from 14th to 23rd of November.
With so much to see and do it’s easy to get your wires crossed and miss out on something special – avoid this by reading our guide to the ADSF, then prebook tickets on: www.adsftickets.ae
Signature shows
Watch the Zapata Flyboarders as they appear to defy the laws of gravity and ‘fly’ skyhigh.
During the spectacular shows (performances Thursday 21st at 5pm and 8.30pm, and Friday 22nd at 8.30pm) the daring participants will be blasted above the waves, water jets propelling these brave men up to 12 metres in the air. The flyboarders will jump, spin and flip, with nozzles under their feet driving them forward, and nozzles on their hands acting as stabilisers.
The 2012 Flyboard Freestyle World Champion Stéphane Denis, and five other professionals make up the Zapata Flyboard team. The sportsmen hail from Sweden, Spain, France, Norway and the Netherlands, and it will be their first UAE show.
“All six riders will fly at the same time and perform amazing tricks, choreographed routines and play with the audience,” said Denis. “This kind of show is unique in the world – be ready! We will fly in the afternoon and present a show at nighttime, where riders will wear LED suits and play with giant holograms.
“All the team is really excited to perform in Abu Dhabi. It’s always a great pleasure to show an audience a new sport, it is such a good feeling to see the faces of the audience who watch the flyboarders like they are superheroes!” Denis added.
Flyboarding is a relatively new sport; it was invented two years ago by French World Jet ski Champion, Franky Zapata. The sport encompasses jet skiing, skiing, snowboarding
and acrobatics.
For a preview of the upcoming show visit: www.zapata-racing.com/en/flyboard/
The action continues at Dr Graham’s shows, where this Australian scientist will make miniature rockets and shoot them into the sky, launch footballs using liquid nitrogen and race solar cars on stage.
The Abu Dhabi audience will have the opportunity to go on stage and become amateur rocket scientists.
“My shows feature lots of audience interaction,” said Graham. “If you want to come up on stage and fire marshmallows or play leaf-blower table tennis, then these shows are for you.
“The Green Power Show is about how we make power and energy, so there will be lots of things burning and exploding, as we unlock the energy in different fuels and discover which are better for the environment.
“We will also experiment with renewable energy that’s being used in Abu Dhabi, such as solar power, in fun ways like solar-powered drag car racing.
“Blast Off is about making things explode, fly and generally get blasted. There will be explosions, ping-pong cannons, rockets and even bazookas that fire marshmallows!” Graham added.
Catch Dr Graham in action at the Green Power Show at the du Forum, or the Blast Off Show on the Corniche (daily, check website for times).
American artist Jason Hackenwerth will wow crowds with his weird and wonderful balloon sculptures at the main entrance at the Forum throughout the festival. Hackenwerth will transform thousands of balloons into the woven spectacle – Corona.
“Corona is a hot plasma ring around the sun,” said Hackenwerth. “It is my intention to draw inspiration from the brilliant sun that shines intensely on Abu Dhabi.
“The sculpture I will make is a tribute to the sun and how important it is to our existence,” he added.
It’s showtime
Egyptian Mummy
Back by popular demand – mummy excavation. An Egyptian Mummy has been discovered, but how did the person die, from natural causes or was it something more sinister? Explore the fascinating worlds of Egyptology and archaeology by unwrapping the mummy’s bandages and use cutting-edge techniques to examine your findings.
The Secret Life of Coral
Find out what’s lurking underwater as you explore the secret life of coral. Do you know about the incredible animals and plants in a coral reef? Discover the amazing creatures that live in its communities and help build a coral reef by making your own sea creature.
DNA Code Breakers
Unlock the code that makes you unique, as you discover your DNA in a test tube. Explore why you might look a lot like your parents, investigate some common traits, and find out what you have in common with animals and plants.
Blood Lab
Find out how the science of blood can help to diagnose disease. Enter the Scab Lab to make your own blood-curdling scab and find out how they form. Or mix a blood milkshake and explore how our bodies use oxygen in the ‘Don’t Hold Your Breath’ exhibit.
Nasa’s Best Mars Rover
Take your place on a team of NASA scientists and test your engineering abilities as you work together to build and deploy your very own Mars Rover. You’ll be challenged to accomplish specific goals while competing against other teams to successfully retrieve a sample from Mars. Who will complete the mission first?
Arabian Aromas
Chemistry has never smelt so good! Can you tell the difference between real and synthetic scents or taste without your sense of smell? Learn how your senses work together, and how chemistry plays a part in our everyday lives as you develop your own scent, using traditional Arabic herbs and spices, and a big dash of science.
Splat-tastic
This interactive workshop invites you to get creative with chemistry and design your very own slime. Do you know what a polymer is? This exhibit gives you the lowdown; learn all about polymers, what’s interesting about them and how and why they were created, including real-world applications. You’ll then test the stickiness of your slime under the extreme conditions of the special, scientifically developed ‘Splat-o-Meter’.
Factfile
The ADSF will run from Thursday 14th to Sunday 24th November. This year’s event will be held at the du Forum on Yas Island, on the East Plaza of the Corniche, with other events happening UAE-wide.
Last year over 150,000 students, teachers and parents experienced the festival and this year’s figures are expected to top that, so it’s advisable to book your tickets in advance from the ADSF website, although tickets are available to buy on the day.
Timings
du Forum, Yas Island: 3.30pm to 8.30pm on weekdays, 12pm to 9pm on weekends
East Plaza, Corniche: 5pm to 9pm on Sunday to Wednesday, 5pm to 10pm on Thursday, and 4pm to 10pm on weekends
For a detailed list of shows, exhibits, workshops and events visit:
www.abudhabisciencefestival.ae
