Space Camp Puts the Skies in Focus for UAE Students
NYU Abu Dhabi Hosts its Fourth Annual Crash Course on Astronomy
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By Maggie Kinsella, Science Writer - Khalifa University Science and Tech Review (KUST Review)
Since the launch of the UAE space program in 2014, the country’s firsts have been piling up at rocket speed.
From the Mars Hope probe to the first space walk and a recent partnership with NASA ensuring future Emirati boots on the Moon, it seems the sky has no limit. NYU Abu Dhabi’s space camp, offered by the university’s Center for Astrophysics and Space Science (CASS), aims to assist the country’s space growth by feeding the interest of young space enthusiasts with its public outreach program’s astronomy camp designed for high school and university students.
“The NYUAD Astronomy Camp aims to ignite passion for astronomy and space science among students, aligning with the UAE's space program and vision,” says Mohamed Abbas, research associate at NYU and contributor to the outreach program. “Our goal is to foster a new generation of space enthusiasts and professionals and to enrich their curiosities.”
The four-day event included four virtual sessions and a grand finale visit to the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST) at the University of Sharjah. “This comprehensive approach ensures a balance between theoretical knowledge and practical exposure, catering to the diverse interests of our participants,” Abbas says.
Asma Hattawi, lecturer on stellar evolution during the camp, is a scientific guide at the SAAST who doubled as the group’s planetarium guide on the Sharjah visit. “The planetarium is an amazing place to explore the universe for people of all ages,” she says. “We have different movies that are specifically made to be viewed in a dome. We have special projectors that basically show you very realistic-looking stars where you can journey through the universe and learn all kinds of different things.”
Of the 70 camp attendees, 50 attended the optional field trip to Sharjah. “Our visit to the planetarium at the Sharjah Academy of Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology added a special touch,” says Aisha Alfalasi, a camp attendee from Khalifa University.
The curriculum featured topics like the sun, exoplanets, cosmology, and the birth and death of stars, culminating with the Milky Way.
“I've always had a fascination with space. The astronomy session made it even more interesting, especially with the discussion of new topics. Learning more about black holes and space-time was incredible! I gained a lot from this experience,” says Saif Alhosani of Khalifa University.
The program also offers diversity with topics like Muslim cultures and extraterrestrial life.
But what does this mean?
It encompasses the way that discovery of extraterrestrials, while not yet a reality, has infiltrated our lives through the arts. And artists are uniting Islamic scripture and history with science, “giving rise to highly original and profound views of our place in the cosmos,” the course description reads. This topic is directed by Dr. Jörg Matthias Determann, historian and scholar at Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar. He has published several books on the history of science and technology in the Middle East.
An outreach program is traditionally intended to reach all of the community, and in a melting pot of cultures that make up the UAE, differentiating is a necessity.
“We are deeply committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, with specific initiatives designed to encourage students from various backgrounds and nationalities to participate,” says Abbas. The free camp features guest speakers who bring different cultural perspectives and experiences.
Maryam Alyaarbi, a camp attendee, says the interactive sessions were especially effective. “You don’t only read about the displays, they show how it all works, which is great to experience as a visual learner. “
Shamsa Bilshalat, another participant, says she already had a strong base of astronomy knowledge going into the camp but came out with a deeper understanding.
Guest speakers and lecturers included: Dr. Roger Hajjar (University of Notre Dame), Mohammad Atoui (SAASST), Dr. Chris Hanson (NYUAD), Dr. Fazeel Khan (NYUAD), Dr. Joseph Gelfand (NYUAD) and Dr. Andrea Macciò (director of the Center for Astrophysics and Space Science).
Abbas says the event was another success for the outreach program and it seems the students agree.
“I felt truly delighted to have been invited to SAASST. It was a wonderful experience, and I am keen on revisiting. I thoroughly enjoyed and gained a lot of knowledge from the NYUAD Astronomy Camp,” says Mohamed Hamad of Applied Technology High School.
The space camp is not the only event hosted by NYUAD’s public outreach program.
The roster for the rest of 2024 includes an astrophotography workshop and astronomy seminars in UAE high schools taught by NYUAD faculty members. The workshop, called Capturing the Cosmos, is designed to help astrophotographers create breathtaking photos of the night sky from the UAE desert. The outreach team will also hold public talks as well as star, moon, and sun gazing events and more.
The next space camp is set for January 2025.
The CASS outreach team is made up of Macciò (CASS director), Bianca Arkeen (CASS outreach manager), and Amal Almazrouei (interactive media student at NYUAD).
Alexia Pereira (cinema/media undergrad student at NYUAD) works on the Spaced Out Podcast and helped on this camp.
Check out the CASS website for more information or email NYUAD.CASS.INFO@nyu.edu.
The Khalifa University Science and Tech Review (KUST Review) is a print and digital publication dedicated to bringing reliable and accessible information on trends, innovations, news, and more to lay audiences in the MENA region and around the world.