Takatof was set up to help young people become more engaged citizens and use their free time productively. It offers meaningful opportunities to volunteer, helping to build confidence, team working skills and networks which can support future employment. Takatof also offers services to corporates to establish employee volunteering programs and helps to promote a culture of volunteering across the UAE.
SANID is an emergency response volunteering program that draws on the strengths of proven international models. It unites volunteers and prepares them to cope with national and international emergencies, thus demonstrating the country’s readiness to manage any crisis situation. The program is offering services to corporates interested in building their own emergency preparedness and government entities seeking to build this skill set nationwide.
Think Science aims to offset the decline in young people studying Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) by getting them inspired about the professional opportunities in this space. The program aims to excite youth about the application of science in the modern world, encourage them to pursue their studies in this area and connect them to businesses looking for STEM talent.
Esref Sah promotes financial literacy amongst Emirati youth helping young people to manage their personal finances better. This is done through education about budgeting and saving and also through peer mentors. It also works with the education authorities to embed financial literacy into the national curriculum and with financial institutions to help them better serve their customers.
Kafa’at aims to encourage more youth to join the private sector by helping them become ‘job ready’. It provides leadership skills and knowledge about enterprise and social enterprise through training, mentoring and internships. Through its various modules, the program aims to inspire youth about a career in business and to connect private sector companies to top local talent.
Dawamee aims to enable and empower unemployed youth across the UAE. It supports them in developing a career based on market-driven demand and yet can be accessed remotely or on part time bases. Through the launch of the first specialized on-line portal to provide flexible and remote job opportunities.
At Think Science, we recognize this need and work to initiate a movement towards scientific innovation amongst young scientific talent.
The Think Science Ambassadors competed with their 6 projects, where “Invisible Helios Power” project won the ISEF 2016 “Special Award for Sustainability” which was invented by Maryam Mohammad Al Hashmi, Maryam Fuad Bukhash, and Amna Mohammad Alhashmi. The “Invisible Helios Power” team had designed and created a transparent solar cell, made up of plastic and glass. This will give the opportunity to apply this solar cell to more than 50% of the country, all skyscrapers, windows, homes, buildings, and even to the simplest things, our phones. The project will enable the nation to benefit from solar energy in a way it has never before. This project is considerably cheap, efficient and eco-friendly that can be used as a source of natural lighting and an alternative to electric light.
Think Science Ambassadors were invited to participate in the “Innovations Exhibition” which took place at the UAEU Science & Innovation Park, Al Ain from 20 – 24 November 2016 as part of the UAE Innovation Week initiative. The event was highly successful with the visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai who attended the event and engaged with our Think Science Ambassadors.
Think Science Ambassadors participated in the Ministry of Education’s National Innovation Exhibition (NIE) from 24-26 November which took place in Dubai and are proud to announce that Saif Al Hammadi who won first place in the Think Science Competition under the category of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering competed and won overall First Place in the NIE Science Fair with his project “Mind Copter” which acts is a remote controlled Hexcopter-drone that hovers close to the ground to detect and locate the coordinates of mines via GPS safely without the risk of exploding the mine. Furthermore, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chairman of Emirates Foundation, visited the event and engaged with our Think Science Ambassadors at the Think Science stand.
16 Think Science Ambassadors successfully completed the “Explore Smart Korea” trip, a 7 day learning journey to South Korea on 7-15 September 2016; which was focused that is focused on supporting the ambassador’s personal development and encouraging them to pursue a STEM based education by showcasing the latest innovations in the fields of steel manufacturing, nuclear energy, ICT, aerospace, electronics and heavy industries in Korea.
The trip provided a great opportunity for TS Ambassadors expand their analytical thinking and scientific understanding by exposing them to the latest scientific ideas, researches and challenges from experts in the field that supports the ambitious industrial development goals of the UAE.
As part of the “Think Science Ambassadors” Program, that inspires and empowers outstanding youth who had previously participated in the Think Science Competition, 10 young Emirati Think Science Ambassadors were nominated to participate in the prominent in Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the largest international pre-college science competition in the world which provides an annual forum for more than 1,800 high school students from over 75 countries, regions, and territories to display their independent research and compete at the international level.
ISEF 2017 took place in Los Angeles, USA between 14-19 May 2017 and provided our Emirati youth with the opportunity to gain the knowledge and self-confidence to overcome any limitations and boundaries in order to transform their creativity into real solutions benefiting society in the fields of science, technology and innovation.
