Category: Press releases

Al-Jazari ‘s Elephant Water Clock exhibit comes to Bahrain

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Elephent_Clock Shereen Shabnam

Bahrain Science Centre, a part of Ministry of Social Development is currently showcasing a scale model replica of one of the most famous inventions from the Golden Age of Islamic Science, the Al-Jazari’s ‘Elephant Water Clock’, manufactured by MTE Studios in the foyer area of the centre. The exhibit has proven to be of great interest to the general public who gather around it, read the labels while students learn more about it using educational activity sheets.

Al-Jazari invented the ‘Elephant Water Clock’ for several reasons. It was mainly to tell the time and to showcase the advanced state of Islamic engineering but also to celebrate the universality of Islam in the 12th century.  The Clock includes an elephant from India, an Egyptian phoenix, Persian carpets, Indian water technology, Arabian architecture and Chinese serpents.

Visitors will learn how the clock was used to tell the time to the half hour using an elaborate ball run system that is powered by a perforated bowl technique first devised by the Greeks and then perfected later in India.

Al-Jazari’s clock is one of the most amazing automated machines invented during the middle Ages. Don’t miss this opportunity to see it as the exhibit will only remain there until the last week of January.

Impressive whale skeleton welcomes visitors to Bahrain Science Centre

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Shereen Bahrain Science

Bahrain Science Centre, a part of the Ministry of Social Development, has revamped the external look of the building with a giant skeleton of a whale mounted on the top of its entrance archway.

The whale, known by the name of Bryde’s whale, had been washed up on the shore of the King Fahd causeway between Umm an nasan island and the main island about 18 years ago. Bryde’s whales reach a length of about 15 m and appear in warm seas throughout the world.

Bryde’s whales have no teeth but, like the great whales, they have two huge baleen plates in their mouths that they use to sieve small shoaling fishes, such as sardines, anchovies and pilchards. Like all whales, they are air-breathing and rise to the surface every 5-15 minutes to take a gulp of air. They can dive to depths of over 300 m and swim at speeds of 6 to 24 km/h.

Interested visitors can download the weekly programme on the website www.bahrainsciencecentre.com for more information. The Bahrain Science Centre is located in Building 334, Road 109, Block 801, Riyadh Avenue, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain and can be contacted on 17686466

Science of Photography workshops at Bahrain Science Centre

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Light_Painting[1]

One of the interesting and the most recent workshops that will be held in Bahrain Science Centre, a part of the Ministry of Social Development in the month of September 2013 is the “Science of Photography Workshop”

The main objective of this workshop is to introduce the participants to the basic concepts of the science behind photography. The goal is to illustrate the fundamental basics and terms of digital photography such as ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed to the audience in an interactive and comprehensible manner. The trainers will also be discussing the simple basics and “rules” of photocomposition.

By the end of this workshop, the participants will learn how essential it is to understand and control light in order for them to attain the desired results. They will also understand how the human eye functions and how similar the mechanism is to that of a camera.

The workshop will conclude with a practical exercise of a technique called “Light Painting.” Light painting is a photographic technique in which exposures are made by moving a hand-held light source or by moving the camera.

The workshop primarily targets youngsters from the age of 12 and above. Interested visitors can download the weekly programme on the website www.bahrainsciencecentre.com for more information.

The Bahrain Science Centre is located in Building 334, Road 109, Block 801, Riyadh Avenue, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain and can be contacted on 17686466

New exciting workshops at the Bahrain Science Centre

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Two exciting two-hour workshops, on ‘Robotics’ and ‘Stop-Go Animation’, will take place at the Bahrain Science Centre, part of the Ministry of Social Development on 19th and 20th August, and the first students to enroll will be included in the workshops.

The workshops will be run by the Program Management Division of the US Embassy in Bahrain and will be run by two experienced science educators, Christopher Coleman and Laleh Mehran, both Associate Professors at the University of Denver in the USA.

The ‘Robotics’ workshops will take place in the Auditorium from 4 to 6 pm and are targeted at students aged 11 to 14 years. Only 12 people can be accepted for this workshop. This workshop will examine the basic ideas of robots and how they think. Participants will experiment with different small robots and watch them in action. They will also solder parts together to make their own robots, which they can take home.

The ‘Stop-Go Animation’ workshops will be held in the Classroom from 4 to 6 pm on Monday, 19th August and Tuesday, 20th August and are targeted at students aged 8 years and older. Only 12 people can be accepted for this workshop. This workshop is for kids who want to learn how to make ‘stop-go’ animations that are inspired by their surroundings and their own imaginations. Participants will learn how to manipulate objects and to create their own stories.

Organised activity schedules can be downloaded from the Bahrain Science Centre website and Facebook pages. The Bahrain Science Centre is located in Building 334, Road 109, Block 801, Riyadh Avenue, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain and can be contacted on 17686466.

About Bahrain Science Centre (BSC):

The Bahrain Science Centre (BSC) is an interactive educational facility that targets children, youth and families of Bahrain. It is located in building 334, Road 109, Block 801, Riyadh Avenue, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain. The science centre has six interactive exhibition galleries, an auditorium, four laboratories and a café/shop.

The role of the BSC is to promote awareness of the importance of science and technology, complement the school curriculum, stimulate curiosity and innovation, and create a forum for public debate on science and technology issues. The topics covered by current exhibitions include junior engineering, human health, the five senses, earth sciences and biodiversity.

Focusing on hands-on learning using interactive displays and people-centred programmes, such as science shows, Bahrain Science Centre also strongly promotes creativity and innovation as well as cross-generational learning. The science centre will also endeavour to promote an awareness of Bahrain’s contributions to science and technology and a strong Bahraini identity. It is an ideal family edutainment destination

Brain and Memory is the June theme at Bahrain Science Centre

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Natasha Dury Shereen Shabnam

During June 2013, Bahrain Science Centre, a part of the Ministry of Social Development will host various activities under the theme ‘Brain & Memory’. A series of displays, talks and competitions will be held to celebrate this theme with highlights including ‘Brain Gym’ and ‘Brain Olympics’

The activities of this month will allow visitors to get the deep knowledge of how brain functions from the process of storing information, its weight, how many neurons are there, and how much energy dose the brain use?

Memory is headquartered in the brain and unlike other body organs, such as the heart (which is a pump), liver (chemical factory) or the lungs (bellows), your brain is ‘you’ and cannot be transplanted. Learn more by visiting the Science centre during the month of June.

The Bahrain Science Centre is located in Building 334, Road 109, Block 801, Riyadh Avenue, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain and can be contacted on 17686466.

Press release issued on behalf Bahrain Science Centre. For further information, please contact Shereen Shabnam on +971 507690087/ 504828177/ shereen@mtestudios.com. For information on the weekly programmes at the Bahrain Science Centre, please contact Amna Aldoseri at amna@mtestudios.com.

About Bahrain Science Centre (BSC):

The Bahrain Science Centre (BSC) is an interactive educational facility that targets children, youth and families of Bahrain. It is located in building 334, Road 109, Block 801, Riyadh Avenue, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain. The science centre has six interactive exhibition galleries, an auditorium, four laboratories and a café/shop.

The role of the BSC is to promote awareness of the importance of science and technology, complement the school curriculum, stimulate curiosity and innovation, and create a forum for public debate on science and technology issues. The topics covered by current exhibitions include junior engineering, human health, the five senses, earth sciences and biodiversity.

Focusing on hands-on learning using interactive displays and people-centred programmes, such as science shows, Bahrain Science Centre also strongly promotes creativity and innovation as well as cross-generational learning. The science centre will also endeavour to promote an awareness of Bahrain’s contributions to science and technology and a strong Bahraini identity. It is an ideal family edutainment destination.

DNA workshops and murder mystery by forensic scientist at Bahrain Science Centre

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Visiting forensic scientist, Professor Valerie Corfield, explains the intricacies of the DNA spiral to young visitors to the Bahrain Science Centre during a 'DNA Detective' workshop

Visiting forensic scientist, Professor Valerie Corfield, explains the intricacies of the DNA spiral to young visitors to the Bahrain Science Centre during a ‘DNA Detective’ workshop

Bahrain Science Centre, part of the Ministry of Social Development in Bahrain, is  currently hosting a real forensic scientist from the Medical Research Council in South Africa, Dr Valerie Corfield.

Professor Valerie Corfield is a retired medical researcher who is very well known in South Africa for her involvement in informal education on medical issues, including HIV-Aids and the use of DNA in forensic science and genetics. She is holding ‘DNA Detective’ workshops and one ‘DNA Murder Mystery’, which will allow visitors to get involved and discover the wonder of DNA. She will also do staff training on how to use DNA in teaching about forensics and genetics.

The ‘DNA Detective Workshop’ is suitable for visitors aged 9 years and older and the ‘Murder Mystery’ is suitable for visitors 12 years and older.

Later today, a ‘murder’ in a make-believe space ship (BSC 13) will be enacted at the Bahrain Science Centre this Thursday evening and everyone is invited to come along and help solve the ‘crime’.

The Commander of the Space Ship BSC 13, Astro Naut, is mysteriously murdered and every member of the crew is a suspect.

Is the murderer Cosmo Naut, the jealous younger brother of the Commander, or Mike Apollo, a space tourist, or the unhappy wife of the Commander, Countfore Naut, the pompous and unbearable Max D Oderant, sponsor of the space tourists, or the heavily armed Flight Chef Para Noyd? Perhaps it is the programmer of the androids, Maida Blunder, or even one of the androids itself, C3PO. Or maybe it is Detective Conan from the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, who is a guest onboard of ultra rich Lady Bonnie Bigbux, herself a prime suspect?

Date:Time:Venue: 30 May 2013 5: 00 to 7pm pm – Murder Mystery “Death in Orbit “ play

Bahrain Science Centre, Building 334, Road 109, Block 801, Riyadh Avenue, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain.

 

 

 

 

The Bahrain Science Centre is located in Building 334, Road 109, Block 801, Riyadh Avenue, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain and can be contacted on 17686466.

For more information, please contact:

Shereen Shabnam

BH Mob: +973 39511234

UAE Mob: +971 50 4828177/7690087

Bahrain Science Centre to host a unique Sound of Music show

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Our colleague Mohammed does the Sound of music show at Bahrain Science Centre

Our colleague Mohammed does the Sound of music show at Bahrain Science Centre

Bahrain Science Centre, part of the Ministry of Social Development in Bahrain will actively focus on exploring science shows on music this month sparked by the famous South African science show presenter, Derek Fish who visited the science centre last year.

Derek gave some terrific performances of his ‘Sounds of Music’ show to capacity audiences, encouraging facilitators to teach science using music in Bahrain. Two of the centre’s Facilitators, Mohammed Alkooheji and Hafsa Rahman, have taken the lead in this exciting initiative.

Sound travels in waves, but what do these waves look like?  The centre has bought some software that shows, on the screen, what high and low-pitched sound waves look like. There are already downloaded sounds made by different musical instruments and visitors can watch the waves that they make.

Further research reveals that the shortest strings on string instruments, such as the guitar or violin, produce the highest pitch sounds and the longest strings produce the lowest pitch sounds. Likewise, wind instruments with large or long sound chambers (tuba, baritone saxophone, French horn, trombone) produce deeper sounds than instruments with small or narrow sound chambers (piccolo, flute or clarinet). To learn more, visit the Bahrain Science Centre.

The Bahrain Science Centre is located in Building 334, Road 109, Block 801, Riyadh Avenue, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain and can be contacted on 17686466.

Press release issued on behalf Bahrain Science Centre. For further information, please contact Shereen Shabnam on +971 507690087/ 504828177/ shereen@mtestudios.com. For information on the weekly programmes at the Bahrain Science Centre, please contact Amna Aldoseri at amna@mtestudios.com.

 

The most efficient vehicle – Learn about bicycles at Bahrain Science Centre

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Bicycle exhibit Shereen Shabnam

During April and May 2013 the Bahrain Science Centre part of the Ministry of Social Development in Bahrain is celebrating the theme ‘Machines & Mechanisms’. One of its displays and activities during these theme months is on the most efficient vehicle ever invented, the bicycle.

The bicycle display demonstrates why the bicycle is so efficient due to its ergonomic design that uses the human body as a source of power, its light weight, streamlining, reduced rolling resistance on the road and reduced friction resistance in the chain and sprockets.

Furthermore, the rider is seated and does not have to support his/her weight, and the reciprocal cycling action allows one leg to recover while the other leg is pushing. Bicycles also have gears that provide mechanical advantage when riding uphill or against the wind, and can free-wheel downhill without any use of energy.

The display also emphasizes that the bicycle is the most environmentally friendly form of transport as it reduces air pollution, does not produce greenhouse gases and therefore reduces our carbon footprint. It also reduces noise levels, consumes fewer resources to make and use, and uses less space than cars and therefore reduces traffic congestion. Bicycles also facilitate healthy exercise and promote a healthy outdoor life style.

The discussion and workshops around the display will focus on the design of the mechanics of the bicycle and should be of interest to people of all age groups.

Don’t miss the display, discussions, debates and workshops on the bicycle in the Bahrain Science Centre during April and May 2013.

The Bahrain Science Centre is located in Building 334, Road 109, Block 801, Riyadh Avenue, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain and can be contacted on 17686466.

Press release issued on behalf Bahrain Science Centre. For further information, please contact Shereen Shabnam on +971 507690087/ 504828177/ shereen@mtestudios.com.

Week of Chemistry’ at the Bahrain Science Centre

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Detlef 3

Detlef presenting a chemistry show

During the week of 22nd to 25th April 2013, the Bahrain Science Centre, part of Ministry of Social Development, will be featuring an intensive week of chemistry shows, discussions and debates.

World famous science educator, Detlef Basel from the Cape Town Science Centre in South Africa will present nine, one-hour ‘Hooked on Science’ chemistry shows throughout the week.

Detlef has over 40 years experience doing science shows and has performed on television and in front of huge live audiences. He is an expert at creating big (but safe) bangs, whizzes and pops and will enthrall you with his mastery of simple chemical elements, many of which can be found in your kitchen cupboard.

The ‘Hooked on Science’ shows are suitable for all age groups and will be presented during the mornings for school groups and during the afternoons and evenings for families. Visit the Science Centre’s website for more details.

The Bahrain Science Centre is located in Building 334, Road 109, Block 801, Riyadh Avenue, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain and can be contacted on 17686466.

MTE Studios currently manages and operates the Bahrain Science Centre. For further information, please contact Shereen Shabnam on +971 507690087/ 504828177/ shereen@mtestudios.com. For information on the weekly programmes at the Bahrain Science Centre, please contact Amna Aldoseri at amna@mtestudios.com.

Science and Technology Models exhibition at Bahrain Science Centre tomorrow

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Bahrain Science Centre, part of the Ministry of Social Development, along with the Institution of Engineers (India) Bahrain chapter (IEIBC) is showcasing an exhibition of the models displayed by students themed Science and Technology Models. The exhibition is scheduled on 8th February, 2013 between 3pm to 6pm, at the Bahrain Science Centre.

Participation is open to all parents and students and provides a wonderful opportunity for students of all ages to learn useful projects in science and technology, using simple materials and very innovative workable ideas.

Parents and teachers are encouraged to motivate the children to see this inspiring learning experience and visitors are requested to reach the venue in time to avoid rush.

The Bahrain Science Centre is located in Building 334, Road 109, Block 801, Riyadh Avenue, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain and can be contacted on 17686466.