DHAHRAN: Young Saudi schoolchildren will get to experience the wonders of science when Siemens Saudi Arabia and Saudi Aramco team-up to distribute “Discovery Boxes” to students throughout the Kingdom.
The two companies recently signed a memorandum of understanding on the program, which has been implemented in countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. A pilot program will introduce 400 Eastern Province students, aged 3-7, and 30 teachers who will take part in a training course on how to use the materials to improve youngsters’ understanding of the sciences. The kits contain a variety of tools and materials required to easily and safely conduct age-appropriate, scientific experiments in electricity, energy, the environment and health.
Among the materials included in the Discovery Boxes are a light-creating experiment, in which students will create an electric circuit using a battery, wire and light bulbs. Children also learn how to make electricity flow and power light. In an experiment on heat creation, youngsters use steel wool, needles, wood and batteries in which the steel wool glows. Another activity sure to be popular will be a paper clip race in which students will test the viscosities of different liquids by simply dropping the paper clips into the test tubes. “This initiative seeks to enhance the educational environment in terms of teaching science and technology and developing a passion for research and exploration among schoolchildren,” said Khalid A. Al-Buraik, vice president of Saudi Aramco Affairs. “Through this initiative and cooperation with the concerned agencies in the Kingdom, we aim to raise a generation of children and youth who are interested in science, knowledge and innovation,” he added.
“We at Siemens Saudi Arabia are very pleased to team up with Saudi Aramco on this initiative,” said Joerg Drescher, vice president of Corporate Communications at Siemens Co. “This project has been applied in many countries, such as Austria, Ireland, Brazil, Korea, China, Egypt and others.”
Drescher said the scope of the project was significant. “The Saudi initiative is the largest of its kind in the world, with 3,500 kits to be distributed to government schools. This demonstrates both companies’ commitment to local communities in the Kingdom. We also believe the ‘Discovery Box’ initiative will help support the education process and bring science fundamentals closer to children in the Kingdom. It is our duty as a Saudi company to invest in the future of the next generation.”
