Annual Science Fiesta 2025 from May 23-24
Oman will host two days of celebration of science with special focus on AI on May 23 and 24 at the National University of Science and Technology, Al Hail Campus, as part of the 70th year of Indo-Oman diplomatic relations.
The annual science festival, organised by the Indian Science Forum (ISF), which is currently in its 18th edition, will see students from across the country vying with each other with their creative scientific ideas on the two days.
For those children with a nack for science, the Annual Science Fiesta 2025 is a flagship celebration of science and innovation aimed at fostering scientific knowledge, curiosity, and creativity among them. G V Srinivas, Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman, will be the chief guest.
Organisers said that the two-day format reflects the increasing participation and growing popularity of the event, offering a broader platform for students to engage, compete, and showcase their scientific talents.
"The Annual Science Fiesta 2025 promises a dynamic lineup of activities, including competitions, exhibitions, workshops, and interactive sessions. Over the years, ISF has successfully organised a wide range of science events such as the Sastra Pratibha Contest, Science Quiz, Science Debate, On-the-Spot Presentations, Digital Symposiums, Poster Making and Science Exhibitions—all of which have garnered enthusiastic participation from students, educators, and parents across Oman," organisers said.
The highlight of this year's event will be the felicitation and award ceremony for the 18th Sastra Pratibha winners, taking place during the Science Fiesta.
A battery of great personalities in science and technology along with AI will address th3 children during the two days.
Dr. Monojit Choudhury, a renowned expert in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Professor at Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), Abu Dhabi, will be the Keynote Speaker.
Tariq al Barwani, a leading technology specialist and a prominent figure in Oman's IT sector, wi be the guest of honour while Syed Ahmad Salman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Indian Schools in Oman, wi be the guest of honour.
The presence of several dignitaries, academic leaders, and science enthusiasts will make this event a landmark celebration in Oman's academic calendar.
Also, the winners of the Sastra Pratibhas for 2025 were also announced:
Isha Fathima – Grade 5, Indian School Salalah
Advik Aby – Grade 6, Indian School Al Maabela
Richan Kumar – Grade 6, Indian School Bousher
Mithil Sadhasivam – Grade 7, Indian School Al Ghubra
Reha Mufeed – Grade 8, Indian School Nizwa
Nazish Shoukat Mukhari – Grade 9, Indian School Al Ghubra
Devraja Krishnan P – Grade 10, Indian School Al Seeb, are.the winners of Sasthra Prathibha.
A series of scientific events will mark the opening day of the celebrations on 23rd May 2025. On the second day, the science exhibition will be held during the morning hours, followed by the award ceremony and main function, which will commence at 2:00 PM.
There will be an interactive session with Prof. Monojit Choudhury, on 23rd May 2025 at 2:30 PM. This special session, designed for the student community from various schools, promises to be a highly enriching experience for our younger generation.
The event is being coordinated by Global Events. Dr. J. Retnakumar, Chairman, Suresh Akkammadathil, General Secretary, Latha Sreejith, General Coordinator, Gandhiraj, Treasurer, and Hala P. Jamal, Program Coordinator were also present at the announcement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Times of Oman
Oman making efforts to be among top in global innovation index by 2030
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman is making dedicated efforts to support research and innovation, which has resulted in its advancement by 10 positions in the Global Innovation Index (GII) issued by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) over four years—rising from 84th to 74th place. Additionally, Oman improved its ranking in innovation outputs by 23 spots, moving from 109th to 86th. In this context, Dr. Saif Abdullah Al Haddabi, Undersecretary for Research and Innovation at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, affirmed to Oman News Agency (ONA) that the recent commendation by the World Bank for "Oman Vision 2040"—which places significant emphasis on human capital development, education quality enhancement, and fostering a culture of research and innovation—reflects the concerted efforts of all relevant stakeholders working diligently to achieve the vision's goals. He stated that Oman, under "Oman Vision 2040," aims to rank among the top 40 countries in the Global Innovation Index by 2030 and among the top 20 by 2040. He explained that the innovation index is one of the most critical indicators in "Oman Vision 2040," as it influences competitiveness and other key metrics. The index is measured by WIPO, drawing data from the World Bank, UNESCO, and 13 other global institutions. At the national level, he noted, the index is measured through infrastructure and digital framework programs. This includes research centers such as the Muscat Innovation Complex as an established infrastructure, as well as Oman Research and Education Network (OMREN), which covers nearly 99% of institutions and connects all universities and colleges in Oman, offering over 23 services. He highlighted the development of digital infrastructure through Oman Research Portal, an integrated digital platform managing research programs—evaluating, funding, and tracking their performance. Additionally, efforts are underway to establish a research equipment platform cataloging and classifying research tools used by academics, industrial institutions, and other stakeholders. Al Haddabi added that the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation implements numerous programs supporting scientific research in Oman, categorized into three main initiatives targeting academic, governmental, and industrial sectors. The Scientific Publishing Program, he noted, serves as an international benchmark for knowledge production, tracking publications in prestigious scientific journals. This programme enhances Oman's standing in the Global Innovation Index's knowledge output metrics. Since 2018, the Ministry has funded 2,228 research projects under the Academic Sector Research Support Program ("Performance-Based Institutional Funding"), including 475 projects last year worth approximately OMR2.4 million. Under the Strategic Research Programme for the government sector, addressing institutional challenges, 74 projects were funded, while the Industrial Sector's "Ijada" Program supported 61 projects with a total investment of OMR2.5 million. Al Haddabi emphasised that these integrated programmes, initiatives, and funding mechanisms collectively advance "Oman Vision 2040" objectives, elevate Oman's global rankings, and enhance the efficiency of national research and innovation. As for innovation and capacity-building programmes, he outlined 13 initiatives, including the National Program for Supporting Innovation Centres in Higher Education, the Student Graduation Projects to Startups Program, the Falling Walls Competition, and national research awards honouring scholars across sectors. Omani innovators and researchers also participate in international competitions such as the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, the Kuala Lumpur International Invention Awards, and the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. He touched on the four pillars of the National Innovation Strategy, namely Knowledge-Based Economic Diversification (Transforming traditional products into high-value outputs using technology and knowledge), Human Capital (Investing in education, skills, and cognitive development to foster innovative solutions), Institutional Integration (Strengthening collaboration among government, academic, and industrial entities to address national challenges) and Intellectual Property (IP) (Protecting innovators' rights and patents to ensure long-term investment in innovation, where IP assets like patents are key intangible resources for licensing or commercialization). On future plans, he stated that the Ministry is implementing structured strategies to support academic innovation through establishment and empowerment pathways, including six university incubators. Programs are designed to be flexible and scalable for maximum researcher and innovator benefit. Upcoming initiatives include launching "Oman Innovates," a national platform centralizing innovation services—facilitating access to support, registration, funding, and investor connections—to serve as Oman's digital innovation hub. In conclusion, Al Haddabi underscored the media's vital role in promoting scientific and innovation culture, which is fundamental to nurturing a generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. He observed growing awareness in schools and universities through competitions and events, reflecting the nation's progressive strides in research and innovation.
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Times of Oman
Muscat Municipality organises training programme in pest control
Muscat: In partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), Muscat Municipality successfully conducted a specialised training programme for the pest control professionals, from 18 May to 1 June 2025. This initiative is part of the Municipality's ongoing efforts to build national expertise in vector control and raise public health standards across the Governorate. Aligned with the latest international standards and best practices, the programme was designed to train the national workforce and field operatives in pest control. It offered a comprehensive approach, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application. It focused on pest identification, risk assessment, and the implementation of integrated, sustainable, and environmentally conscious control strategies. The initiative included a series of scientific lectures and on-site workshops delivered by leading international experts from the WHO. Skilled professionals across the wilayats of Muscat Governorate participated in these sessions, contributing to a dynamic and engaging training environment. 'The collaboration with the WHO underscores Muscat Municipality's commitment to strengthening partnerships with global institutions and capitalising on their expertise across various fields. It enables us to adopt world-class public health practices and further develop the skills and capabilities of our national workforce, contributing directly to national efforts to mitigate health risks and improve quality of life. "We remain steadfast in our investment in human capital, which forms the foundation of the sustainable urban development we aspire to,' said His Excellency Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Humaidi, Chairman of Muscat Municipality. Notably, this programme marks a significant milestone in Muscat Municipality's strategy to establish an effective and enduring pest control system aligned with public health objectives and national priorities. The Municipality also reaffirmed its commitment to enhance cooperation with international organisations, advance knowledge exchange, and launch further specialised training initiatives. Ultimately, this approach will empower national talent and elevate municipal services in line with the highest professional and scientific benchmarks.
Times of Oman
28-05-2025
- Times of Oman
Oman participates in Arab-Chinese Experts Meeting on Libraries and Information in China
Nanjing: The Sultanate of Oman is taking part in the sixth session of the Arab-Chinese Experts Meeting on Libraries and Information, held in Nanjing, China, from during 26-30 May 2025 under the theme: "Trends in National and Central Libraries in the Age of Artificial Intelligence." The meeting falls within the executive program of the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum for 2024–2026, under the patronage of the General Secretariat of the Arab League and the National Library of China, and is hosted by the Propaganda and United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China's Jiangbei New District Committee, with the participation of the Jiangbei Library. Oman's delegation from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth participated in the third session of the meeting, which discussed 'Cooperation and Partnerships: Building Collaborative Networks, Exchanging Expertise, and Developing Skills and Competencies in AI for Arab and Chinese Libraries." The participation aimed to strengthen strategic partnerships in the field of libraries and information, exchange expertise in utilising AI technologies, and support joint knowledge development efforts between Arab countries and China. This contributes to effective integration and communication between cultural and library institutions. Additionally, the meeting sought to establish platforms for professional exchange and cooperation between Arab and Chinese libraries, encouraging joint initiatives that enhance competencies and foster a culture of innovation in the library sector based on trust and mutual benefit. The event saw broad attendance, with 21 representatives from 10 Arab League member states alongside delegates from 17 Chinese libraries, reflecting shared interest in strengthening cooperation to address the challenges and opportunities posed by the digital revolution in the library sector.
