Annual science fiesta pays tributes to 70 years of India–Oman ties
Students and teachers from as far as Jaalan Bani Bu Ali, Khasab, Sur, Ibri, Al Rustaq, Salalah and other schools in Muscat and nearby areas arrived at the campus of the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) to compete in the Annual Science Fiesta 2025 of the Indian Science Forum, an innovative event dedicated to 70 years of India–Oman diplomatic relations.
The Annual Science Fiesta 2025 brought together bright young minds from across Oman for a dynamic celebration of science, technology and innovation. The Indian School Al Ghubra won the Rolling Trophy for the overall champion. The first runner-up was Indian School Bausher while the Indian School Al Maabela bagged the second runner-up.
'AI – Mind Meets Machine', was this year's theme in competitions such as debates, poster making, digital symposium and exhibition. More than 5,000 students vied for the Shastra Pratibha contest.
The Science and Technology Achievement Award was presented to Dr Monojit Choudhury, Professor at Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), Abu Dhabi, who was also the keynote speaker. He works on natural language processing (NLP) and various branches of cognitive and social sciences. He has drawn inspiration from and contributed to the fields of historical and evolutionary linguistics, sociolinguistics, ethics, culture studies and ethnography.
Tariq bin Hilal al Barwani, technologist and influencer, was honoured with the prestigious Jayakar Award.
'This award is not just a recognition of past achievements, but a call to continue building, inspiring and transforming lives,' said Tariq, adding, 'I dedicate this honour to every young dreamer who believes in the power of knowledge, resilience and service to society.'
The award was presented by G V Srinivas, Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman, in the presence of Dr J Retnakumar, Chairman of the Indian Science Forum, Kiran Asher and Syed Ahmad Salman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Indian Schools in Oman.
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Observer
3 days ago
- Observer
Annual science fiesta pays tributes to 70 years of India–Oman ties
Students and teachers from as far as Jaalan Bani Bu Ali, Khasab, Sur, Ibri, Al Rustaq, Salalah and other schools in Muscat and nearby areas arrived at the campus of the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) to compete in the Annual Science Fiesta 2025 of the Indian Science Forum, an innovative event dedicated to 70 years of India–Oman diplomatic relations. The Annual Science Fiesta 2025 brought together bright young minds from across Oman for a dynamic celebration of science, technology and innovation. The Indian School Al Ghubra won the Rolling Trophy for the overall champion. The first runner-up was Indian School Bausher while the Indian School Al Maabela bagged the second runner-up. 'AI – Mind Meets Machine', was this year's theme in competitions such as debates, poster making, digital symposium and exhibition. More than 5,000 students vied for the Shastra Pratibha contest. The Science and Technology Achievement Award was presented to Dr Monojit Choudhury, Professor at Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), Abu Dhabi, who was also the keynote speaker. He works on natural language processing (NLP) and various branches of cognitive and social sciences. He has drawn inspiration from and contributed to the fields of historical and evolutionary linguistics, sociolinguistics, ethics, culture studies and ethnography. Tariq bin Hilal al Barwani, technologist and influencer, was honoured with the prestigious Jayakar Award. 'This award is not just a recognition of past achievements, but a call to continue building, inspiring and transforming lives,' said Tariq, adding, 'I dedicate this honour to every young dreamer who believes in the power of knowledge, resilience and service to society.' The award was presented by G V Srinivas, Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman, in the presence of Dr J Retnakumar, Chairman of the Indian Science Forum, Kiran Asher and Syed Ahmad Salman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Indian Schools in Oman.
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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, 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.
