Two-day exhibition ignites the spark for science in Thari children

Participants came together to promote learning through practical demonstrations

KARACHI: Hundreds of children from across Thar gathered to play, learn, imagine, explore and discover the wonders of science at The Dawood Foundation's (TDF) two-day Magnifi-Science Thar Exhibition that concluded on Saturday.



TDF Magnifi-Science Thar Exhibition was organised in collaboration with the Thar Foundation, Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC), and Engro Corporation and Engro Powergen Thar Pvt Limited.

TDF Magnifi-Science Exhibition was an initiative that brings Pakistan's leading companies and public sector organisations along with academia, entrepreneurs and specialists in various science fields on a single platform to promote the culture of science, technology and critical thinking in the country. The exhibition was held in Karachi in 2016 and 2017 and was the biggest science exhibition in the country in terms of attendance, reach and impact. The exhibitions were able to attract over 50,000 visitors each year.

The exhibition aimed to make quality education accessible for all and encourage the quest for science in remote areas like Thar where literacy rate is quite low.

Enthusiastic children explored interesting themes such as Optical Illusions, Forces and Motion, Sound, Mind Games and Health. Each theme has exhibits designed by professionals to explain the basic principles of their practical demonstration.

TDF General Manager Syed Fasihuddin Biyabani shared her views on hosting the exhibition in Thar and said, "TDF Magnifi-Science is nationally recognised as an innovative method of promoting science knowledge in society through informal learning. It is encouraging to see that students and teachers of Thar showing enthusiasm to learn science. We believe that it is important to give the students of Thar a chance to experience science like their counterparts in the metropolis."



That Foundation Education Manager Sabeen Shah commented on the collaboration with TDF and said, "Thar Foundation aims to provide access to quality education to all students and children of Islamkot as part of its adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals accelerated model. Although Thar ranks low on Human Development Index, we believe that it has great potential and talent in terms of its students."

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2018.