Henkel is partnering with Dubai Municipality’s Children’s City to open their largest, global Forscherwelt for 7 to 11-year-olds.
Dubai Municipality’s Children’s City in Dubai Creek Park, will be unveiling Forscherwelt Science Lab for children in Dubai, the first of its kind in the region, on Monday 18 November.
Researchers’ World or ‘Forscherwelt’ in German, is an international initiative launched by Henkel in 2011 to encourage children to explore the fun and excitement in science. More than 44,000 children across the world have already taken part in Forscherwelt initiatives at centres in Germany (the home of Henkel), Russia and Turkey and with specially trained teachers visiting schools across Argentina, Chile, India, Ireland, Italy and Poland.
H.E. Eng. Dawood Al Hajiri, Director General of Dubai Municipality and Dr. Simone Bagel-Trah, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board and the Shareholders’ Committee of Henkel, are officially opening the new facility on Monday 18 November in the presence of UAE and German government officials and VIPs.
“We are delighted that Dubai is the first to host Forscherwelt Science Lab for children in the region, which confirms the UAE’s leadership role as a hub for knowledge and science regionally and internationally,” said H.E. Eng. Dawood Al Hajiri, Director General of Dubai Municipality. He added, “this science lab provides a wealth of information and will inspire a passion for science in children through the new lab’s modules. We strive to echo the UAE Government's ambition for children’s education to be focused on the future, innovation and science and the Forscherwelt facility is a wonderful addition to what we offer.”
Dr. Simone Bagel-Trah emphasized, “The opening of our largest, global Forscherwelt Science Lab for children here in Dubai underpins once more our commitment to the Middle East, a dynamic growth region for Henkel. As a company with a strong family heritage, it is especially important for us to contribute to the communities that we operate in. By encouraging children to explore the world of science like real researchers, we aim to spark a passion for scientific learning in young children, and inspire them to explore natural sciences as a career later on.”
The new facility follows the success of a temporary Forscherwelt at Children’s City, which has been offering a trial program to local children and schools over the past two years. During the specially developed program for children aged 7 to 11 years old, curiosity and fun is encouraged. The goal – to get children excited about scientific research. As part of the program, children explore natural sciences by conducting practical experiments related to everyday topics associated with Henkel´s research activities such as, finding out how to extract glue from a date, how toothpaste works or how clothes become clean again and the role of enzymes in this process.
Erdem Koçak, President of Henkel GCC and Regional Head of Finance for IMEA added, “Our Forscherwelt Science Lab for children in Dubai is more than a conventional science lab – it’s a space for experiments, exploring, creativity and fun. We would like to extend our gratitude to the Dubai Municipality and the Children’s City team for making this permanent facility possible and we look forward to welcoming thousands of curious young minds over the coming months.”
Forscherwelt Science Lab for children in Dubai is located at Children’s City, Dubai Creek Park and is for children aged between 7 and 11 years of age. Ten hand-picked employees from Children’s City have been trained in the past month by Ute Krupp, Head of Henkel Forscherwelt. They will be coaching the children on their scientific journey at this latest Forscherwelt. The Forscherwelt team will be offering ten, 45 minute modules, for up to 25 children per session. Sessions at Forscherwelt are free for children to attend.
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