MUSCAT: School children from the Sultanate of Oman, currently on a Nasa mission, celebrated the country’s 54th National Day at a colourful ceremony held at the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Centre in Washington, DC.
In early November, Students from the Ahmad Bin Majid International School (ABM), in cooperation with the Oman Astronomical Society (OAS), embarked on an extraordinary journey to Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US, as part of a unique cultural exchange and STEM exploration programme.
The event was attended by several prominent figures, including Sabira bint Ahmed al Hootiyah, Deputy Head of Mission at the Omani Embassy, Dr Majid al Khalili, President of the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Centre, along with invited guests and Omani students studying abroad.
Students from Ahmed Bin Majid International School, participating in a collaborative research mission with Nasa, delivered a speech to an audience which highlighted the history and cultural heritage of Oman, as well as the objectives of their research visit.
Earlier, the students were given a two-day immersive experience at the Space Center which engaged directly with Nasa in a STEM learning project, enhancing their scientific research skills. Also, while in Florida, they took part in a Nasa exploration journey, where they will tour Nasa facilities and participate in interactive learning sessions related to space exploration and innovation.
The trip, which happened while the country launched its first Omani satellite aligned with Oman’s National Day celebrations, served as an opportunity for students to act as ambassadors of Omani culture while engaging in cutting-edge scientific research, according to Abdulwahab bin Sulaiman al Busaidy, representative of Oman Astronomical Society (OAS).
Speaking to Observer Abdulwahab al Busaidy, a passionate stargazer who is accompanying the team of students, said that the first leg of the trip took place in New York, where students engaged themselves in a visit to cultural, historical, and scientific sites before they moved to Washington, DC.
He further said that the very purpose of the trip is manifold and include representing Oman as cultural ambassadors, sharing and celebrating Omani heritage with international audiences, promoting the exchange of cultural and heritage values between the two countries, to participate in an exclusive STEM learning research project with Nasa, to tour the Nasa Kennedy Space Center and gain firsthand experience in space research and exploration.
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