SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, Expo-Sciences International (ESI) 2025 opened on Monday with young innovators showcasing their work and STEAM projects.

Organised by the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET), ESI brings together professionals and emerging talents — specifically those aged 13 to 25 — in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). The event runs until October 1 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.

Speaking to Aletihad, Dr. Ali Al Marzouqi, President of EmiratesSkills at ACTVET, noted that by hosting ESI for the third time, the centre primarily aims to gather leading researchers and highlight the latest innovations from around the world.

This year's edition features participants from 46 countries, presenting about 685 projects across a wide range of scientific and technological fields, including artificial intelligence and robotics, he said.

In addition to the main exhibition, participants can take part in workshops and cultural tours, offering an enriching, around-the-world experience. "It's as if you are visiting 46 countries but, instead, 46 countries are here with you," Al Marzouqi said.

For EDGE Group, a platinum sponsor of the event, ESI is "a key platform for promoting STEM education, youth engagement and innovation in the UAE", said Anwan Al Katheeri, Senior Manager – National Capabilities Development for the group.

The Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), also a platinum sponsor, is leveraging ESI's platform to advance its mission of connecting the youth with next-generation technologies and future-focused career opportunities.

As part of its participation, ATRC is showcasing global competitions such as the A2RL Drones Championship and A2RL Racing League, along with key initiatives like the UAE Research Map and Future-Focused Career Pathways.

Exploring Space

Two NASA representatives taking part in the event - Ariel Antonio Tello and Alma Stephanie Tapia - emphasised the collaborative nature of space exploration projects. And gatherings like ESI help foster international partnerships, inspire young innovators, and advance shared goals in science and technology.

Tapia said the effort to move the world into space "is not just a one-nation endeavour, it is a human endeavour, and we need our whole international community to do that".

At the NASA stand, she presented Gateway, "humanity's first space station around the Moon" — a landmark project that the agency is building in partnership with the international community. Tapia noted that an integral element of the infrastructure is being developed with NASA's partners in the UAE.

When it comes to space exploration, Tello said NASA's most significant mission at the moment is Artemis II, a historic journey that will send a crew of astronauts on a 10-day flight around the Moon.

"In lunar orbit, they will test some of the capabilities they have onboard," Tello explained. The mission is scheduled for liftoff in 2026.