SOURCE: GULFNEWS
Dubai’s Emirates Literature Festival 2023 opens; plans to go to space
Massive line-up of events unveiled; Sultan AlNeyadi to address students from ISS
UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi will tell stories from space to school students on a weekly basis during his six-month mission on the International Space Station (ISS), it was revealed on Wednesday.
His videos will be beamed to schools every Thursday via a new website, top officials of Emirates Literature Foundation (ELF) and Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) said at a press conference to announce highlights of the 15th edition of Emirates Airline Festival of Literature (Emirates LitFest) that kicked off this morning.
On Wednesday on his Twitter account, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, praised the role played by the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in cultural creativity and book industry.
On its Crystal Edition, ELF has partnered with MBRSC to launch “ELF in Space”, a family education programme, announced Isobel Abulhoul, CEO and trustee, Emirates Literature Foundation.
The programme will see children engage with astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi on his six-month journey at ISS. “The dynamic interactions with Sultan and other astronauts involved in the programme will serve us to stimulate, engage, excite and educate students across the UAE and region,” said Abulhoul.
Educational content from space will be aired to schools on a weekly basis under the ELF in Space initiative, said Salem Humaid Al Marri, director general of MBRSC.
“Videos that will be taken from space and then be broadcast, either live or pre-recorded and put on a weekly basis on a website. And that will then go to all schools,” he told Gulf News.
He said Al Neyadi will be talking about his life in space, his routine, the importance of reading and science etc.