Experts in Science Centre and Museums operations and management, the company has been awarded a two year contract for Commissioning and Operating the new state-of-the-art Bahrain Science Center (BSC).
According to the Minister of Human Rights and Social Development, Fatima Al Beloushi, the science centre will fall under the Directorate of Family and Childhood Development in her Ministry, and will contribute to formal and non-formal science education and awareness programmes in Bahrain.
“Importance of science centres to the community and education is undebatable. Our aim is to strengthen the science and technology culture of Bahrain by engaging young people, and their families, in activities that excite their interest in science, technology and engineering,” Khalid Ishaq, Assistant Undersecretary of Community Development of Bahrain’s Ministry of Human Rights and Social Development said.
The Ministry has awarded a two-year contract to MTE Studios to develop the science centre. MTE Studios is a consultancy company that specializes in the conceptualization, design, development and operation of science centres, museums, visitor centres and other edutainment destinations. One of their most recent projects was the development of the Museum of Science and Technology in Islam at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia.
“We are excited to open the centre soon and collaborate with MTE Studios, whom we have identified as an experienced and valuable partner for our new Science Centre. We are confident that their extensive experience in operating Science Centre’s will help us achieve our goal in the accomplishment of social cohesion and attract the young generation towards science education and research. We look forward to the launch and success of the new centre,” Ishaq said.
“We are delighted to be awarded this contract as we believe that a science centre will contribute strongly to the Ministry’s social development programmes”, Ludo Verheyen, the CEO of MTE Studios, said.
“It has been shown worldwide that science centres are one of the most effective ways of bringing science and technology into the mainstream of society and strengthening a country’s science culture,” Verheyen, added.
Over 2500 interactive science centres have been established in more than 90 countries worldwide, and they receive over 310 million visitors per year. Globally, science centres and interactive museums have taken the lead in hands-on, inquiry-based learning, and have achieved a high trust rate for the accuracy of the information that they convey. The Bahrain Science Centre will be an active participant in this worldwide community of science centres.
“Science centres play many important roles in society,” Professor Mike Bruton, Director of Imagineering at MTE Studios and the Consultant Director of the new Science Centre, said.
“These roles include promoting awareness of science and technology among the youth, families and adults, supporting the school curriculum in science, mathematics and technology, and creating a forum for public debate on topical science and technology issues.”
School Groups will be formally invited to the Bahrain Science Centre from middle of April onwards. The target audience of the Bahrain Science Centre will be children as well as families and adults, and one of its most important roles will be to promote cross-generational learning between children and their parents and grandparents. The science centre will also endeavour to promote social engagement across different cultures as well as an ethos of lifelong learning.