Sony Science Show opens to enthusiastic response

The one-hour show, hosted by Japanese scientific entertainer, Soichi Nishimura, converts classroom theories into interactive experiments, on subjects such as conduction, air pressure, and flight dynamics.

Aimed at fourth-graders from schools in Dubai, the auditorium was packed on the first day with over 900 excited students who responded enthusiastically to the genius of Nishimura who travels the world to educate and entertain children through simple scientific experiments using basic everyday props such as balloons, paper, strings and cardboard boxes

Said Osamu Miura, Managing Director, Sony Gulf FZE on the opening day: 'The Sony Science Show is an occasion that makes me both proud and happy. It is not often that I get such an opportunity to be with children and rediscover - the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.

He added: 'This program was instituted in Dubai last year to nurture a spirit of curiosity and scientific thinking among students. And to provide them with an environment of fun and personal engagement that makes the learning process more enjoyable'.

Nishimura demonstrated experiments such as flight dynamics and rotational motion. Throwing a boomerang which sailed around the auditorium, he explained how this deceptively simple instrument worked on the principle of flight dynamics of a rotational body.

In another experiment, Nishimura used a huge bag filled with 20% oxygen and 80% helium to show how and why the combination of these gases produces a high and strange voice when inhaled as well as its effect on musical instruments. Nishimura also showed experiments to demonstrate that air has weight and exerts pressure as well as the phenomenon of static electricity.

The Sony Science Shows are a part of Sony's Global Community initiatives that includes Environmental Conservation Activities, Donations to Museums, Educational Exhibitions and Awards and Emergency Humanitarian Assistance. The Sony Science Shows, being held for the second time for Dubai schools, have also been organized for school children in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A senior director from the Dubai Education Zone, who attended the show, said: 'We always welcome initiatives such as the Sony Science Show that are designed specially for children. Such activities make the theories they learn in the classroom come alive and their understanding of science increases with clever and fun demonstrations such as those by the entertaining Japanese scientist Mr. Nishimura.'

The Sony Science Show are conducted on the 27th, 28th and 29th of May 2007 with several sessions to ensure that as many students as possible can be accommodated.