To coincide with Two Years To Go until Expo 2020 Dubai, Siemens has launched ‘Expo Explorers,’ a bilingual story and activity book for children 6 to 10 years of age. The book introduces readers to some of the famous inventors and inventions from past World Expos, and uses fun and friendly language to explain why Expos are so interesting for children. It also features pages of activities and stickers, and a completion certificate to further engage young audiences.
‘Expo Explorers’ is published by Siemens, an Expo 2020 Dubai Premier Partner, as part of its outreach to raise awareness and interest in the Expo. The book will be distributed to children and families across the UAE and wider Middle East through different public engagement activities. Siemens is the Infrastructure Digitalisation Partner for Expo, working to create the most connected World Expo to date.
“The storybook we created is part of our effort to engage children and the wider community on the journey to Expo 2020. We have designed this book to be educational but also fun and rewarding, in the hope that more kids understand the role Expos played in showcasing innovation and connecting the world,” said Dietmar Siersdorfer, CEO of Siemens in the Middle East.
The book is also part of Siemens’ contribution to society, something the company quantifies through an annual study entitled ‘Business to Society’. This includes education, training and skills development programs, job creation, environmental sustainability solutions, among others.
With illustrations by Emirati artist Marwa Hashim, ‘Expo Explorers’ includes both Arabic and English text and follows the story of a young brother and sister as they answer the questions they pose to their father who works at Expo 2020 Dubai: “What are World Expos? And what makes them so great?”
By using special “goggles” provided by their father, the children take a virtual trip into the past, meeting famous inventors and inventions revealed at past World Expos. These include Werner von Siemens, the German founder of Siemens; Ernest Hamwi, a Syrian waffle maker and inventor of the ice cream cone; and Gustav Eiffel, the French architect who built the Eiffel Tower. The children also meet a hovercraft pilot who talks about transportation; and a robot who talks about gadgets.
Ultimately, the children’s father answers the questions posed at the start of the book, while his children play among new friends at a fantastic World Expo playground. “Expos are great, he thinks to himself, because of the people they’ll meet, the things they’ll learn.”
Alya Al Ali, Director – Expo Schools Programme, at Expo 2020 Dubai welcomed the children’s book. “Expos throughout history have inspired young people with inventions and innovations that will shape their future. This book tells that story in a new and engaging way for younger children, getting them excited ahead of our World Expo in 2020.”
In Siemens’ role as a Premier Partner the company will provide a wide range of innovative solutions, technologies and products to help plan, build and operate Expo 2020 Dubai. Under the partnership, Siemens will also supply smart solutions for Expo 2020 technical and site operations, including MindSphere, its open, could-based operating system for The Internet of Things.
