The 40th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) is inspiring the next generation of engineers through a popular STEM-based workshop that aims to inspire creativity and challenge young minds in the basic principles of engineering and architectural processes.

At the Keva Tower Challenge workshop, organised by Fun Robotics Center, young children of all ages are learning to engineer high-rise buildings through a crash course in the basics of structural design.

From learning how skyscrapers are built to reach dizzying heights yet maintain their stability, participants are getting acquainted with intriguing perspectives of architecture through a hands-on learning approach. Citing the example of the UAE’s Burj Khalifa,workshop instructors introduce the young ones to various aspects of structural support, while exploring key facts about the iconic skyscraper including details of its height and quake-resistance features.

The interactive workshop inculcates values of perseverance and reinforces the qualities of quick thinking and planning, as children learn how even a slight imbalance in angle and plank placement could impact the structure. The Keva Tower Challenge workshop which encourages the young ones to push the boundaries of their creativity by applying different approaches to keep their tower standing, concludes with a competition to build the tallest tower in just under 15 minutes! The competition doesn’t end there as instructors pick a winner only after testing the structural integrity of each tower.

Omar Alzuabi, one of the instructors leading the session, said, “Through the Keva Tower Challenge, our goal is to teach students concepts of scale and loading constraints, amongst others, when designing a tall building. The one-hour session involves a two-step process where kids first create structures on their own, which seldom stand. We help them identify the structural issues and they learn how to resolve it to ensure that their towers stand tall.”

There’s still a lot more to be discovered, experienced, and learned at SIBF 2021, which is hosting 1,000-plus activities through the 11-day fair.