The Robotics Corner at the on-going 14th edition of Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2023) hosted a group of young science enthusiasts for an exciting and inspiring simulation session titled ‘Astronauts Training with Minecraft’, aimed at fostering love of space exploration in children.

Delivered in a unique and immersive way for the young attendees to experience astronaut training through the popular video game Minecraft, the workshop conductor led the session with a quick introduction to how Minecraft works.

“Minecraft is a popular video game used in educational settings. By utilising the game’s immersive environment and realistic simulations, we ensure the Astronauts Training with Minecraft workshop provides a unique opportunity for children to learn about space exploration while engaging in a fun and interactive way”, she explained.

Young attendees enjoyed their explorations of fun-paced astronaut training simulations designed to replicate real-world challenges astronauts face. Furthermore, the activities included tips for choosing characters, navigating spacecrafts and conducting experiments, offering participants a novel way to learn about the science and mechanics behind space exploration.

The workshop was organised in line with the UAE’s broader mission to inspire and engage children in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, encourage a scientific research mindset, and familiarise children with science, technology and innovation.

Minecraft is used in education as a tool for teaching various subjects such as maths, science, history, and language arts. It enables children to explore virtual worlds, collaborate with peers, and develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills, she further noted.