Raytheon’s MathAlive! exhibit returns to Al Khobar

AL KHOBAR — MathAlive!, the unique interactive math and science exhibit created by the Raytheon Company, will be rounding off its 2016 tour of Saudi Arabia with a return stop in Al Khobar. The exhibit opens Nov. 20 at the Sultan Bin Abdul-Aziz Science and Technology Center (Scitech) in partnership with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). Raytheon’s MathAlive! first traveled to the Kingdom in 2014 through a debut country appearance at Scitech, and its current tour comes in light of the company’s commemoration of its 50th anniversary in Saudi Arabia. “We are excited about the return engagement of MathAlive! in Al Khobar, and Raytheon is pleased to once again partner with Scitech and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals to help inspire a strong pipeline of STEM professionals in the Kingdom,” said Kurt Amend, president, Raytheon International Inc. in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “So far this year, the exhibit has been experienced by tens of thousands of highly aspiring Saudi youth, who are the innovators of tomorrow and so vitally important to the country’s knowledge economy in the framework of Vision 2030.” King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals is proud to partner with Raytheon for the second time to host the MathAlive! exhibit, which offers students an impactful and interactive education experience that introduces them to rich career opportunities in related fields, added Dr. Khaled Bin Saleh Al-Sultan, rector at KFUPM. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to STEM and highlighted that the exhibition is an important platform to empower students and remind them that there are no limits to pursuing innovation and contributing to a bright future for the Kingdom. On his part, Dr. Habib Ibrahim Abualhamayel, director general at Scitech, added that the center’s mission revolves around strengthening understanding of the core principles of STEM by presenting its topics in a modern and exciting way to expand student’s scientific horizons and encourage them to pursue STEM-related career paths. Dr. Abualhamayel went on to say that such encouragement would equip them with the necessary skills that enable them to excel in technical fields that can pave the way for promising careers and achieve further distinction in Saudi Arabia. With its Al Khobar opening to the public on Nov. 20, the exhibit is scheduled to run at Scitech until Jan. 1, 2017. MathAlive! began its 2016 tour in Jeddah back in May in partnership with the Fakieh Planetarium, and then moved on to Riyadh where it was hosted by King Saud University for most of the month of October, which witnessed the attendance of more than 11,000 children, families and visitors.