Dubai: The first dedicated Environmental Field Studies Centre for students was opened on Saturday, just outside Al Dhaid in the heart of the Suhaila desert.
For many children, the centre will offer the first glimpse of what lives beyond the city skyline, and give them the opportunity to study soil, water and live animals like scorpions and snakes in a learning environment.
“The laboratory is really awesome and the kids love it,” said Matthew Cocks, general manager of field study activities yesterday after the open day.
Set up with microscopes and soil samples to get a better look at living organisms, the fully-equipped scientific laboratory with state-of-the-art apparatus played centre stage.
“The kids were able to walk around and take a good look at everything. We had snakes, scorpions and lizards in their terrariums, fish in the tanks – it’s a first for many of the kids,” he said.
Raffles School students will be making the most of the facilities today as the first school to incorporate the centre into its curriculum.