As the summer heat rises, the Natural History Museum in Abu Dhabi invites visitors on an extraordinary journey beneath the waves during “Marine Month” in August. This immersive programme intertwines guided tours, interactive workshops, family adventures, and wellness activities, offering a unique blend of science, entertainment, and education within the Cultural District of Saadiyat.
Exploring Oceanic Wonders
The month-long initiative features a diverse range of activities tailored for all age groups. Guests will embark on a virtual journey from the glimmering surface of the ocean to its dark, mysterious depths, unveiling rare marine creatures and ecosystems that continue to captivate explorers.
Highlighted Activities
One of the standout events is the tour “Movement Through Water,” which showcases the intricate relationship between water and living organisms over millions of years. Participants will encounter stations spotlighting a prehistoric hippopotamus that once roamed Abu Dhabi, swift shark species, and seemingly static marine beings that pulse with life.
Families can partake in a captivating adventure titled “To the Sea and Sky: An Exploratory Journey Through the Depths of Time.” Participants will receive an exploration booklet, enabling them to choose whether to navigate a marine or aerial path, completing various scientific tasks that encourage children and families to observe, think, and discover ancient life forms before earning an explorer badge at the journey’s end.
Discovering the Deep Sea
Continuing the aquatic exploration, the museum presents “Deep Sea Exploration,” which guides visitors through enigmatic marine environments, including the “Whale Falls” area and the interactive OceanX experience. Here, participants will learn about creatures thriving in the ocean’s dark depths, such as bone-eating worms and those residing near hydrothermal vents, revealing how life flourishes far from sunlight.
Engaging Workshops
The agenda for “Marine Month” also includes an array of educational workshops, such as “Ocean Layers,” designed to help participants construct a visual model of the ocean’s layers and the organisms inhabiting each stratum. Another workshop, “Light in the Ocean,” delves into the phenomenon of bioluminescence in deep-sea creatures, allowing participants to create artwork inspired by this glowing underwater world.
Special Events and Wellness Sessions
On August 28, the Meteor Café will host a special evening titled “Treasures of the UAE Coast” in collaboration with Stardust Bar. Attendees will discover the rich variety of shells found along the UAE’s coasts and their environmental characteristics before engaging in a creative workshop to design accessories inspired by the sea using natural materials.
In conjunction with the marine programme, the museum continues its “Conscious Nature Museum” series, which harmonises wellness and nature within the museum’s halls. This series includes morning yoga sessions, Micro Former exercises for women, and sound therapy sessions held beneath the giant dinosaur structures, all aimed at fostering mental tranquility and a deeper connection to nature, amidst a backdrop that evokes the Earth’s 4.5 billion-year history.
A Vision of Innovative Learning
This engaging programme reflects the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi’s vision of providing innovative educational experiences that intertwine scientific knowledge with direct interaction. It allows visitors of all ages to explore biodiversity and marine life through interactive methods, making learning an enjoyable and enriching adventure.