Oman education: British School Muscat students get new facilities

Muscat: Sciences are the key to the future, said the world-renowned Omani adventurer, Nabil Al Busaidi, who addressed students, staff and invitees at the official opening of the new science laboratories at British School Muscat (BSM) on Sunday.
The laboratories, which include facilities for physics, maths, biology and chemistry, were opened in a ceremony in the presence of British Ambassador Jonathan Wilks, special guest and Omani adventurer Nabil Al Busaidi and Principal of BSM, Kai Vacher.
Al Busaidi, who was the first Arab to walk to the magnetic North Pole, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, attempted to become the first Omani to climb the Mount Everest and was the first Arab to row across an ocean, stressed the importance of science for the future.
Al Busaidi told the Times of Oman that during his adventures, he relied a lot on scientific knowledge in order to survive.
“Rowing across the Atlantic, we had to keep an eye out on the waves and the weather. We also had to work out the amount of calories we had to take in. We had to take dehydrated food and we dug up snow, which we boiled to rehydrate the food. All of this might not seem to have anything to do with science, but 50 years ago, none of this would have been available,” he said.
Al Busaidi noted that scientific and technological advancements have been and are still developing very fast.
“In the past fifty years, there have been more scientific and technological breakthroughs than in the whole history of humanity. I am sure that in the next 25 years, there will be even more scientific breakthroughs. Science, maths and technology are definitely the future,” he said.
Al Busaidi particularly addressed his words to the young students of BSM. “I would like to impress on all the young students here how important science, technology, mathematics and engineering are going to be in your lives in the future,” he said.
Addressing the students, Ambassador Wilks stressed the beauty of sciences.
“Although there is no particular subject we look for, I got a lot out of studying sciences, inherently because it is a beautiful area to work in. The ability to see for yourself the beautiful nature of our universe makes for one of the most exciting experiences.”
The opening of the science laboratories, ten in total, is part of the BSM’s overall expansion plan.
A new all-weather pitch was opened last Christmas and in September 2017, more new facilities, including a new aquatics centre, sports complex, car park and drop-off facilities will be completed.