Located in Salmiya of Kuwait, The Scientific Center is the center for environmental education in the gulf region. Being inherited by late Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Scientific Center in Kuwait (KSC), spans across more than 80,000 square meters of area.
Established along the waterfront, the centre is a cultural achievement and educational facility, enriched with knowledge, designed to reflect the Islamic arts and culture. The walls of the building contain ceramic depictions of stories that tell Kuwait’s history.
Design and Architecture
The KSC exterior features a rich array of textured and colored precast panels, wood windows, screens, fabric canopies and glass. It occupies an area of 80,000 sqm, some of this is reclaimed land. The built-up space is approximately 18,000sqm.
The exterior walls of the centre are mud coloured, inspired by traditional Kuwaiti dwellings of the past. The tent and sail like structures are seen above and around the centre, and they are reminiscent of Kuwait’s maritime history. The ceramic floors of the corridor within the centre contain Islamic art patterns, with the walls revealing traditional weaving designs. The top floors of the centre house the administrative offices, training, and conference halls.
The KSC has three main attractions – the Aquarium, Discovery Palace, and the IMAX Cinema. Apart from this, there is also the Dhow Harbour located directly on the waterfront. It also has coffee shops, gift shops, and food court, along with a walkway that shows more scenic views of the coastline in Kuwait.
The KSC Aquarium
KSC has one of the largest aquariums in the Middle East, with more than 100 different species of animals. A journey into the aquarium actually takes on to three different environments offering specimens of plant, animal and marine life of that particular environment.
The first is the desert section which includes animals found in desert like the hedgehog and caracal, while the next is the coastal edge exhibiting coastal fishes, penguins and the like. The third is the marine environment with reef sharks, and rays. The main tank also includes deep sea sharks, fishes, turtles and artificial corals.
There is the ‘Dive with the sharks’ program being offered for visitors above 14 years of age, who hold an open water scuba diving license. They get to dive side by side with sharks on the main tank for half an hour.
The Discovery Place
The Discovery Place is full of educational and entertaining exhibits pertaining to various forms of science, such as simplified ways to learn about magnetic, solar, and kinetic energies, and various ways to create it. Here new exhibits from renowned scientific centres across the world on a range of subjects will be displayed every six months. Here practical scientific theories are exhibited through entertaining exhibits. The exhibition houses more than 50 interactive exhibits suitable for all age groups.
The whole family can experience the pleasure of learning in a fun atmosphere here. With an aim to promote science, technology and environmental awareness, Discovery place organizes fun and fascinating programs and special events. Visit the website to know the events to be held each month.
The IMAX Theatre
The KSC IMAX with Laser Theatre has a 15 meters high and 20 meters wide giant screen, equipped with latest media amenities, and an 8000 watt sound system. It shows 3D educational and documentary films in Arabic and English, using the largest film format in the film industry. It is the first in the Middle East to support 2D and 3D systems.
The Dhow Harbour
The Dhow Harbour gives the visitor an insight into vital part of Kuwaiti heritage. Although it houses the only surviving Kuwait sailing ship from the pre-oil era, Fatel-el-Kahir, the Dhow Harbour also includes samples of several smaller dhows used during this period. Two other smaller boats on the exhibited together with Fateh-El-Khair, one is a ‘mashuwa’, and the other is ‘kait’, a type of boat used to transport the captain from one ship to another.
Contact
The Scientific Center Management Company K.S.C.C.
P.O.Box 3504, Ras Salmiya, 22036 Kuwait
Tel: +965 - 1848888
Fax: +965 - 25710298
www.tsck.org.kw
Timing
2pm to 10pm
Tickets
Aquarium - KD3 (child), KD4 (Adult)
Theatre - KD3 (Child), KD3.75 (Adult)
Discovery Place - KD2.250 (Child), KD2.250 (Adult)
Diving with sharks - KD35