Arif Nezami
One of the most significant global events on technology, innovation and future that the world is witnessing this year is undoubtedly Expo 2020.
Robots serving the visitors, building your own futuristic aviation experience by Emirates, or a glimpse of the future smart cities with 130 connected buildings by Siemens – all is happening in Dubai Expo 2020.
The whole expo features stunning examples of technology innovations, artistic masterpieces and a dream of a sustainable shared future for us all.
I got the opportunity of being selected as a fellow in a fellowship titled USA Pavilion @ Expo Fellows. The fellowship is powered by ORF America, The PepsiCo Foundation, AstroLabs and the USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
The seventh-month-long fellowship is of a hybrid method that has both physical and virtual engagements. Forty young leaders from 21 countries are selected to be a part of the fellowship.
All the selected fellows are highly successful professionals, including tech entrepreneurs, policy advocates and even politicians. I am grateful to US Embassy Dhaka for nominating me to the programme.
As my organization Preneur Lab works in the field of technology innovation and social good, the fellowship experience impacts the vision we have at the organization.
The first in-person part of the fellowship took place in the USA Pavilion of the Expo. The sessions were designed to connect the young leaders to solve challenges this region is facing or will face in the near future by building a solution that can be a startup or service or a policy recommendation.
Fellows are divided into teams to design an MVP (minimum viable product) for the problem they aim to solve. All the teams are getting mentorship support throughout the seven months of the program. The best team will also walk out with a cash prize to make the idea a real startup.
Expo 2020 is a World Expo taking place from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The dates were initially scheduled to run from October 20, 2020, to April 10, 2021. The Great Exhibition, the first World Expo, took place in London in 1851. World Expos, which takes place every five years and runs six months, is one of the world’s oldest and largest international events.
It was postponed due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Despite the cancellation, the name “Expo 2020” was kept for marketing and branding purposes. The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) general session in Paris on November 27, 2013, named Dubai as the host city. The major site will span 1083 acres between Abu Dhabi and Dubai (438 hectares).
There are 200 pavilions at Expo 2020, with 191 representing participating countries.
Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability are the three sub-themes of Expo 2020 Dubai, which encourage guests to preserve and protect the environment, explore new frontiers technologies, and build a brighter future for all: If given a chance, individuals and communities have the capacity to change the future.
The District of Opportunity showcases our lives and activities connected in the Opportunity District. Meet the people who are making tomorrow’s dreams a reality all across the world, and be motivated to change the world by fulfilling your potential.
The Mobility District connects the globe to move it forward, bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds to establish a peaceful, global civilization. As a result, information, ideas, and objects are exchanged more quickly than ever before.
The District of Sustainability is all about a sustainable future for all of us. Every day, more of us take steps toward a future where we all live in peace with our sole home, Planet Earth. When we join forces, small initiatives become positive global movements that help communities secure and preserve the world around us.
It is estimated that a total of $8.7 billion has been set aside for Dubai Expo 2020-related projects. The UAE government has forecast a windfall of up to US$17.7 billion if Dubai Expo 2020 is a success. Dubai is making great strides toward its goal of making the World Expo 2020 a spectacular and one-of-a-kind event.
The huge Expo 2020 Dubai site has a variety of activities for families of all ages. The overall show is breathtaking, and the sample menus from the various pavilions will introduce children to the foods, crafts, and architecture of countries worldwide.
At Expo 2020 Dubai, visitors should not miss many attractions, including Hammour House, Al Wasl Dome, The Water Feature, Afra Al Dhaheri’s Pillow Fort, Desert Farm.
The UAE Pavilion is the most impressive pavilion at Expo 2020, built by Santiago Calatrava. The UAE pavilion was built by Santiago Calatrava and boasted 28 moving wings, making it the largest country display at Expo 2020 Dubai.
At the heart of this worldwide event lies a stunning example of architectural innovation, environmental goals, and storytelling.
‘Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of the Future,’ the subject of the USA Pavilion, honours the American people, ideas, and contributions that have transformed and enhanced life in the United States and around the world.
A series of eight displays in the USA Pavilion takes visitors on a journey through American innovation’s past, present, and future, showcasing well-known American technologies, people, and enterprises. ‘Faces of America,’ the 75 USA Pavilion Youth Ambassadors – the bilingual pavilion guides — who reflect the US’s neighbourhoods, cultures, and diversity, will greet visitors around the pavilion.
The Bangladesh Pavilion at Expo 2020 portrays Bangladesh as a strong and resilient country on its way to becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2031 and a high-income country by 2041. The Bangladesh Pavilion in the Sustainability Zone will commemorate two significant milestones in the country’s history: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s centennial birth anniversary and the country’s golden jubilee of independence.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are all featured at the pavilion entrance. Visitors will be met by a Bangabandhu sculpture and big interactive screens depicting Bangladesh’s path and vision. In addition, a kiosk is there in the pavilion to offer some of the country’s most popular things.
After 55 years, the World Expo will return to Osaka in 2025. In 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan will host the World Expo. Yumeshima Island will host the event from April 13 to October 13, 2025, and it is estimated to draw 28.2 million visitors.
The theme of this exposition will be “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” with sub-themes of “Saving Lives,” “Empowering Lives,” and “Connecting Lives.”
[An edited version of the article was published by The Daily Sun]