Kids build robots and learn sustainability at SIBF 2025

The interactive session, held on the opening day at Expo Centre Sharjah, transformed children into budding engineers as they designed and assembled their own DIY robotic pets using recyclable materials.

A blend of innovation and sustainability

The workshop, organised by Dubai-based Junkbot Robotics, offered an engaging mix of engineering, creativity, and environmental awareness. Using simple materials such as cardboard, crayons, coloured pencils, glue, and wooden sticks, participants assembled robot bodies, decorating them with expressive faces and colourful designs.

Each child was then given a micro:bit, a small programmable computer that serves as the robot’s “brain.” Once attached, the micro:bit allowed participants to programme their robots online, enabling them to perform specific actions such as playing sounds, writing names, or responding to button commands.

Israa Ben Muaoner, a team leader from Junkbot Robotics, explained: “The microbit is the brain of the robot. It teaches children how code and electronics control movement and response. This helps them understand how technology and creativity work together.”

Children were delighted to take their robotic creations home, giving them a tangible reminder of how sustainability and innovation can work hand in hand.

A celebration of creativity and learning

SIBF 2025, organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) under the theme “Between You and a Book”, continues to act as a global platform for knowledge exchange and creativity. The 12-day event features over 300 cultural activities, 750 workshops in Arabic and English, and 85 live performances from 12 countries.

The “Build Your Own Robot” session showcased the fair’s dedication to engaging young minds through educational activities that blend science, technology, and environmental awareness, motivating the next generation of innovators to think creatively and sustainably.