The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre came alive with excitement and curiosity on Saturday, 8 November 2025, as hundreds of families, students, and young explorers attended the ELM Science Fair, a vibrant celebration of learning, discovery, and faith.

From hands-on experiments to awe-inspiring demonstrations, the fair offered something for everyone. At its heart was the cinematic planetarium dome, a 360° immersive theatre that took visitors on a breathtaking journey to the Moon and beyond, an experience that left both children and adults marvelling at the wonders of Allah’s creation.

The fair featured an inspiring range of interactive stations designed to spark imagination and learning:

• AI, Coding & Robotics Zone: A buzzing hub where young people learned to vibe-code with AI and program robots to move and react. Guided by ELM’s youth mentors, children explored how creativity and technology come together to solve problems, blending imagination, learning, and teamwork.
• Mini Ecosystem Exhibit: A live display showing how plants, insects, and water cycles work together to sustain life.
• Pinhole Camera Workshop: Visitors created and used their own cameras, then developed black-and-white images in a mini darkroom.
• Faith in Environment Recycling Stand: Led by our Environmental Project Officer, children learned how small actions like recycling can help protect our planet, guided by the Qur’anic principle of stewardship (khilafah).
• Beekeeping Display: ELM’s beekeepers, Khalil and Salma, showcased honeycombs and pollen samples under a microscope, sharing fascinating insights into the vital role of bees in creation.
• First Aid & CPR Training: Children learned essential life-saving skills in engaging, hands-on sessions.
• Water Filtering Challenge: A fun experiment showing how dirty, dyed water can be purified using basic materials and teamwork.

Children took part in the Science Fair Passport challenge, collecting stickers from each activity as they explored the exhibits, a fun way to encourage curiosity and reward their learning.

The event also welcomed Geraldine Cox, Artist in Residence in the Department of Physics at Imperial College London, who joined visitors to discuss how art and science together can deepen our sense of wonder about the universe. Her visit added a special creative dimension, inspiring young minds to see beauty in both science and faith.

Junaid Ahmed, CEO of the East London Mosque Trust, said:

The Science Fair was a wonderful celebration of learning and community spirit. It showed that science and faith go hand in hand, both encouraging us to explore, to question, and to appreciate the signs of Allah in the universe. I am deeply proud of our volunteers and staff for creating such an inspiring day for our young people.

Mohammed Aminoor Rahman, Youth Co-ordinator at the Mosque, added:

We wanted to give our young visitors something memorable, an experience that would spark curiosity and confidence. Seeing children engage with coding, robotics, and even CPR training reminded us why it’s so important to invest in our youth. They left not just with stickers in their passports, but with real excitement about science and learning.

The Science Fair was supported by dozens of dedicated volunteers, educators, and community partners, reflecting the Mosque’s growing commitment to education, environmental awareness, and youth development.

A special thank you goes to the Science Fair Organising Team, all of whom are students who gave their time and energy to make the day a success:

• Humzah Hameed (Medicine)
• Rawaha Husam Al Deen (Doctor)
• Shaahid Mohammed Ashraff (Medicine)
• Sarah Ehisan (Medicine)
• Meriam Abdelmoumene (Medicine)
• Yasin Ahmad Kamal Khan (Computer Science)
• Jakaria Uddin (AI, Policy & Ethics)
• Wadoud Charbak (Physics)

Their passion, professionalism, and creativity were instrumental in bringing the fair to life, inspiring hundreds of children and families throughout the day.

As one parent shared on the day:

It’s amazing to see this kind of event at our Mosque. It shows our children that learning is part of our faith, and that science helps us understand Allah’s creation even more deeply.

With its mix of discovery, creativity, and community warmth, the ELM Science Fair 2025 was a shining example of how the Mosque continues to inspire and empower the next generation, nurturing both hearts and minds.