Abandoned places : Jeddah Science and Technology Center (1993-2008)

            One of my favorite places that I used to go when I visit Jeddah ... It’s was originally donated by a billionaire business man to the city , and established in 1993. During his 15 years , the center spent in the dissemination of his message (education by entertainment ) and become the dissemination of science in Jeddah west coast and a destination for visitors to Jeddah

It was an amazing place, it brings a lot of good memories .... I remember the first time I discovered the PC & the Internet world , the beginning of 3D games, Robots.
The Planetarium at the top of the center, which was broadcast offers very good space for unknowns and the deep sea and other great offers
And other great facilities like the dinosaurs hall, the age of discoveries and inventions in the middle ages to the communication age.

Also, it was composed of a number of collections of scientific possessions, although some of them were replica of the original, such as scientific instruments in the Islamic era, which was used by Muslim scientists such as Ibn Sina and Khwarizmi and Al-Hassan Ibn Al-Haytham, and other scientists Muslims, a copy of the original instruments in the Museum of Istanbul, as well as a composite space corresponding to the famous Apollo space, as it includes the covering of the Kaaba Originally dating back to 400 years.

I enjoyed it a lot as a child and still find it very fascinating and believe it helped me and a lot of people. But unfortunately it wasn’t making any profits so it has to be shut down in 2007. And a year after they announced that they abandoned all his possessions that excess 3000 value pieces, and give them to specialized organizations around Saudi Arabia that interested in science and technology , such as the Royal Commission in Jubail, Department of Education in Jazan region, The Scientific Club in Riyadh,The Oasis of Science in Riyadh, The Science Club in Jeddah, and  Prince Sultan Center for Science and Technology in Khobar.

 A great facility like this should be open for public for free. I’m afraid the building might be converted to a mall. But the most likely, the same donated business man got greedy and wanted to get back his piece of land so he can build his own skyscraper , like every body else , especially it is a tourist and classy area and most people who lives their are rich guys, and the most important is the lands there worth millions ! , and that makes fast money. Education doesn’t !!

I visit the place about 5 or 6 times, the first visit was in 1994 and the last visit was in 2005. Since I didn't take lots of pictures for the center after all this years, and since I have now my own camera, I decided to take photos for the entire center, just for the old good days, but sadly it was too late :(

The only thing left here is dead concrete blocks on that do not tell the honorable past and bright future, It only predict the future of capitalism and the fever of consuming 

R.I.P Jeddah Science and Technology Center (1993-2008)

Taken on: July 21, 2011

Sets appears in: • Koyaanisqatsi - Life out of Balance • Jeddah's Summer - 2011

Groups appears in: • Abandoned • فلكر بس بالعربي more » • Arabian Group • Jeddah, Saudi Arabia • Abandoned Structures • ماضينا الــــعريــق وتــراث اجـــ « less

Camera: Canon PowerShot A480, f/4.5, 1/125 sec, 14.8mm, ISO 80 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon PowerShot A480
Aperture:	f/4.5
Exposure Time:	0.008 sec (1/125)
Focal Length:	14.8mm
ISO:	80
Exposure Bias:	+1/3 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Center-weighted average
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop 7.0 ME
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