British Magician Uses Magic Skills to Protect Environment

Megan Swann, President of The Magic Circle, demonstrates a magic trick at their headquarters, in London, Britain, May 26, 2022. REUTERS/John Sibley
Megan Swann, President of The Magic Circle, demonstrates a magic trick at their headquarters, in London, Britain, May 26, 2022. REUTERS/John Sibley
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British Magician Uses Magic Skills to Protect Environment

Megan Swann, President of The Magic Circle, demonstrates a magic trick at their headquarters, in London, Britain, May 26, 2022. REUTERS/John Sibley
Megan Swann, President of The Magic Circle, demonstrates a magic trick at their headquarters, in London, Britain, May 26, 2022. REUTERS/John Sibley

Magic tricks performed by Megan Swann are not just for fun, they hold a vital message, according to Reuters. When she was born in 1992, the traditionally male-dominated world of magic had only just started allowing women to join the Magic Circle magicians' society.

Now at 30, Swann is not only the youngest and first female president of the society, but she's using her position and magic to raise awareness about climate change and the environment.

Swann studied wildlife conservation at university, growing increasingly despondent at the huge issues facing the natural world, and the lack of action.

“One of the key things I realized from my degree was how important environmental education is. We have so many of the solutions to solve these problems, but we don't use them,” she said. So, Swann began creating tricks with an environmental message to perform at schools.

“I use magic as a communications tool. It's a way to capture attention and share a message in a fun way,” she said. Swann, who got her first magic set at five years old, said one of her favorite tricks involves three ropes representing plants, animals and insects. They start at equal length to show nature in balance.

“As I talk about the issues the world faces, mainly caused by us humans, they become different sizes... I then talk about what we can do to help restore the ropes back to their original, equal length,” she explained.



Saudi Space Agency Announces Launch of 'Madak Space' Experiments to Int’l Space Station

Saudi Space Agency Announces Launch of 'Madak Space' Experiments to Int’l Space Station
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Saudi Space Agency Announces Launch of 'Madak Space' Experiments to Int’l Space Station

Saudi Space Agency Announces Launch of 'Madak Space' Experiments to Int’l Space Station

The Saudi Space Agency (SSA) announced the launch of the winning experiments from the "Madak Space" competition to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of an international space mission that lifted off Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US.

The milestone reflects the Kingdom's commitment to advancing scientific innovation and empowering emerging talent in the field of space sciences.

The mission includes ten scientific experiments designed and executed by students from Saudi Arabia and across the Arab world, said an SSA statement on Wednesday.

These experiments were selected through the "Madak Space" competition, organized by the SSA in partnership with the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation "Misk" and the "Ilmi" Science Discovery and Innovation Center.

The competition aims to support individuals passionate about space science and technology and inspire them to turn their ideas into viable scientific applications in microgravity conditions aboard the ISS.

The competition attracted wide participation from students across the Arab world, with more than 80,000 registrants. Submissions were distributed across three main tracks: arts, plants, and engineering.

The achievement is part of the SSA's ongoing efforts to strengthen the Kingdom's presence in international space programs and to foster an enabling environment that supports the knowledge-based economy. It aligns with Saudi Vision 2030's objectives of preparing a capable generation to contribute effectively to the future of the space sector.