Where were you when … Telephones and touchscreens, broadcast television and video conferencing, the x-ray and IMAX technologies are among the vital innovations first presented to the public at the World’s Fairs. Many things have changed since the initial Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations in 1851. For one, cities do better branding! EXPO 2017 opens on June 10th in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The Sphere building at EXPO 2017 Astana
Courtesy of EXPO 2017 AstanaHere is what to expect from the biggest show-and-tell on Earth.
It’s a very different host city
EXPO 2017, hosted by Kazakhstan, is a first in many ways. It is the first world fair that takes place in Central Asia and in the post-Soviet geopolitical and cultural space. The pattern of organizing these expos in Western European and North American nations changed only recently with several developing countries serving as hosts. Expo 2017 presents an opportunity to visit Central Asia – the land of opportunities stretching between the Caspian Sea and eastern China, along Russian and Uzbekistan borders.
Historically, this area has been associated with nomadic peoples and the Silk Road serving as a crossroads of people, goods, and ideas between Europe and Asia. Expo 2017 is an opportunity to experience a nation that has been proactively shaping its global identity since declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Plenty to see beyond the official EXPO
Astana is an unusual capital city. Rising from the vast steppe, this brand-new city boasts impressive buildings designed by world-famous architects which contribute visually to its futuristic grandeur.
Visitors will have access to all the landmarks such as Bayterek Tower, Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, Presidential Palace, as well as city’s many mosques, museums, and fountains that light up at night. An extensive cultural entertainment program has been planned by the city, including sporting events, arts exhibitions and performances. Shopping is an unmissable experience at Khan Shatyr, the largest tent in the world by the famous British architect Lord Norman Foster.
This three-story complex offers a variety of premium brands and a wave pool with an indoor sand beach imported from the Maldives! In addition, the culinary scene in Astana is booming to cater to the most discerning taste buds.
Urban Lifestyle 101: challenges and opportunities on display
As cities increasingly compete for unofficial titles as fashion capitals, financial centers, or modern arts meccas, it becomes clear that logistics is the heart and the bane of urban development. Astana, built from scratch, is a fascinating case study to explore. In addition to a new airport and railway hub, more public transport options have been introduced by the mayor Asset Issekeshev. The city has excellent hotels with most global chains already on the market and additional luxury boutique properties in development to accommodate the influx of visitors.
Large-scale landscaping and public gardening projects have attracted praise, while challenging pedestrian solutions remain a topic of criticism and an area for improvement. Would you have an idea? Any vastly-spread municipality welcomes such suggestions.
The Future Energy theme inspires passionate discourse
As the world deliberates on the future of the Paris climate accord, Kazakhstan might be a fitting place for collective soul-searching. Fossil fuels and minerals are the engine of Kazakhstan’s economy and its earlier growth. As a major oil and gas exporter, its capital Astana was built with these profits.
However, within the decade, Kazakh government has been adopting renewable energy policies, working with several international institutions to combat corruption and legal risks in the sector, introducing feed-in-tariffs in 2013 and setting ambitious yet realistic goals of making renewables account for half of its power generation by 2050. With more than 100 countries showcasing their energy knowhow and world leaders gathering for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting, Astana emerges as the global power player.
Keep an eye out for all the amazing tech breakthroughs
World’s fairs have always been platforms for the state-of-the-art science and technology displays from around the globe forecasting a better future for society.
EXPO 2017 is no exception. Discover the latest developments in renewable energy industries from wind, solar and biomass to space, sun and kinetic energy in several national and corporate pavilions, including the designated Best Practice Area that hosts 24 projects from 13 countries selected by a committee of Nobel laureates and climate experts. Among the ideas generating media buzz are Solar Impulse, a Swiss solar-powered aircraft, Glowee which is a French project to bring a biological source of light using marine microorganisms, and the Bioo device (USA) that generates electricity from garden plants’ photosynthesis.
Many of these at times incredible breakthroughs have been in development for years. Some are close to commercialization. Considering the speed of innovation and technological advancement today, they could be coming to the market quite soon. You have a firsthand chance to be an early adopter!
Co-authored with Maria Birger, with additional contribution by Alexey Timbul Bulokhov
