Category: Science & Technology

DUBAI, The Emirates Literature Foundation’s search for the nation’s best young story writers has begun, with the launch of its annual creative writing competition for students, the Story Writing Competition.

A fixture on the academic calendar, the competition runs in Arabic and in English and is open to full-time students in schools, colleges and universities in the GCC. It is divided into age-specific categories: 11 and under, 12-14, 15-17 and 18-25. The winners will be honoured in a special ceremony held during the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2022, and the winning entries are published in an anthology.

The competition is tremendously popular, with more than 3,600 stories being entered last year. This year the theme for the competitions is ‘Here Comes the Sun’. The deadline for submissions is 3rd November, 2021.

Isobel Abulhoul, CEO and Trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation, commented, “The 2022 theme can be seen as positive and uplifting, but we know from previous years that there is no end to the creativity with which young storytellers can interpret it. I can’t wait to see how the entrants this year develop their narratives as they unleash their imaginations.”

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, The Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport Branch in Sharjah (AASTS) was presented with an award for its “Distinctive Contribution to Innovation in Maritime Education” at the 14th edition of the Shiptek International Awards 2021, held in Dubai, on 7th June, 2021.

The award was received by Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar Ismail Farag, President of the AASTS, in the presence of delegates from the Academy.

The Shiptek International Maritime Awards is one of the most prestigious accolades in the maritime, offshore and oil and gas industries. The 14th edition saw the participation of key industry players who have contributed significantly to the growth of the sector in the UAE and the Middle East.

With its numerous unique academic offerings and its mission of shaping the young minds of the nation, AASTS has played a vital role in reinforcing maritime education and training in the Middle East. The academy has been a flagbearer in terms of infusing Emirati talent into the workforce, fulfilling the goals of the wise leadership of the nation and enhancing the UAE’s status as a leading maritime hub worldwide.

Dr. Farag said, “As an institution associated with the League of Arab States, we are mandated to build partnerships that develop the economic capabilities of all Arab countries and beyond, while also bringing about innovations in the field of maritime education for the generations to come. Since our inception in Sharjah, we have received endless support from the leaders and decision-makers of the country to reinforce maritime education and training in the country and the region.”

Through its numerous collaborations with the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the academy has showcased its commitment to ensuring the advancement of the maritime sector.

Dr. Capt. Ahmed Youssef, Associate Dean, College of Maritime Transport and Technology, AASTS, stated, “The UAE’s wise leadership attaches great importance to quality education and training. Through our specialised training courses, we work extensively on increasing students’ knowledge base, thus increasing their chances of securing leading positions with key organisations in the industry in the future. We have also designed specialised training programmes in various maritime administrative and technical areas that will employ our state-of-the-art facilities, and have adopted innovative education tools enabled with augmented and virtual reality technologies, which reflects our proactive approach in using modern innovations and creativity in the field of maritime education.”

Throughout the pandemic, the academy tackled the challenges of the new world by deploying hybrid learning methods so students can seamlessly continue their education. Also, AASTS has been spearheading the women empowerment movement in the sector by promoting gender equity in the classroom. With female students accounting for more than 43 per cent of the total, the academy has the highest percentage of females among maritime academies in the Middle East and North Africa.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (SUAD) has hosted a virtual conference to highlight women’s achievements in the field of mathematics in the presence of renowned female mathematicians.

The conference was organised by Dr. Lama Tarsissi, Assistant Professor in Mathematics at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and an Ambassador in The Committee for Women in Mathematics (CWM) in Lebanon and in the UAE.

The conference hosted UAE based renowned female mathematicians who made presentations and speeches across 6 online sessions.

The virtual conference started with a presentation titled “The Committee for Women in Mathematics of the International Mathematical Union and its activities” by Marie-Francoise Roy, chair of CWM. The presentation tackled the history and activities of the Union with a focus on the Standing Committee for Gender Equality in Science and the Gender Gap in Science Project.

The presentation was followed by 5 other consecutive presentations by Hania Mahassen, Coordinator and Associate Professor of Mathematics School of Arts & Sciences at The American university of Dubai; Dr. Lama Tarsissi; Dr. Linda Smail, Associate Professor in the Mathematics and Statistics Department in the College of Natural and Health Sciences, Dr. Marwa Banna, Assistant Professor and an Emerging Scholar at New York University Abu Dhabi, and Dr. Elena Bretta, Elena Beretta, Associate Professor at the Politecnico of Milan of Mathematical Analysis and a visiting professor of Mathematics at New York University Abu Dhabi.

The event focused on exchanging knowledge and research findings on various topics such as Plasmon dispersion in strongly coupled coulomb systems, combinatorics on words, Bayesian networks, high-dimensional probability with applications to big data sciences, and inverse boundary value problems.

Dr. Tarsissi commented, “I’m very delighted to organise this first-of-its-kind conference in the UAE, which serves as a platform for women to share their knowledge in mathematics and research findings, and I believe that such initiatives are positive steps towards raising awareness of the impactful role of women in mathematics and their accomplishments on a wider scale.”

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, As the world prepares for the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, to be held in Glasgow, Scotland in November, it is important that the United Arab Emirates continues to devote attention to the protection of its biodiversity, according to Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the Minister of Tolerance and Co-Existence.

“As our world faces the challenges of climate change, it is increasingly important that we encourage the study of our biodiversity, here in the UAE and on a global scale,” he says.

“This helps us to gain a better understanding of the natural world. It is a key to sustainable development. It equips us to take action to ensure that we plan now, and for the future, to utilise natural resources in a sustainable way,” the Minister adds.

Sheikh Nahyan was speaking on the occasion of the announcement of the winner of the annual Sheikh Mubarak bin Mohammed Prize for Natural History.

“I recall the words of our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed, on the occasion of the UAE’s first Environment Day, over 20 years ago,” the Minister said.

“Sheikh Zayed told us: ‘We cherish our environment because it is an integral part of our country, our history and our heritage, If we fail to protect it, our children, rightly, will reproach us for squandering an essential part of their inheritance.’ “

“His message remains relevant for us all today,” Sheikh Nahyan said.

The winner of the Sheikh Mubarak bin Mohammed Prize for 2021 is Dr. Anitha Saji, a scientist working with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, who has carried out detailed studies of insect life in the Emirates. She has discovered several species of insect new to science at the Wathba Wetland Reserve, just outside Abu Dhabi.

“Dr. Saji’s discoveries show us, once again, that there is much we still have to learn about the UAE’s biodiversity,” Sheikh Nahyan said. “She and her fellow naturalists deserve encouragement for their dedication to the study of our environment.”

The Sheikh Mubarak bin Mohammed Prize, established by Sheikh Nahyan nearly thirty years ago, is awarded every year by the Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Natural History Group, ENHG, to an individual who has made an original contribution to the knowledge of the UAE’s natural history and history.

Another award, the Bish Brown Award, named after the ENHG’s founder, is presented to an individual who has dedicated themselves to the promotion of public awareness and engagement with the environment. This year’s winner is Al Ain-based naturalist Roxanne Whelan.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Dubai, Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) announced today that ten new schools are set to open in Dubai in the 2021-22 academic year.

An additional 14,671 new seats will be added to Dubai’s education landscape with the opening of the new schools, according to new data released by the Authority.

Mohammed Darwish, CEO of Permits and Compliance at KHDA said, “We are happy to welcome ten new schools to Dubai, which will now provide parents with more educational choices. The addition of the new schools is part of our commitment to delivering high-quality education and efforts to further consolidate Dubai’s growth as a global education destination.”

The schools opening this year are located in Tilal Al Ghaf, Al Warqa, Al Karama, Al Barsha, City Walk, Mirdif, Nad Al Sheba, Al Khawaneej and Rashidiya.

Building on strong demand from parents for innovative education offerings, the new schools offer a choice of Australian, UK, US and IB curricula.

“The continued demand for new schools reflects the resilience of Dubai’s private education sector and reflects the success of our strategy to attract high-quality schools that meet Dubai’s aspirations and needs,” Darwish added.

This year will mark the opening of the first ever Australian curriculum school in Dubai. Additionally, the first Dubai campus of Britain’s prestigious 500-year-old Royal Grammar School Guildford is expected to open later this year, taking the total number of international branch schools in Dubai to seven.

A total of 25 new private schools have opened in Dubai over the last three years. Between November 2020 and February 2021, Dubai witnessed a 2.6 percent overall growth in school enrolment, according to the latest landscape report released in February 2021 by KHDA

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Khalifa University of Science and Technology celebrated the graduation of 885 students from its Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programs during the 2021 graduation ceremony, which was held virtually on Wednesday, 26th May, 2021.

During the ceremony, 51 students received their PhD degrees in biomedical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, aerospace engineering, civil and infrastructure engineering, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, robotics engineering and interdisciplinary engineering.

Another 168 students received their Master’s degrees in applied chemistry, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, computer and information science, electrical and computer engineering, engineering systems and management, information security, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, petroleum engineering, geo-petroleum engineering, sustainable critical infrastructure, international and civil security, health, safety and environmental engineering, and water and environmental engineering.

While 666 students received their Bachelor’s degrees in applied mathematics and statistics, petroleum engineering, industrial and systems engineering, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, communication engineering, aerospace engineering, and petroleum geosciences.

The graduation ceremony coincides with the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations of the country’s 50 years of progress and achievements.

In his address, Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a Member of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Khalifa University’s board of trustees, expressed great pride in the graduates’ outstanding achievements.

He extended his greetings to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and to all Emiratis and residents in the UAE, on this significant occasion, which marks the entry of a new cadre of talented graduates – who are now equipped with the robust knowledge and skills gained at the internationally recognized Khalifa University – into the UAE’s key science, engineering, technology and medical sectors.

Sheikh Hamed also expressed his gratitude to the parents of the graduates for this achievement, as they provided unconditional support to the graduates during their studies.

He also congratulated the UAE’s leadership and people, while expressing his pride in the graduates’ and their achievements. He thanked them for their efforts, which will inspire current students of Khalifa University, and for all that they’ve done and will do in the future for the UAE.

He also noted the important role KU graduates have played and will continue to play in enhancing the UAE’s international standing as a leader in research and innovation. Khalifa University graduates contribute to the country’s vital sectors, bringing with them advanced knowledge, expertise, critical skills, and a unique ability to analyze and find creative solutions to the country’s greatest challenges.

Khalifa University has consistently contributed to the aerospace sector. It graduated the first-ever batch of students in Aerospace Engineering, while more recently Khalifa University students designed and developed MySAT-1 and DhabiSat, two mini satellites which were launched into space, and they are also helping students of other universities to design and develop CubeSats.

Khalifa University’s virtual 2021 graduation celebration comes at a time when the University has achieved several milestones, especially with the most number of scientists from the UAE being included in the exclusive Stanford University List of 2% Most Cited Scientists in their fields for 2019, with a total of 45 faculty members, representing 25 percent of all faculty from the UAE, as well as the Stanford University List of 2% Most Cited Career-long Scientists in their field of research for 2019, with 36 faculty members, representing 31.5 percent of all faculty from the UAE.

In global rankings, Khalifa University leapt 67 notches to be ranked 214th globally in the ‘Engineering and Technology’ category, top in the UAE and in six subjects, including Petroleum Engineering, in the most recent 2021 QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University Rankings by Subject. The University already ranks at #211 in the QS World University Rankings 2021, which features 1,029 of the most prestigious universities in the world.

Moreover, Khalifa University is ranked top in the UAE and 114th globally in ‘Engineering’ in the US News & World Report’s 2020 Best Global Universities’ rankings published in November 2019. The University is ranked second in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and among the top 200 globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2020 by Subject: Engineering and Technology.

Source: Emirates News Agency