Khalifa University’s contributions towards UN’s SDGs

Khalifa University of Science and Technology promotes health and well-being through its management, support services, information networks and health promotions, including, but not limited to, awareness on, diet, health, physical exercise, and self-management. It seeks to prevent, so far as is practicable, those work place circumstances detrimental to health and well-being.

Henceforth, KU has issued a policy EHS 7510 Smoke-Free Environment as part of it’s commitment to reduce the exposure of faculty, staff, students, visitors and contractors to environmental tobacco smoke whilst on university premises or at university workplaces. The sale of tobacco is prohibited on all campuses from retail outlets and vending machines. Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship are prohibited in the university environment. Smoking of any substance is restricted to designated areas of KU campuses only.

During the pandemic, Khalifa University initiated 14 funded COVID-19-related research projects, and established a COVID-19 Research and Development (R&D) Task Force. Of the 14 projects, five projects focused on epidemiology, six projects focused on diagnostics and medical devices, and three projects focused on digital tools for understanding, mitigating and providing resiliency against disease spread.

Pursuing it’s aim to ensure good health and well being of it’s students, faculty and staff, KU has collaborated with a number of local and global bodies, some of which are  mentioned below:

Local collaborations:

• Khalifa University has local collaborations with Abu Dhabi Health Services Co. (SEHA), Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (operated in conjunction with the Mayo Clinic), and the healthcare arm of Mubadala Investment Co. In addition, KU has numerous collaborations with other healthcare institutions.  https://www.ku.ac.ae/faqs/where-will-m3-and-m4-students-do-their-rotations-and-clerkships 
• The Healthcare Engineering Innovation Center – Khalifa University (ku.ac.ae) HEIC integrates a world-class multidisciplinary team of researchers with the leading healthcare providers/regulators in the UAE (Abu Dhabi Department of Health, SEHA, the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City) to define and build population-specific, cost-effective, inclusive, and clinically implementable innovative approaches and engineering solutions.
• Khalifa University and SEHA have collaborated to offer the Clinical Research Certificate Program. The six-month, internationally competitive training program, tailored towards healthcare practitioners, including physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, and others, will initially be targeting residents from several institutions and programs; https://www.ku.ac.ae/ramping-up-health-research-building-competencies-in-the-uaes-healthcare-industry
• Khalifa University and Mubadala Investment Company, through its healthcare arm, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on projects related to the university’s new medical college, thereby supporting one of the key Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 objectives of establishing the emirate as a significant knowledge hub in the region. https://www.ku.ac.ae/mubadala-and-khalifa-university-collaborate-on-projects-for-new-college-of-medicine-and-health-sciences

Global collaborations:

• The Khalifa University College of Medicine and Health Sciences signed several partnership agreements with programs in Canada and the USA for further residency training. Further, the university’s primary teaching hospital, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, is operated by the Mayo Clinic. https://www.ku.ac.ae/faqs/what-is-the-status-of-us-partnership-with-the-school-will-kucmhs-help-match-students-in-residencies-in-the-usa

• Two new graduate programs in biomedical sciences and public health will be launched in 2024. The college is currently negotiating partnership agreements with HA and Eurpean universities for dual PhD programs.

KU Research Centers Contributing to SDG #3:

• The KU-Healthcare Engineering Innovation Center is an initiative aimed at transforming the healthcare innovation landscape in Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the MENA region by bridging the substantial existing gap in healthcare innovation and technology. The center aims to tackle relevant challenges and key needs in the healthcare sector, by working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure research excellence with high translational potential. It also aims to foster fruitful collaborations with local and international strategic partners and to attract external funding, with the ultimate goal to evolve as a pioneer self- sustainable center for smart AI-powered solutions, personalized therapeutics, robot-assisted rehabilitation, medical device design, development and clinical testing, in line with Khalifa University mission of innovation and research excellence and with Abu Dhabi Vision 2030.

Website: https://www.ku.ac.ae/heic

• The KU-Center for Biotechnology has established a prominent OMICs system, which enables a comprehensive understanding of human biology and disease states. This cutting-edge system empowers the center to actively contribute to research focused on promoting good health and well-being. Through collaborations with research institutions, conducting independent studies, and developing innovative technologies, the center plays a pivotal role in advancing knowledge in the field. Additionally, the center supports public health initiatives, provides consultation services, engages in policy discussions, and educates future professionals. These multifaceted efforts contribute to advancements in disease prevention, personalized medicine, and healthcare innovations, ultimately leading to improved well-being for individuals and communities. By leveraging its expertise and resources, the center actively drives progress in research and positively impacts health outcomes, making a significant contribution to the field of good health and well-being.

Website: https://www.ku.ac.ae/btc 

Khalifa University of Science and Technology actualizes this commitment to gender parity; this is reflected in its non-discrimination policies and practices, as well as in its consistent women majority enrollment and graduation numbers.

Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KU) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It does not discriminate based on an individual’s gender, ethnicity, religion, disabilities or special needs.

To support parents, KU offers childcare on-campus to students, faculty and staff at the  Chubby Cheeks Nursery Khalifa University branch. The university is also in the process of applying for the ‘Parent-Friendly Label’ – a scheme initiated by the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority.

Because Khalifa University is a government institution, it adheres to all government policies related to non-discrimination and gender parity. Khalifa University of Science and Technology graduation rate patterns consistently show high levels of gender parity (2019 = 61% female graduates; 2020 = 60% female graduates); this is particularly notable when compared to the 2019 female tertiary STEM education graduate average of 13% in OECD countries. https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/education-at-a-glance_19991487

All access schemes, including mentoring and scholarships, are offered equally at Khalifa University to men and women alike.

The table below depicts gender split by employee type at Khalifa University, illustrating the growing number of female between 2020 and 2023

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Highlights of KU Female Achievements & Activities:

• Khalifa University’s Dr. Linda Zou, Professor of Civil Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering, was selected by the Emirates Scientists Council to be the Deputy of the Women in Science Committee of the Mohammed bin Rashid Academy of Scientists (MBRAS). https://www.ku.ac.ae/dr-linda-zou-chosen-to-be-the-deputy-of-the-mbras-women-in-science-committee
• Three KU female students were invited to participate in the Women in Data Science (WiDS) UAE 2021. WIDS  is an independent regional event organized by WiDS Ambassadors in the UAE as part of Stanford University’s annual WiDS Worldwide conference. The initiative aims to support women in data science, as well as inspire and educate other data scientists around the world, regardless of gender. https://www.ku.ac.ae/bsc-math-alumni-participate-in-women-in-data-science-2021

• Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) hosted a live webcast session in partnership with Khalifa University to discuss key initiatives to promote gender equality and female entrepreneurship. Khalifa University’s Webinar on ‘Fostering Gender Equality and Entrepreneurship’ in collaboration with ADGM & U.S. Embassy.

Projects and Publications by KU Researchers on Gender Equality:

From 2016-2021, researchers and faculty from KU have issued more than a dozen  publications relevant to SDG #5, Gender Equality. These include articles on gender, learning and STEM education; gender in the petroleum industry; gender in journalism; gender in e-cmmerce; gender and RGB-D imaging and gender and career development.A more complete list can be found in the Appendix.

The Abu Dhabi Pregnancy Risk and Monitoring System (AD-PRAMS) is anew flagship research program, undertook jointly between the College of Science and College of Medical and Health Science in collaboration with the Early Childhood Authority and the Abu Dhabi Public Health Center. This project aism to provide a firm evidence base to ensure children, and their mothers, are provided with the very best care and, as such, the best start in life.

Appendix 1: Sample of gender related research

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• Khalifa University is one of the key beneficiaries of Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC) which entitles KU to regular inspections against the international standards for drinking water. Consequently, KU will fall under the new policy that promotes the reuse of the recycled water that is being implemented by ADDC.
• In line with the UAE Government’s initiatives on sustainability, Khalifa University is currently implementing a measure to stop the use of all plastic bottles, while encouraging use of sustainable products. Consequently, the university is offering customized sustainable thermostat containers to staff, researchers and faculty.
• Khalifa University is committed to the long-term reduction of energy consumption and to the improvement of  energy and water efficiency as part of its continuous improvement processes. This is evidenced through the resent ISO 50001 and ISO 14001 certifications received by the KU.
• Conscious water usage and its conservation / conversion is a priority consideration at Khalifa University. Various researches are conducted and passed on to the wider community for their benefit in terms of responsible and conscious usage as well as disposing of water.
• Water usage in 2020 has been more optimistic. The water use reduction in 2020 was due to implementation of EHS initiatives of installation of water flow restrictors in the toilet taps, close follow-up with landscaping contractor toward feasible and effective irrigation in addition to others that are all reflecting the water reduction strategies being conducting over the last 2-3 years.
• KU offers wide range of educational and research opportunities in water related areas including water management. In arid regions like the UAE, strategies for securing sustainable supplies of freshwater and efficient water treatment, delivery, and use are critical factors for enabling the region’s development. Equipping its students to tackle both local and global environmental challenges, the MSc in Water and Environmental Engineering aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the compromise between sustainable development, the protection of the environment, and access to clean water. The program allows students to develop core quantitative skills of leadership, water technologies, and water resources management.
• Khalifa University won the 2020 Global Water Award for Innovative Research and Development to solve global water issues. This was the second time the university has received this prestigious international award. Khalifa University and the University of Manchester collaborate to tackle world water shortages through innovative research and development of desalination techniques.
• Khalifa University, in collaboration with UAE-based atmospheric water generator manufacturer Eshara Water, Swedish storage technology company Azelio AB, and Masdar City, a sustainable development, has introduced the world’s first atmospheric water generation system (AWG). The project combines AWG with solar power and two thermal energy storage systems to provide clean electricity at night.

   

  In Summary:

  Khalifa University has made significant contributions towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. The university’s efforts in this area include:

  1. Research and Innovation: Khalifa University conducts cutting-edge research in water treatment technologies and sanitation systems. The university focuses on developing innovative and sustainable solutions to address water scarcity, water pollution, and inadequate sanitation practices.
  2. Education and Capacity Building: Khalifa University offers academic programs and courses that equip students with the knowledge and skills to tackle water and sanitation challenges. By educating future professionals in relevant fields, the university contributes to building a skilled workforce dedicated to advancing clean water and sanitation goals.
  3. Knowledge Dissemination: Khalifa University actively publishes research findings, participates in conferences, and shares knowledge with the global scientific community. This contributes to the dissemination of best practices, novel technologies, and research outcomes that can drive advancements in clean water and sanitation.
  4. Collaboration and Partnerships: Khalifa University collaborates with various stakeholders, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and industry partners, to foster partnerships focused on clean water and sanitation. These collaborations promote knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and joint initiatives to address water and sanitation challenges at local, regional, and global scales.
  5. Community Engagement and Outreach: Khalifa University engages with local communities to raise awareness about the importance of clean water and sanitation. Through outreach programs, educational campaigns, and community projects, the university works towards improving access to clean water, promoting hygiene practices, and enhancing sanitation infrastructure.

  By actively contributing to clean water and sanitation goals, Khalifa University plays a crucial role in advancing sustainable water management, improving water quality, and ensuring access to safe and affordable sanitation facilities for communities locally and globally.

   

  Below are some examples of Khalifa University’s contributions towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation:

  1. Desalination Technologies: Khalifa University researchers have been actively involved in developing advanced desalination technologies to address water scarcity in arid regions. They have focused on improving the efficiency and sustainability of desalination processes, such as reverse osmosis and membrane distillation, to make them more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
  2. Water Treatment Innovations: Khalifa University researchers have worked on novel water treatment technologies to address water pollution and ensure the availability of clean water. For example, they have developed advanced filtration techniques, including membrane-based systems, to remove contaminants and pathogens from water sources.
  3. Water-Energy Nexus: Khalifa University researchers have focused on studying the water-energy nexus, aiming to improve the efficiency of water and energy use in various sectors. Their work includes developing innovative technologies for water recycling, energy-efficient desalination, and integrated systems that optimize the use of water and energy resources.

   

KU Research Centers Contributing to SDG #6:

• Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT): The UAE faces growing water scarcity challenges that require the development and implementation of long-term, sustainable, and integrated capacity in water and membrane technologies that are resilient, energy-efficient, environment-friendly, and cost-effective. In response to this imperative, the Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT) has been established to fulfill this requirement. CMAT is a research center in which state-of-the-art research activities are carried out aiming at the creation of a strong network with national and international scholars and industries operating in the field of membranes, water treatment and – more in general – environmental remediation, to foster innovation and transfer technologies to the relevant stakeholders.

Our center is built on the principles inspired by our Director’s message Prof. Shadi W. Hasan: “CMAT aims at positioning itself as a regional know-how powerhouse in membranes, desalination, and water technologies. Our mission is to undertake multidisciplinary collaborative research to cover the following themes: Process development for desalination and water treatment, novel membrane development, novel materials and nanomaterials for water applications, thermal desalination processes, and Water microbiology.”

Our framework is shaped by the vision and mission of the center to establish a foundation for our activities and desired outcomes.

Vision: To be a world-leading center with an international collaborative research and development environment focusing on the UAE’s needs.

Mission: CMAT’s mission is to undertake multidisciplinary collaborative research to cover various membranes and water technology-based themes.

The CMAT provides a range of advantages to the KU community, encompassing students, research staff, and faculty members. These benefits include advanced analytical instruments, support for collaborative research, a secure research environment, and extensive research resources. As a result, the number of active users utilizing CMAT has surpassed 100, consisting of faculty members, research staff, graduate and undergraduate students, as well as interns. CMAT currently comprises five well-established laboratories that cover various specialized areas, spanning from material synthesis to membrane characterization and testing. Each lab is specifically designed to meet the unique research requirements of its users. The facility houses a diverse selection of equipment, ensuring that researchers have the necessary tools at their disposal to effectively carry out their experiments.

Following the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN’s SDGs), CMAT established five research themes that serve as a platform for clean water production, reuse of recycled water, and water usage reduction. These thematic areas highlight the research conducted that is relevant to our commitment to the UN’s SDGs. They are represented by the following:

Theme 1: Process development for desalination and water treatment

Theme description: Water desalination processes separate dissolved salts and other macro/micro-scale impurities from aqueous feeds such as brackish, seawater, surface sources, and wastewater to produce potable water.  Membrane-based desalination and wastewater treatment processes are contemporary technology, and advanced research is continually required to improve their efficiency and reduce energy consumptions. This theme focuses on the development and implementation of membrane-based hybrid processes for sea and brackish water desalination and wastewater treatment. Projects under this theme address critical issues such as water infrastructure, energy use, and the carbon footprint of water consumption, thereby bringing out water and energy nexus integrity towards the water reclamation from seawater, brackish water, and wastewater sources.

Projects related to Theme 1:

• Lithium recovery from desalination brines using 3D printed adsorption modules
• Hybrid hydrogel water harvester for freshwater capture from atmosphere
• Scale up of membrane distillation systems using dimensionless groups analysis

Theme 2: Novel membrane development

Theme description:  Research activities on membrane technology have been growing tremendously over the past years. Such a technology is considered favorable in various fields including water purification, wastewater treatment, and seawater desalination. The significance of membrane technology is attributed to the numerous advantages such as high-quality effluent, low capital and operational economics, simple to operate, environmentally friendly, less maintenance and small foot print. However, membrane fouling, a phenomenon occurs due to the deposition of organics and biological constituents on the membrane surface, limits the wide implementation of membrane technology in industry. Consequently, the development of anti-fouling as well as high performing membranes seems valuable to overcome such shortages. The commercial value of a membrane is determined by its transport properties such as water permeability and selectivity. Nanotechnology enables a golden opportunity and an effective approach for membrane development via integrating novel nanomaterials in the process of membrane fabrication. Membranes can be synthesized via phase inversion, melt-pressing, electrospinning, solution casting, interfacial polymerization, plasma sputtering, vacuum filtration, and spray or dip coating. Membranes can be porous or non-porous (dense), and can be fabricated in flat sheets, hollow fibers or spiral wound forms. Membranes can be prepared from polymeric and inorganic materials such as ceramic while fine-tuning their chemical, thermal and mechanical properties as per the field of application.

Projects related to Theme 2:

• Smart stimuli-responsive adsorptive membranes for sustainable water desalination
• Electrified membranes for water purification, membrane fouling control, and water disinfection
• Bio-inspired mangroves mimicking anti-fouling membranes for seawater desalination

Theme 3: Novel materials and nanomaterials for water and wastewater applications

Theme description:

Advance oxidation process like Heterogeneous Photocatalysis (HP) continue to become more relevant in (waste)water treatment, self-cleaning surfaces, anti-(bio)fouling membranes, among other applications. Due to the inherent limitations of bare inorganic semiconductors like TiO₂, (only utilizes about 5% of the solar spectrum) commonly used in HP applications, recent research efforts are geared towards development of multifunctional nanocomposites. Novel nanocomposites made of a combination of semiconductors with different properties can be used in more than one above-mentioned application. The nanomaterials must be able to utilize significant amount of visible light because it favors large-scale deployment of solar photocatalysis.

Development of such nanomaterials has not been attained yet, and all researchers are focusing resources to carefully design and fabricate such advanced nanocomposites with multiple functions. This aim of this theme will be to design, fabricate and test scalable novel nanocomposite materials for water disinfection and environmental remediation, as well as thin films with self-cleaning properties. The fabrication of these novel nanocomposites will be made environmentally benign with green solvents such as ionic liquids or deep eutectic solvents. Ionic liquids are recently gaining attention for use in green synthesis of nanomaterials especially photocatalytic nanocomposites. The use of ionic liquids will ensure good dispersity and strong heterojunctions among moieties of the nanocomposites.

Projects related to Theme 3:

• Ionic liquid enhanced nanofibrous membranes for chromatographic-based virus capture from wastewaters
• Tuning of ternary CeO2-TiO2-MOx nanocomposites for advanced water disinfection by solar photocatalysis
• Supported multifunctional catalysts for water remediation and antifouling/ fouling-releasing surfaces

Theme 4: Computational fluid dynamics and thermal desalination processes

Theme description: Thermal desalination by distillation process uses energy to evaporate water and subsequently condense it again. When there is waste heat or sufficient electricity available, as is often the case with refineries and power plants, thermal desalination is an efficient and viable solution. In addition, solar energy can be used as a source of heat for thermal distillation process like solar stills and concentrated solar receivers. Multi Stages Flash Distillation (MSF), Multi Effect Flash Distillation (MED), and Membrane Distillation (MD). Mechanical vapor compression (MVC) is a reliable, cost effective desalination solution for refineries, process industries, power stations and remote development sites where electricity is the only source of power. Freezing desalination (FD) premature desalination process that can be used in integration with other thermal desalination process for desalinate high salt sea water or brine. These desalination processes in addition to any emerging technology that producing pure water based on phase change will be covered under the thermal desalination processes theme. In the UAE, MSF and MED are used compressively in power stations and refineries. MD is also grown in the high saline water areas whether it is sea water or ground water. Thermal desalination is the dominant technology to make seawater potable in the UAE. It is important for the UAE to identify a sustainable desalination solution to meet long-term water needs. Connecting desalination technologies to renewable energy is one solution. Many other solutions can be investigated in this theme, like waste heat recovery technology, new technology, and process efficiency improvement. 

Projects related to Theme 4:

• Enhancing the efficiency of thermal desalination process through electromagnetism
• Molecular Dynamic Simulation of brine evaporation & transport through a porous membrane

Theme 5: Water microbiology

Theme description:  This theme will encompass research studies on aquatic microbes (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protists) that reside in both natural and industrial environments.  Aquatic microbes play an important role in driving wastewater treatment processes, biofouling of industrial membranes, and promoting or causing damage to human health.  Studying the dynamics of these microbes in these different settings will provide valuable information that can be used to optimize these processes and will also provide information on the general wellbeing and health of the population.

Projects related to Theme 5:

• The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the UAE through analysis from municipal wastewater sequences

CMAT Achievements

CMAT, being a prominent research center, has achieved significant milestones in the field of water and membrane technologies, demonstrating its dedication to delivering exceptional outcomes. Some of the accomplishments of CMAT are as follows:

1. CMAT conducts state-of-the-art research in water treatment technologies, resulting in the publication of over 90 journal articles. Notably, 90% of these publications appear in the top 10 scientific journals with a Q1 ranking.
2. CMAT has filed more than 10 invention disclosures, showcasing its commitment to innovation and the development of new technologies.
3. CMAT has hosted approximately 100 local and international seminars, focusing on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Some notable seminars include presentations by esteemed researchers. These seminars cover diverse topics ranging from restoring polluted environments to the treatment of emerging contaminants in water.
4. CMAT has actively sought external funding to establish collaborations and partnerships with local and international organizations. These efforts aim to leverage the accumulated expertise at CMAT for mutual benefits and to foster coordinated and integrated research initiatives.
5. CMAT has launched a Pilot Scale laboratory, which includes various setups for testing water treatment technologies. These setups encompass Reverse Osmosis, Ultrafiltration, Direct Contact Membrane Distillation (DCMD), and Vacuum Membrane Distillation (VMD). These pilot-scale facilities enable CMAT researchers to conduct experiments and evaluate the performance of these technologies on a larger scale.

Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology – Khalifa University (ku.ac.ae)

• Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium: The Seawater Energy and Agriculture System (SEAS) is the SBRC’s flagship research project. It serves as a research and training facility for the next generation of chemical, water and environmental engineers for the country’s knowledge economy.

The Seawater Energy and Agriculture System (SEAS) is the flagship project of the SBRC, conceived as an integrated and holistic approach to producing bioenergy and biomaterials leveraging marginal resources such as non-arable land and seawater, and renewable energy sources such as solar. This project combines an integrated system of aquaculture, halo-agriculture, and mangrove silviculture to produce sustainable biofuels for aviation and seafood.

The SEAS platform is an integrated process that utilizes marginal resources to create an industrial ecology to provide biomaterials and bioenergy in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Using engineered ecosystems approach to technology development, all subsystems within the SEAS concept aim to maximize upcycling and to minimize impacts, trying to account for all externalities to meet its triple-bottom-line – social, economic and environmental.

Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium

Khalifa University is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all staff, faculty, students, visitors, and contractors. To meet this commitment, KU endeavors to control any risk to workplace health and safety by identifying potential hazards, assessing the risk, and implementing corrective measures which aim to control hazards at their source.

In 2020, a new policy “KU Energy and Water Management” has been developed and submitted for official approval. The development of this policy is in line with KU EHS’s initiative to acquire ISO 50001 Energy management in the near future. Currently, KU has ISO50001 and ISO 140001 certifications.

This Energy review of KU analyzes energy performance based on data and other information, leading to identification of SEUs and opportunities for energy performance improvement.

Currently, all our energy source comes from either ADDC/LPG / gasoline (used for transportation). Low-carbon energy such as wind, solar, hydro or nuclear power is not currently used in KU and hence we do not have any specific mechanism to monitor low-carbon energy usage, as specified in ADDC’s revised strategy. 

However, Khalifa University’s Masdar Institute Solar Platform (MISP) is a user research facility valued by industry and capable of testing large scale thermal energy storage (TES) units up to 500 kWh storage capacity. Initially built in 2009 as a demonstration plant by Masdar and a Japanese consortium (Tokyo Tech, Mitsui Engineering, Cosmo Oil, and Konica Minolta), the MISP facility has been significantly modified and extended in 2014 by Masdar Institute, now part of Khalifa University.

With a 20-meter-high tower surrounded by a solar field of 33 heliostat mirrors in three concentric rings which adjust their angle to track the movement of the sun while directing the reflected light to the top of the tower, the MISP currently is being used to test reflector technologies, solar receiver, absorber tubes, heat transfer fluids, mirrors, thermal energy storage systems and a variety of components used in the concentrating solar power (CSP) industry.

KU is working to develop major sustainable energy proposal involving local industry and government to develop and deploy renewable energy production, storage, and distribution and utilization technologies, towards future 100% renewable integration.

The University is also providing renewable energy and energy-efficient technology advices to major local industry such as ADNOC and Emirate Steels, including proposing renewable energy and energy-efficient joint projects.

As part of KU EHS report, Electricity Consumption is reported in KWH. The actual consumption for 2021 was 66,760,086 KWH, which converts to 31,835 tonnes of CO2 equivalent as per Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol standards. Following is a breakup of Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by KU for the year:

Scope 1 Emissions: Fuel – 242 tCO2e

Scope 2 Emissions: Electricity – 31,835 tCO2e, LPG – 0.092 tCO2e

Following are some of the on-going initiatives of KU:

• Working with Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DOE) on renewable integration, technology deployment and policy. 2. DOE is a partner of university’s major sustainable energy proposal towards 100% renewable integration.
• Working with Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI) on renewable integration, technology deployment and policy. 2. MOEI is a partner of university’s major sustainable energy proposal towards 100% renewable integration.
• Involvement (signed up) in UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), 2. Contributing to presentation at COP26/2021 on Middle East SDG activities.
• The Khalifa Innovation Center (KIC) provides start-up funding for low-carbon technology spinoff companies.  KIC, located at KU, is established as a strategic partnership between Khalifa University, Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, Tawazun Economic Council, Mubadala Investment Company, and Sandooq Al Watan.  KIC is heavily involved in the process of innovation and has organized various events to aid in the startups such as the 5-DAY VIRTUAL INNOVATION-BASED ENTREPRENEURSHIP ‘LAB-TO-MARKET’ BOOTCAMP. 

KU’s Research Institutes and Research Centers Contributing to SDG7:

• MASADR INSTITUTE

KU’s sustainability-focused research centers are primarily grouped under Masdar Institute, and it also connects fundamental research with practical application through partnerships with relevant local and international organizations. Masdar Institute also hosts the Field Station that supports outdoor experiments and serves as a living laboratory dedicated to the research and development of building technologies for high-performance buildings.

The Masdar Institute Environmental Monitoring Platform (MIEMP) was established in 2015 to coordinate and streamline support for research projects related to climate, renewable energy, and the environment. The mission of the MIEMP is to collect, validate, and make available continuous, high-quality historical records of environmental variables in the UAE, including micrometeorological and ground-based remotely sensed data from meteorological LiDAR’s (Light Detection and Ranging).

• PETROLEUM INSTITUTE

The Petroleum Institute University and Research Center (PI), as it was initially known, was established in 2001 to support the oil and gas industry of Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE. To achieve that goal, it developed and offered undergraduate and graduate engineering and research programs in areas of significance to the oil, gas and broader energy industries. In February 2017, PI merged with the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MI), and the Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KUSTAR). AT KU, PI continues to play a critical role in the research structure as a multidisciplinary research unit focused primarily on upstream and downstream hydrocarbon exploration and production. Its mission is to conduct applied and fundamental research and development of the key technologies required to maintain the UAE’s position at the forefront of innovation in the oil and gas industry.

Through Petroleum Institute, Khalifa University is positioning sustainable hydrocarbon exploration and production as a central focus of its integrated academic and research activities, which it is further developing by channeling the broad expertise of its faculty. PI connects fundamental research with practical application through its partnership with local and international organizations, including ADNOC. The Petroleum Institute is located at KU’s Sas Al Nakhl Campus.

• ADVANCED POWER AND ENERGY CENTER (APEC)

KU’s Advanced Power and Energy Center (APEC) aims to craft the future of electric energy systems allowing seamless and economical operation of high capacity renewable and clean energy resources while supporting hybrid AC/DC grids, and providing optimal architecture for smart grid and transportation electrification.
Website: www.ku.ac.ae/apec

• RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CENTER ON CO2 AND H2 (RICH)

The Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and H2 (known as the RICH Center) is established to address these challenges, contributing to the launch of clean, sustainable energy, from a scientific and technical perspective, building upon complementary expertise of researchers at Khalifa University and supported by highly reputed local and international companies and organizations. The center aims to become a world-leading center of excellence in the use of combined modeling-experimental approaches for research and development of novel materials and technologies for CO2 capture and utilization as well as H2 production, storage and distribution. It also aims to engage in cutting-edge research, development, technology transfer and awareness in CO2 and H2, and sharing this expertise from the UAE to the rest of the world, by fostering innovation and multidisciplinary collaborations and knowledge exchange. Such activity would serve the UAE and the world in the Mission Innovation challenges defined by the Paris agreement, addressing industrial needs, educating highly skilled scientists and engineers, and aiding the society in the search for clean energy and sustainable products.
Website: www.ku.ac.ae/rich

• SUSTAINABLE BIOENERGY RESEARCH CONSORTIUM (SBRC)

Khalifa University’s Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC) is dedicated to addressing national and regional concerns surrounding biofuels and the usage of freshwater. The Consortium aims to accelerate the commercialization of biofuels produced locally with salt tolerant biomass grown on arid land and using seawater. The SBRC focuses on the following research areas: Biomass Feedstock Development, System Integration and Optimization, Bioenergy Conversion and Techno-Economic & Environmental Assessment.

The SEAS platform is an integrated process that utilizes marginal resources to create an industrial ecology to provide biomaterials and bioenergy in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Using engineered ecosystems approach to technology development, all subsystems within the SEAS concept aim to maximize upcycling and to minimize impacts, trying to account for all externalities to meet its triple-bottom-line (social, economic and environmental).

The first commercial airplane flight fueled with jet fuel produced through SBRC’s SEAS successfully took flight in January 2019. 

Website: www.ku.ac.ae/sbrc

Khalifa University and its employees abide by its comprehensive HR Policy Manual and Code of Ethics that establish working at the highest international standards pursuing decent and professional work environment with  growth for the University as well as for its faculty and staff. The code also ensures avoidance of any crimes such as forced labor, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labor.

Khalifa University, being a Government institution, is fully compliant with the requirements of UAE Federal laws with regards to rights of staff and faculty, as well as to human trafficking and child labor. 

KU recognizes that employee engagement and morale is higher in organizations where employees feel secure in raising real or perceived grievances and where discipline is managed in an open and corrective manner. KU aims to provide a fair, equitable and productive work environment for all its employees that includes a variety of means by which employee grievances are brought to consideration and subsequent resolution in a timely manner.

It pays competitive salaries in accordance with two formal separate salary scales, one for administration staff and one for faculty, with a view to providing appropriate ranges for the grade structure. 

KU is an equal opportunity employer. It does not discriminate against anyone based on race or gender. It establishes a job evaluation process that promotes consistent application and internal equity. The university promotes compensation strategies which, combined with benefits and perquisites, optimize recruitment, performance and retention of high caliber, competent and satisfied employees, irrespective of their gender, religion, race or ethnicity.  

Khalifa University through its sustainable investment policy, pursues socially responsible investing or ESG investing, strongly considers environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors before contributing money and resources to a particular company or a venture.

Innovation: Technology & Sustainability

• Masdar Institute was established in 2007 in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as an independent non-profit graduate level research university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technology. In February 2017 MI merged with the Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KUSTAR), and the Petroleum Institute (PI), to produce one world-class, research-intensive institution, to develop world leaders and critical thinkers in applied science and engineering, called the Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KU).

At KU, Masdar Institute continues to play a critical role in the research structure and culture of the university, serving as an interdisciplinary research unit focused on long-term strategic priorities, which engages a critical mass of faculty. KU’s sustainability-focused research centers are primarily grouped under the Masdar Institute. As a research institute, MI also connects fundamental research with practical application through its partnership with local and international organizations, like the major renewable energy and sustainable urban development leader Masdar.

The UAE is developing into an icon for innovation and knowledge-based economic development in an environment where public and private sectors form effective partnerships. Masdar Institute is well positioned to support these UAE efforts in the areas of sustainable energy and the environment. As the UAE’s premier cross-disciplinary institution for clean energy, water and the environment, Masdar Institute continues to seek the most efficient and cost-effective solutions for the UAE. It focuses on further developing areas of strength in the new decade, while at the same time supporting innovative ideas where it can achieve the greatest impact. Masdar Institute will lead in a new decade of great opportunities driven by new ways of producing, storing and utilizing energy, both in UAE and around the world.

Innovation: Robotics, ICTs, Data Analytics & Cyber-security

• Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute

Khalifa University’s Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute was established in July 2019 to bring all the university’s research in robotics, artificial intelligence, data science, next-gen networks, semiconductor technologies and cybersecurity under a single umbrella.

Its mission is to conduct applied and fundamental research and development of the key technologies required to bring the UAE significantly closer to reaching its goal of becoming a global hub for Artificial Intelligence innovation.

Through its Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute, Khalifa University is positioning robotics and Artificial Intelligence as a central focus of its integrated academic and research activities, which it is further developing by channeling the broad expertise of its faculty.

Under its three main research thrusts – Robotics, Cyber-Physical Systems, and Hardware – the Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute is pioneering use-inspired projects with the aim to provide commercial value locally and globally. By leveraging its robust expertise in ICT, data analytics and robotics research, and partnering with the region’s leading industry experts in the field, the Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute is set to develop the innovative technologies needed to achieve the UAE’s AI transformation goals.

Website: www.ku.ac.ae/about/robotics-and-intelligent-systems-institute

Industry area: Space Technology & Innovation

• Khalifa University Space Technology and Innovation Center (KUSTIC) was established with the aim of becoming a center of excellence for the space sector in the UAE. KUSTIC builds on the current space-related capabilities developed within Khalifa University to support the space industry, as well as to use resources effectively to achieve the greatest impact opportunity for the UAE. The research projects undertaken at the KUSTIC will have a crucial role in building capabilities and creating a technical hub. Specifically, it will train UAE students in satellite design and manufacturing; conduct scientific research in space sector and applications; develop satellite manufacturing capabilities in the UAE; promote and inspire entrepreneurship in the space sector; and support the space science and technology initiatives of the UAE Space Agency. KUSTIC also hosts the Yahsat Space Lab, which was established to support the CubeSat programs at UAE universities in general and the Khalifa University Space Systems programs in particular. The lab is the first of its kind in the region with the capability to design, build and test small satellites up to 6U form factor (30 cm X 20 cm X 10 cm).

Website: www.ku.ac.ae/kustic

Industry area: Nuclear technology

• Emirates Nuclear Technology Center (ENTC) at Khalifa University is designed to provide a hub to address the present and future research requirements to support the UAE’s nuclear power program and deliver our key stakeholder’s goals for the delivery of safe, clean and efficient nuclear energy to meet the UAE’s 2030-2050 visions, while protecting the public, workers and the environment. The ENTC’s mission is to conduct research in the main thematic areas of nuclear technology necessary to provide a risk informed decision basis for the safe operation of the nuclear power plants, while estimating the consequences should faults occur.  Our research in the main thematic areas of Nuclear Safety and Systems, Nuclear Materials and Chemistry and Radiation Safety in the Environment will provide data for informed decision while innovation in methodology and practices will aim to minimize the risks of faults.

Website: www.ku.ac.ae/entc

Industry area: Aerospace technology

• Aerospace Research & Innovation Center (ARIC) aims to develop an international reputation for cutting-edge research in aerospace technologies.

Website: www.aric.ae

Innovation areas: Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and cyber-physics

• Center for Cyber-Physical Systems (C2PS) is delivering innovative CPSs that guarantee key properties like scalability, security, privacy and resilience to attacks. C2PS brings together top KU faculty from several Departments. We work together with in-house research staff and students to develop and apply CPS concepts in four key areas: Edge-Cloud Computation and Blockchain, Mobile Network and 5G, Data Analytics and Applied Artificial Intelligence, and Cyber-Security and Privacy. The C2PS is funded by an internal grant by KU and receives targeted and project-oriented funding from companies and other UAE funding agencies.

Website: www.ku.ac.ae/c2ps

Innovation area: Robotics

• Khalifa University Center for Autonomous Robotic Systems (KUCARS) produces top research outputs with potential for high impact, developing robotics showcases, educating and training students and staff, engaging with external stakeholders, consolidating international collaborations and researcher exchanges, benchmarking at international level (including participation in MBZIRC and other international competitions.

Website: www.ku.ac.ae/kucars

Industry area: Digital Manufacturing

• Advanced Digital & Additive Manufacturing Center (ADAM) focuses on digitally designing, simulating, and experimentally characterizing the additive manufacturing (AM) process through different AM technologies such as metal/plastic powder-bed infusion, fused deposition modeling, and polyjet processes. Simulating the AM process provides significant insights on the optimum printing parameters that lead to stable 3D printed components with enhanced mechanical and physical properties.

Website: www.ku.ac.ae/adam

Industry area: Supply Chain and Management

• Digital Supply Chain and Operations Management Center (DSOM) is a faculty cluster, dedicated to scholarship and education on extended enterprise operations and its digital transformation. Our macro-level research aims to provide real-world, cutting edge focus on the digital transactions, management, and optimization in multiple domains (maritime logistics, production lines, health care delivery systems). The faculty center expertise in supply chain, data science and predictive analytics, along with digitally networked systems, to address the extended-enterprises as a nexus of integrated supply-chains, digital-operations management, and technology-ready human capital.

Website: www.ku.ac.ae/dsom

Industry area: Healthcare

• Healthcare Engineering Innovation Center (HEIC) is an initiative aimed at transforming the healthcare innovation landscape in Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the MENA region by bridging the substantial existing gap in healthcare innovation and technology. The center aims to tackle relevant health challenges in the UAE, aiming to attract external funding and evolve as a pioneer self- sustainable unit for medical device design, development and clinical testing, in line with Khalifa University mission of innovation and research excellence and with Abu Dhabi Vision 2030.

Website: www.ku.ac.ae/heic

Industry area: AI and News Media Industry

• Theme: Artificial Intelligence & News Media Industry
  • Name: Dr. Sadia Jamil Department: Humanities & Social Sciences
  • Publication: Jamil, Sadia. (2020). Artificial Intelligence and Journalistic Practice: The Crossroads of Obstacles and Opportunities for the Pakistani Journalists. Journalism Practice. (published online first on 7th July 2020). https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2020.1788412

• Project-related Event: THISAM 2020: https://www.joursummerschool.org/speakers_

Khalifa University  has strict anti-discrimination / anti harassments policies for both students as well as for staff / faculty members where everyone has a right to equal treatment by the university and to be free from discrimination based on race, color, origin, religion, gender or special needs.

• Admissions catalogues clearly states on page 77 that all admissions are free of any discriminations, “A student has a right to be free from discrimination based on race, color, origin, religion, gender or special needs.” https://www.ku.ac.ae/undergraduate-catalog
• The office of enrollment and the Institutional Research office collect and monitor students applications and enrollment considering wide range of categories such as gender, low income students and students with special needs.
• The university offers scholarship schemes to students and managed to attract 407 students from developing countries. Meanwhile, it offers good salary scheme with equal opportunity to all nationalities and genders.
• Khalifa University students receive same level of support and are treated equally.
• Khalifa University supports students and staff with special needs (people of determination) and provide them the right access and personal support if needed.
• Counseling services also assist students with special needs by offering special accommodation to ensure they are not disadvantaged in any way. The guiding principle of counseling is built on trust; hence all counseling sessions are held to high level of confidentiality.
• Additionally, Khalifa University HR provides mentoring for all its new employees, providing insight on the applicable laws, policies and procedures through Orientation program provided on the first day. Moreover, the policy supports helping those who require financial support to secure proper accommodation through Housing advance payments.

Publications by KU Researchers that Contribute to SDG #10

• Publication 1: Special Edition – Social inequalities & Marginalized Communities

Media Discourses and Representation of Marginalized Communities in Multicultural Societies:  https://think.taylorandfrancis.com/special_issues/media-discourse/

Name: Dr. Sadia Jamil

Department: Humanities & Social Sciences

Media discourses and Marginalized Communities in Multicultural Societies is Journalism Practice’s special edition, being edited by Dr. Sadia Jamil (Khalifa University, UAE), Associate Professor Jessica Retis (University of Arizona, US) and Dr. Paul Murschetz (Austrian Academy of Sciences & University of Digital Sciences, Berlin),  with a purpose to present impactful studies offering insights into the news media’s role in jeopardizing the representation of minority/or marginalized groups, as well as to address their potential role to combat discrimination against members of marginalized groups such as minority racial and ethnic communities, drug users and drug addicts, sex workers, LGBT persons, and people living with HIV. The term media discourses do not merely imply the manner in which facts or reality is represented in the electronic and printed media, relatively the manner in which reality is shaped by the journalists and media professionals. Thus, one of the key contributions of this special edition is to underline the power and influence of media discourses to not only present, but rather shape social practices.

• Publication 2: Digital & Social inequalities

Jamil, Sadia. (2020). A widening digital divide and its implications for democracy and social inequalities in Pakistan. In Massimo Ragnedda and Anna Gladkova (Eds), Digital Inequalities in the Global South. London: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 59-78. 

KU Research Centers Contributing to SDG #10:

• Healthcare Engineering Innovation Center is an initiative aimed at transforming the healthcare innovation landscape in Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the MENA region by bridging the substantial existing gap in healthcare innovation and technology. The center aims to tackle relevant health challenges in the UAE, aiming to attract external funding and evolve as a pioneer self- sustainable unit for medical device design, development and clinical testing, in line with Khalifa University mission of innovation and research excellence and with Abu Dhabi Vision 2030.

Website: https://www.ku.ac.ae/heic

• Center for Biotechnology is researching genomics, bioinformatics and systems biology to understand risk factors underlying major chronic diseases in the UAE population.

Website: https://www.ku.ac.ae/btc 

• Khalifa University – Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KU-KAIST) Joint Research Center commenced the Smart Healthcare Project in August 2019.

Website: https://www.ku.ac.ae/ku-kaist-jrc 

Name: Dr. Khaled Alawadi 
Department: Civil Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering

DETAILS OF ACADEMIC PROJECT/PUBLICATION:

Theme: Future Forms and Design of Sustainable Cities

Under the auspices of the Civil Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering Department, the Urban Research Studio was created, which is committed to building a premier, cutting-edge design and applied research platform to enhance the quality of urban living in Abu Dhabi and the broader region. The studio’s overall goal is to position the UAE as a knowledge hub and engine for exploring cities’ transformation and performance, sustainable development patterns, trends of urbanization, and future forms of sustainable cities.

In particular, the studio is committed to investigating the role of urban design and planning in promoting sustainable development. Its guiding question is: Which urban forms and policy initiatives will effectively improve environmental, social, and economic integration in our regions, cities, and neighborhoods? The studio is devoted to achieving this goal by using advanced methodical, analytical, and urban representation techniques in interdisciplinary, collaborative research projects. 

  The complexity of current world issues necessitates a new generation of ideas for designing and sustaining our cities. The world is now more complex and politically driven; pressing cultural and ecological concerns oblige a new level of accountability, justification, transparency, and innovation in city design. Sustainable design solutions recognize that no one model fits all cities. The most meaningful solutions are achieved through a range of plans, methods, and technologies that respond to a place’s cultural, political, and environmental characteristics at different morphological scales, from the regional scale to the city at higher and lower densities to city blocks. In this regard, the studio responds to research areas that have a significant potential to improve urban form and develop more sustainable communities. Such projects include:

• Designing sustainable suburban prototypes that respond to local needs
• Mapping the transformation and changing status of cities-built forms
• Studying and exploring a new generation of sustainable housing forms to accommodate the rapid urbanization ongoing in the region
• Drafting new forms, policies, design guidelines, and strategies for the delivery of sustainable neighborhoods and housing developments
• Experimenting with spatial analytic methods and generating data visualization and collection tools that highlight urban conditions, forms, change, and human behavior
• Researching the transformation of old city fabrics and the impact of post-modern development on culture and identity
• Using urban network analysis methods to explore the efficiency and centrality of street and land use systems
• Studying the fundamental relationships between urban form and non-motorized travel
• Studying issues of food security; and understanding the possibility of integrating food production into urban areas and design.
• Conducting peer review of design guidelines, policies, planning and development strategies, and planning regulations at all scales (e.g., street, building, neighborhood, city, and region).
• Synthesizing the outcome of locally designed research projects to engage in larger conversations related to urban form and different performative criteria, so that scholars and practitioners who work in other contexts can learn from the outcomes of KU’s research.

The overall aim of the Urban Research Studio is to explore the transformation and performance of Abu Dhabi and the region and generate context-sensitive urbanization models, infrastructure innovations, and creative design and policy solutions that address elements such as transportation systems, urban design, city forms, livability, and cultural integrity. The studio employs researchers and students to integrate design solutions, systems thinking, and behavioral and cultural relationships within a city context. Today, the studio comprises four sections:

1. Media, Graphic, and Simulation Facility
2. Physical Modeling and Urban Visualization Facility
3. Urban Design Studio
4. Environmental Auditing and Measurement Facilities

Examples of project under the studio include:

• Typological Index: Atlas of Abu Dhabi’s Neighborhood Morphologies. The Index provides spatial information (graphical and quantitative) on Abu Dhabi’s residential neighborhoods forms and evolution. This work provided a large dataset for the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), and Abu Dhabi’s Housing Authority (ADHA) to inform more efficient practices and policies. Link to the Atlas: (kindly retain the confidentiality of the copy): https://www.dropbox.com/sh/x5uiiq1o0cdiejh/AAAhDdO_prXjog67kcv5KP8Ra?dl=0
• Shaping sustainable urban growth for the UAE: Understanding the role of street networks’ efficiency and centrality in city design. This project, in collaboration with

Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) and Dubai Municipality, addresses Abu Dhabi’s and Dubai’s street connectivity at the neighborhood (local) and city (global) scales. It focuses on two parameters of street network analysis: efficiency and centrality. Efficiency is evaluated in terms of directness, noting that network designs that provide short and direct access between origins and destinations are more efficient. Centrality is evaluated using graph theory metrics that enable the identification of high- and low-accessibility locations within networks. The project offers scientifically grounded strategies and policies that will enable various stakeholders to design more sustainable street systems and land uses. Faculty, research staff, and around 15 MSc students collaborated in the analysis, data collection, engagement sessions with the industry, and the production of forthcoming guidebook “Rethinking Suburbs: Morphological and Network Analysis Review.” The book has been completed except for a minor subsection. It includes 8 chapters and around 2,247 maps have been formatted to the book layout. The book provides a scientific evidence-based approach for the development of more sustainable neighborhoods in the UAE. (

• Abu Dhabi International Virtual Research Institute for Food Security in the Drylands. This Project aims to integrate food production into urban living environments
• Other published work concerned with urban livability, sustainability, and the performance of the built environment can be found in the table below:

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• Khalifa University is committed to the long-term reduction of energy consumption and to the improvement of our energy and water efficiency as part of its continuous improvement processes. This is evidenced through the ISO 50001 and ISO 14001 certifications recently received by KU.
• KU is committed to responsible consumption and production. It’s encourages it’s staff, by way of its policy number KUP6600 and procedures, to ensure responsible and sustainable sourcing as well as consumption of general office supplies and other usable material.
• The Procurement & Contracts Department of KU, by way of its policy number KUP6600 and procedures, aims to ensure that goods and services are obtained in a way that minimizes negative impacts on the environment, promotes social responsibility, and supports long-term economic sustainability.
• KU contributes to environmental protection, social well-being, and economic resilience while fostering a more sustainable and responsible supply chain.
  
• There is a comprehensive waste management procedure. Also, to develop, implement and maintain a procedure to manage generated waste to achieve the best EHS performance with regard to Management System and the communal and economic development of Abu Dhabi Emirate as a whole.
• Various events are organized to enhance awareness amongst staff, faculty and students about responsible consumption and production. In line with this, the Plastic Bag Free Day was celebrated on 3 July, 2020.
• An annual EHS report summarizes the work that is done to ensure that students, employees, contractors, and visitors are safe, happy and thriving at the workplace. Each year an environment, health and safety improvement plan is implemented and the report highlights how this has been delivered during the year, as well as plans for the forthcoming year.
• Khalifa University is also implementing a measure to stop the use of all plastic bottles, while encouraging use of sustainable products. Consequently, the university is offering customized sustainable thermostat containers to staff, researchers and faculty.

• KU’S CENTER: SUSTAINABLE BIOENERGY RESEARCH CONSORTIUM

Research area: Salt-tolerant and arid land biomass

A common downside of current generation fuel crops is their competition for agricultural resources (arable land, irrigation freshwater, fertilizers) with food crops, therefore economically impacting the agricultural landscape worldwide. Socio-economic impacts of conventional fuel crops are particularly felt on at-risk or marginalized communities, where this resource competition between fuel and food crops leads to a direct increase in prices of traditional dietary staples. Potential environmental impacts due to indirect land-use change and intensive energy requirements may also mean that these biofuel feedstocks are not truly sustainable. By basing the fuel crop production on halophytes, the SEAS platform aims to completely avoid this issue, which uses non-arable land for agricultural purposes. In addition, it can enable sustainable agroforestry practices in arid, biomass-poor regions: given the existing lack of suitable crops and biomass sources in desert arid regions, a platform such as SEAS will unlock this biomass industry worldwide in some of the highest solar energy potential regions, that are hamstrung by lack of access to freshwater resources.

The UAE has engaged in the fight against climate change and listed this issue amongst its priority targets to maintain the country’s sustainability and growth.

KU has been a strategic partner with Federal and Abu Dhabi Governments to research on the climate change within the country and in the region.

There have been various research projects carried out by KU in relation to the change in temperatures and rainfall shortages:

• Researchers from KU characterize the weather features over the Arabian Peninsula and establish knowledge on their seasonal and annual variability  https://www.ku.ac.ae/khalifa-university-research-shows-increasing-trends-in-summertime-temperatures-over-the-uae

• A Khalifa University team has found warming global temperatures may be making springtime rainfall last longer in the UAE, and possibly become more common. https://www.ku.ac.ae/more-uae-rain-in-the-springtime-as-climate-change-impacts-local-weather-patterns

• Dr.Ludovic Dumée , Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at Khalifa University, outlines the strategies and technologies that could be deployed to turn CO2 emissions into a resilient circular economy.  https://www.ku.ac.ae/carbon-capture-and-conversion-technologies-could-clean-the-atmosphere-and-turn-co2-into-commercial-opportunities

• Monitoring of Greenhouse gases using Satellite observations (PI. Dr. Francis)

• Monitoring of air quality and climate change indicators (PI. Dr. Francis)

• Study of polar ice and its recent changes (PI. Dr. Francis)

• Study of the climate of the Middle East and North Africa region (PI. Dr. Francis)

• Research on climate change and links to weather extremes and natural hazards (dust storms, floods, tropical cyclones, droughts, etc), PI Dr. Francis.

KU has contributed at various forums to enhance awareness of climate change and its impacts. These include papers on clean air, geological climate, and more:

• The Environmental and Geosciences Lab (ENGEOS) at Khalifa University,  is responsible for providing air quality forecasts for the entire UAE daily to the MOCCAE in order to be shared with the public and serve as guidance for vulnerable groups. https://www.ku.ac.ae/we-need-to-look-beyond-our-borders-for-clean-air-and-blue-skies
• Dr. Thomas Steuber studies ancient rock fossils in the UAE to understand the role of climate change today. https://www.ku.ac.ae/what-the-uaes-geological-mysteries-teach-us-about-climate-change
• Professor Linda Zou at Khalifa University is awarded a research grant of “Using nanotechnology to accelerate the water condensation and growth for rain enhancement” by UAE Rain Enhancement Science Program (UAEREP). Prof Zou developed core-shell structured cloud seeding materials that mimic and enhance what naturally occurs in rain clouds, the rain precipitation from cloud seeding helps to replenish groundwater reserves as part of the solutions in providing water security amid worsening climate change. The research outcomes have been published at 3 journal articles and 1 patent has been filed.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.7b06114

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0009261419303987

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jpcc.9b09749

• Fonseca R., D. Francis, G. Aulicino, K. S. Mattingly, G. Fusco, G. Budillon, Atmospheric controls on the Terra Nova Bay polynya occurrence in Antarctica, Climate Dynamics, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-023-06845-0
• Francis D., R. Fonseca, N. Nelli, D. Bozkurt, J. Cuesta, E. Bosc, On the Middle East’s severe dust storms in spring 2022: Triggers and impacts, Atmospheric Environment, 2023, 119539, ISSN 1352-2310.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2022.119539
• Francis D., R. Fonseca, K. S. Mattingly, S. Lhermitte, C. Walker, Foehn Winds at Pine Island Glacier and their role in Ice Changes, The Cryosphere Discussions, 2023. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2023-46
• Francis D., M. Weston, R. Fonseca, M. Temimi, A. Alsuwaidi, Trends and variability in methane concentrations over the Southeastern Arabian Peninsula, Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1177877
• Francis, D., Fonseca, R., & Nelli, N. (2022). Key Factors Modulating the Threat of the Arabian Sea’s Tropical Cyclones to the Gulf Countries. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 127, e2022JD036528. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JD036528
• Francis, D., Fonseca, R., Mattingly, K. S., Marsh, O. J., Lhermitte, S., & Cherif, C. (2022). Atmospheric triggers of the Brunt Ice Shelf calving in February 2021. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 127, e2021JD036424. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JD036424
• Diana Francis, Ricardo Fonseca, Narendra Nelli, Oriol Teixido, Ruqaya Mohamed, Richard Perry, 2022, Increased Shamal winds and dust activity over the Arabian Peninsula during the COVID-19 lockdown period in 2020, Aeolian Research, Volume 55, 2022, 100786, ISSN 1875-9637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeolia.2022.100786
• Fonseca R., D. Francis, N. Nelli, and C. Cherif (2022) Regional atmospheric circulation patterns driving consecutive fog events in the United Arab Emirates, Atmospheric Research, 2022, 106506, ISSN 0169-8095. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2022.106506
• Parajuli SP, Jin Q and Francis D (2022) Editorial: Atmospheric dust: How it affects climate, environment and life on Earth? Environ. Sci. 10:1058052. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2022.1058052. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.1058052/full
• Zittis G., M. Almazroui, P. Alpert, P. Ciais, W. Cramer, Y. Dahdal, M. Fnais, D. Francis et al., Climate change and weather extremes in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, Reviews of Geophysics. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2021RG000762

Media highlights: 

• Research by Abu Dhabi scientists sheds light on why Antarctica is melting https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2023/06/18/research-by-abu-dhabi-scientists-sheds-light-on-why-antarctica-is-melting/
• Satellite data study examines methane levels over UAE: Researchers say reported increase in concentrations may be due to prevailing winds and human activity https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2023/05/29/satellite-data-study-examines-methane-levels-over-uae/

• Tracking dust storms across the world’s largest sand desert: https://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2023/02/15/transformers-dust-sandstorms-hnk-spc-intl.cnn
• Sahara’s ‘Godzilla’ dust storm may have been triggered by warming in the Arctic https://www.livescience.com/godzilla-dust-cloud.html
• Climate change turns up the heat on tropical cyclone formation https://www.natureasia.com/en/nmiddleeast/article/10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.32
• How bad is our air pollution – and how do we tackle it? https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/environment/2022/09/20/explained-how-much-of-a-problem-is-air-pollution-in-the-uae/
• Researchers from KU characterize the weather features over the Arabian Peninsula and establish knowledge on their seasonal and annual variability  https://www.ku.ac.ae/khalifa-university-research-shows-increasing-trends-in-summertime-temperatures-over-the-uae
• A Khalifa University team has found warming global temperatures may be making springtime rainfall last longer in the UAE, and possibly become more common. https://www.ku.ac.ae/more-uae-rain-in-the-springtime-as-climate-change-impacts-local-weather-patterns

• Khalifa University is an educational institution based on the principles that promote peace, justice and strength. Various documents are available for corporate governance and communication with internal as well as external stakeholders.
• All employees of KU are expected to adhere to the standards of conduct and ethical behaviors specified the University Code of Conduct. Any violation of these standards are noted and addressed in a timely manner. There are  proper channels for reporting conduct violations, the means for investigating such reports, the rights of the employee and the incremental sanctions which may be imposed according to the HR Policy Manual.
• New academic programs, and fresh inroads into developing medical professionals to support the regional healthcare ecosystem were some of the key highlights for Khalifa University during the year 2019. In order to strengthen its institutional standing, Khalifa University has entered into milestone agreements to expand collaborations with national and international partners, while pioneering research innovations that have led to commercialization license to benefit the community.
• Khalifa University encourages the establishment of student groups on campus. Every registered student on campus, undergraduate or graduate, is encouraged to organize or become member of a recognized student group.
• KU is obliged to uphold and preserve its students’ rights to exercise principles of academic freedom. This is exercised through the implementation of Students Rights and Responsibilities Policy. 
• There are elected councils of students and faculty, in addition to appointed committees and leadership groups that ensure peace, justice and equity within the university.
  • The student council assumes the role of working on behalf of the interests and needs of the students; improves the intellectual, cultural and social character of the university; and empowers the students to foster a living-learning community.
  • The Faculty Academic Council (FAC) is a standing advisory council established for the purpose of discussing issues and addressing concerns that relate to the professional academic force of the university.
• The Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA) signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Khalifa University of Science and Technology. following this a number of faculty and leadership of KU are representing the University and acting in advisory roles on various Governmental bodies as well as committees. Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi currently holds the position of the Executive Vice President at Khalifa University. Dr. Arif further chairs the Steering Committee of the UAE Graduate Research Conference and the Executive Committee of the Emirates Advanced Network for Research and Education.

Publications and Activities by KU Researchers that Contribute to SDG #16:

• Publication 1:

Handbook of Research on Combating Threats to Media Freedom and Journalist Safety: https://www.igi-global.com/book/handbook-research-combating-threats-media/232292

Name: Dr. Sadia Jamil

Department: Humanities & Social Sciences

Details of academic project/publication:

The Handbook of Research on Combating Threats to Media Freedom and Journalist Safety is an essential reference source that evaluates how diverse threats impact on journalists’ wellbeing, their right to freedom of expression, and overall media freedoms in various contexts and assesses inadequacies in national security policies, planning, and coordination relating to the safety of journalists in different countries. Featuring research on topics such as freedom of the press, professional journalism, and media security, this book is ideally designed for journalists, news writers, editors, columnists, press, broadcasters, newscasters, government officials, lawmakers, diplomats, international relations officers, law enforcement, industry professionals, academicians, researchers, and students.

• Event 1: Desafíos ante la violencia y por la seguridad de periodistas en tiempos de pandemia (Challenges in the face of violence and for the safety of journalists in times of pandemic OCTOBER 22, 23 AND 24, 2020)

Event organizers: The Network for Freedom of Expression against Violence to Communicators (Mexico), the Xochimilco Metropolitan Autonomous University and the Ibero-American University

Session: Labor and digital violence against women journalists in times of crisis: Speaker, Dr. Sadia Jamil https://forodesafiosperiodistas.net/participantes/#page-content

• Event 2: Moscow Readings 2020

Panel: Digital safety and protection of journalists in the Global South (Chair/organizer, Dr. Sadia Jamil)

• Event 3: Delayed virtual event on World Press Freedom Day by UNESCO (Paris), Leiden University and the government of Netherlands (9-10, December, 2020)

Safety risks and Discrimination faced by female journalists

Speaker: Dr. Sadia Jamil   

• KU has established both long term and short-term partnerships with internally as well as externally to pursue Sustainable Development Goals. Khalifa University is actively involved in establishing long term strategic partnerships with a variety of organizations. The University currently enjoys strong relationships with over 40 national and international partners including industry leaders, multinational entities, government agencies, universities and other institutions.
• KU has worked with National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals as a cross sectoral initiative and has contributed towards the implementation of sustainable development goals at National level as per the UAE’s Vision 2030.  KU also participated in the development of action plans for SDG implementation by Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
• KU, through its researchers, aims to include a range of research papers such as “Edit Special Issue of Prestigious Journalism Journal” to address several of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including gender equality (SDG goal 6), inequalities (SDG goal 10) and issues that relate to human wellbeing, social peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG goal 16).
• The KU-SDG Ambassador Program is a co-curricular program which aims to build upon KU’s membership into the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and introduce the UN-SDGs to our students, equipping them with the knowledge to contribute towards giving back to the community. This program includes a series of workshops on the topics of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Leadership with a focus on sustainability.
• KU’s vision, as a research-intensive institution, is to seamlessly integrate research and education to produce world leaders and critical thinkers in applied science, engineering, management and medicine, while continuously innovating and integrating the global standard in methods of learning and discovery.
• KU offers a wide range of elective courses which have SDG related themes such as Sustainability, Energy, Climate Change, Environment, Waste Management, Water etc.. For details refer to the under graduate and graduate catalogues. https://www.ku.ac.ae/undergraduate-catalog and https://www.ku.ac.ae/graduate-catalog
• To benefit the community at large, KU has launched the Community Webinar Series, a string of educational webinars designed to teach and inform the general public about a variety of beneficial topics, ranging from lessons on coronavirus to lessons on how to better understand your personality, build leadership skills, create a sustainable lifestyle, and many more. The series is targeted towards everyone – from high school and university students, to parents, professionals and anyone in between who is interested in broadening their skillset and knowledge. The seminars were offered free of charge to the local and international community of learners as an extension of KU’s active commitment to exchanging knowledge and resources in the spirit of collaboration to promote a happier, more engaged community, and a more sustainable world. www.ku.ac.ae/community-webinars 

KU Research Centers that Contribute to SDG #17:

• The Khalifa University – Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KU-KAIST) Joint Research Center The KU-KAIST Joint Research Center was launched in April 2019 and aims to provide comprehensive support for research projects involving the development of technologies that are shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution, particularly in the areas of Smart Transportation and Smart Healthcare, across the two campuses.

Two projects linked to Smart Transportation (SDG 9) and Smart Healthcare (SDG 3) have commenced under the Joint Research Center August 2019. Following the official launch of the KU-KAIST Joint Research Center at KU’s Main Campus in April 2019, the KAIST-KU JRC at the KAIST Daejeon campus was also launched in July 2019. This is the second phase of collaboration following the partnership agreement that was signed in 2010 between the two institutions, which aimed to provide the best science and technology education as well as develop nuclear energy in the UAE

• UAE- Korea Joint R&D Technical Center The KUTC has been launched by KU and the Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), with support from the Korea Ministry of Science and ICT. It will initially cover areas including advanced materials especially in energy, oil and gas, and catalysts, as well as characterization of semiconductor materials and devices, in addition to materials for bio-medical and energy applications (SDG 7).

• Advanced Digital & Additive Manufacturing Center (ADAM) (SDG 9) focuses on digitally designing, simulating, and experimentally characterizing the additive manufacturing (AM) process through different AM technologies such as metal/plastic powder-bed infusion, fused deposition modeling, and polyjet processes. Simulating the AM process provides significant insights on the optimum printing parameters that lead to stable 3D printed components with enhanced mechanical and physical properties. Key national and international collaborators for this center include: New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Strata, Siemens, Etihad Airways, Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Brunel University London, Dassault Aviation (DA), US Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), University of Applied Sciences (SUPSI)- Switzerland, and Abu Dhabi Police.

Advanced Digital & Additive Manufacturing Center