American Society of Mechanical Engineers Confers ‘Fellow’ Status to Dr. Marwan Khraisheh for Research, Education and Academic Leadership

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 6 June, 2012 – Affiliations to international professional organizations have significant positive impact in helping the faculty in academic institutions to advance professionally and raise performance benchmarks. More specifically, they bring honor to the country they represent, according to Dr. Marwan Khraisheh, Dean of Engineering at Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.

Dr. Khraisheh, who has been officially declared a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), has become one of only 3,250 Fellows out of more than 100,000 members worldwide. The Fellow grade, considered to be a true distinction among ASME members, was conferred on him for his achievements in research, education and academic leadership.

The ASME has five grades of membership to cater to engineers of diverse professional stages. The Fellow grade of membership is conferred only on worthy candidates in recognition of their outstanding engineering achievements. In addition to the nominator’s letter, three sponsors’ letters are required to complete the nomination and a Fellow Review Committee will vet the candidates for final selection.

Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President, Masdar Institute, said: “Faculty that continuously seek excellence in academic and research fields reflects Masdar Institute’s profile as an institution of high-caliber professionals. Such faculty members also get rewarded by international professional organizations for their outstanding contributions and we congratulate Dr. Marwan Khraisheh for being awarded the Fellow status by ASME.

“For Masdar Institute, such recognitions also demonstrate the extent of quality learning offered to students by these acclaimed faculty members. We thank the country’s wise leadership for their support in developing an institution that has numerous internationally-recognized professionals.”

The most important aspect of Dr. Khraisheh’s membership is his affiliation with the UAE, which makes him an enabling agent for sponsoring and mentoring young professionals and faculty from this country and the GCC region.

Dr. Marwan Khraisheh said: “To be elevated to the status of a Fellow at ASME is an honor. This status empowers me to sponsor other faculty members especially from Mechanical Engineering program to become Fellows of ASME. But more importantly, the status firmly places the UAE in the global engineering map as a hub for academic, research and professional aspects of all kinds of engineering. Affiliations come with the power to accomplish significant feats for the country and I am privileged to contribute to the UAE through my new status at ASME.”

As a Fellow of ASME, Dr. Khraisheh can nominate other eligible professionals from the UAE to this prestigious international organization. ASME is a not-for-profit membership organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing, career enrichment, and skills development across all engineering disciplines.

Earlier this year, Dr. Khraisheh became the first-ever member to represent the region on the prestigious International Academy for Production Engineering, known by its French acronym CIRP. The elite and highly selective CIRP admits only international R&D experts of many years standing. Though Dr. Khraisheh became a CIRP Member in 2007 while he was in the US, he requested to transfer his membership to Abu Dhabi to add the UAE as a member country.

The Founding Dean of Engineering at Masdar Institute, Dr. Khraisheh received his BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Jordan, and MS and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Washington State University. His areas of specialization include Advanced Materials Processing and Sustainable Manufacturing.

Established as an on-going collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow.  With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change through education and research.
 

Two-Week Intensive and Challenging Program on Integrated Energy Systems Comprises Six Modules

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 5 June, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced the two-week Practical Experience at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) program will begin from 18 June.

This is the second consecutive year the program is organized for the benefit of the students. The collaborative program between Masdar Institute and MIT will be held from 18 -28 June in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US. Organized by the MIT Energy Initiative, the 11-day program is a multidisciplinary, hands-on experience in scientific, technical, and societal themes in energy innovation.

Led by MIT faculty members, the program embraces intensive and challenging integrated energy systems and the students will focus on seven educational modules. The topics include ‘Energy conversion’, ‘Energy infrastructure: Technology, planning and geography, ‘Energy efficiency and buildings’, ‘Renewable energy: Emerging technologies and applications’, ‘Energy innovation and entrepreneurship’, ‘Energy in developing countries’, and ‘International climate negotiation’.

Campus tour, orientation, field trips and sightseeing around Boston and Cambridge will be part of the program schedule. MIT students will join Masdar Institute students in several networking dinners during the program.  Towards the close of the program, teams of Masdar Institute students will present results of energy systems analysis completed during the program, and an ‘MIT energy research showcase’ will give participants an opportunity to interact with additional MIT faculty and students.

Visits to industrial sites are also scheduled for extra course-related knowledge enhancement.

A group of outstanding professors will share their knowledge and expertise with the students through the modules. The overall program is coordinated by Dr Vladimir Bulovic, Director of the Microsystems Technology Laboratory and the Organic and Nanostructured Electronics Laboratory, and Co-Director of the MIT-Eni Solar Frontiers Center. Dr Amy Glasmeier, Head of MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning, will lead the energy infrastructures module as well as the team project.  Additional faculty include Dr. Marc Balso, Dr. Steve Leeb and Dr. James Kirtley, all of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Dr. John Sterman of the Sloan School of Management; Dr. Jeffrey Grossman of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Dr. Leon Glicksman of the Departments of Architecture and Mechanical Engineering; and Dr. Robert Stoner, Associate Director of the MIT Energy Initiative.

Dr Amy Wohlert, Executive Director of General Education and Student Affairs, Masdar Institute, said: “Students gain significant value through the Masdar Institute Practical Experience Program at MIT because of its cross-disciplinary nature. The MIT Energy Initiative actively involves more than 200 faculty members and hundreds of students in energy studies, and the MIT faculty members involved with the Practical Experience are outstanding researchers and educators. The modules are carefully structured to offer the students in-depth insight into various aspects of energy management. This expertise will help the participants apply their knowledge while conducting research later at Masdar Institute, further enriching them academically.”

Sara Al Muhairi, Human Resources Director, Masdar Institute, said: “We congratulate the students selected for this opportunity to experience the learning environment at MIT. The program challenges the participants to develop an integrative understanding of complex energy systems through classes, research, and hands-on experience. We thank the UAE’s wise leadership for providing various channels to students for acquiring and enhancing knowledge in the clean energy sector.”

Established as an ongoing collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow.  With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change through education and research.

 

WAM Abu Dhabi, May 30th, 2012 (WAM)

H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister has said that Masdar strives to inculcate the culture of scientific research, development and capacity building to help the UAE takes a centre-stage in the areas of knowledge generation and technology.

He added that the UAE’s participation in the efforts to address the climate change phenomenon “stems from our understanding of how dangerous to remain idle. Our sense of responsibility toward the international community, and our commitment to fulfill our obligations under the joint international action, trigger the UAE’s participation in the collective efforts”.

Sheikh Abdullah was addressing today the graduation ceremony of the second batch of Masdar Institute at Emirates Palace, held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of Board of Trustees of Masdar Institute.

He thanked President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose support made Masdar Institute a pioneer reputable institution. He also thanked Sheikh Mohammed for his sponsorship of the event. “We are celebrating today the graduation of the second batch of Masdar. We are proud of the achievements scored by Masdar in short record time. I would like to stress on the behalf of the Board of Trustees of Masdar, keenness of the Masdar Institute to continue development to become the major institution in the region”, he said.

Sheikh Abdullah pointed out that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs established in March 2010 the Department of Energy and Climate Change to coordinate with “Irena” and represent the UAE in international negotiations related to supporting the establishment of a national strategy to address the energy challenges and the repercussions of climate change.

He congratulated the graduates and urged them to shoulder the responsibility. “You are our ambassadors worldwide in the areas of renewable energy and sustainable development”, Sheikh Abdullah said. He also commended the Institute’s efforts and care about the students.

Present were Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Sheikh Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, Humaid Al Qattami, Minister of Education, Dr Rashid Ahmed bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water, Dr Maitha Al Shamsi, State Minister, Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Board Chairman of Masdar, Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, senior officials and guardians of students.

The number of graduates of the second batch was 55, who obtained MSc in Computing and Information Sciences, MSc Engineering Systems and Management, MSc Electrical Power Engineering, MSc in Materials Science and Engineering, MSc in Water and Environmental Engineering and MSc Microsystems Engineering.

Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute for Sciences and Technology said, “Masdar graduation of year 2012 made us proud in the light of contributions, which have so far boosted the reputation of Masdar”, citing the publications and dissertations of students on the issues of environment, renewable energy, water and semi conductors.

To ensure the success, he continued, the UAE has realised the significance of developing and training the human capital alongside comprehensive research and development infrastructure.

Flanked by Sheikh Nahyan, Sheikh Abdullah at the conclusion of the ceremony presented the certificates to the graduates, wishing them success in their practical life.

Masdar Institute of Science and Technology is the world’s first graduate-level university dedicated to providing real-world solutions to issues of sustainability. The Institute’s goal is to become a world-class research-driven graduate-level university, focusing on advanced energy and sustainable technologies.

The Institute, which was created in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow.

Masdar Institute Student Defends Thesis on ‘UAE Aircrafts Manufacturing Sector’s Potential and Challenges’

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 29 May, 2012 – Systemically stronger education and research institutions, more highly qualified Emiratis, and a larger number of finance-related institutions may pave way for the success of the UAE aircrafts manufacturing sector, according to the thesis submitted by Yousif Al Abd, Graduate Student and Research Assistant at the Engineering Systems and Management at Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.

Al Abd belongs to the second batch of Masdar Institute Master’s students who will receive their degrees from the research-driven university by the end of this month. His thesis work in such a highly focused area reflects the profound nature of the students’ research that generally characterizes the advanced work undertaken at Masdar Institute.

Al Abd said: “The UAE aircraft manufacturing sector has a number of competitive advantages. That is because the country’s leadership has successfully minimized investor skepticism with substantial initial investments. However, the industry is still in its infancy in the UAE, lacking a number of main elements that are seen as crucial for innovation existence, keeping in mind that incremental innovations are important catalysts in sustaining such a sector.”

Emphasizing the crucial importance of triple-helix link (Government-Science-Industry), Al Abd argues that by enhancing the science-industry links, the country will strengthen its capabilities to overcome the current drawbacks. With that, better alignment between human capital and market needs will be stimulated. In addition, the industry will have a cheaper R&D access which is performed under universities, as the case in the US.

Dr Toufic Mezher, Professor – Engineering Systems and Management, was Al Abd’s guide, while the research committee members include Dr Inas Khayal, Assistant Professor, and Dr Yasser Al-Saleh, Research Fellow at the INSEAD Innovation and Policy Initiative. Al Abd defended his thesis with arguments backed by the interviews that he conducted with the different stakeholders in the UAE aircraft sector.

Reiterating that the UAE is a unique case unlike any other country, given the strategy that Abu Dhabi is pursuing through Mubadala Development Company, Dr Mezher pointed out that the full support of the country’s leadership is a positive factor for the UAE aircraft industry even though additional efforts may still be required to make the industry globally competitive.

Dr Mezher said: “The UAE needs to have an efficient and effective infrastructure, institutions, and human capital.  The critical mass in all three can only be achieved through the cooperation and collaboration among all critical elements of the ‘Technology Triangle’ – government institutions and agencies, academic Institutions, and the private sector. To be effective, the technology triangle should be based on the mutual interests of all three elements.”

A keen aircraft designer, Yousif Al Abd wants to build an UAV-related company within the next five years and contribute to the Abu Dhabi leadership’s vision for the country as well as Al Ain aerospace cluster.

His advice to those looking at Masdar Institute for pursuing their Master’s studies in sustainability is to find the topic they are passionate about and to pursue it, because “Masdar Institute gives students the chance to go after their dreams”, he adds.

The thesis by Yousif Al Abd gains significance following the recent 10-year direct contract between Boeing and Mubadala Aerospace for Strata Manufacturing, the advanced composite aero structures facility in Al Ain that will produce commercial composite aero structures for the 777 and 787 Dreamliner.

The growing aviation industry contributed 6.3% (or AED61.3 billion) to the UAE’s gross economic product in 2011, His Highness Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, the UAE Minister of Economy, told delegates at the Global Aerospace Summit recently.

Established as an on-going collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow.  With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change through education and research.

 

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 28 May, 2012 – Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Chairman of the Masdar Institute Board of Trustees, Masdar Institute Science and Technology will organize the commencement and convocation ceremony for its second batch of students.

The ceremony will be held on 30 May at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi when students will receive their Master’s degrees.

The commencement ceremony will celebrate the achievements of the students, while placing Masdar Institute firmly among top global centers for the development of human capital in renewable energy and sustainable technologies.

The event represents a new milestone for Masdar Institute that has registered consistent success in research and innovation of new technologies. The second batch of graduating students also reflects the cross-section of emerging talent in clean energy and sustainability. They are expected resemble their predecessors in professional growth, further establishing the status of Masdar Institute as a frontrunner in advanced energy and sustainable technologies.

The students enrolled at Masdar Institute in September 2010 represent 24 countries and were selected from an elite pool of over 1,900 applicants from across the world. The selection was based on the criteria set by Masdar Institute’s founding partner the MIT.

Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow.  With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change through education and research.

 

Opportunity for UAE National Graduates to Gain Work Experience in Japan’s Renewable Energy, Smart Community and Sustainability Sectors

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 27 May, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced four leading Japanese corporations are offering summer internship opportunities for UAE national students in Japan.

Five UAE national graduates from the Foundation program and First year M.Sc. have been selected to participate in this program that runs from 27 May – 9 August. The internship experience is being coordinated by Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), and supported by the Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Technology and Industry (METI).

UAE national student Sultan Al Kaabi will do his internship with Chiyoda Corporation on electrical engineering for renewable energy facilities and industrial plants, while Abdulla Al Shamsi will work with JGC Corporation (Nikki) on energy management systems for development and promotion of business and technology in the fields of CO2 capture, renewable energy and smart communities.  Mohamed Al Hadhrami’s internship at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will address the simulation of the electrification of transportation in Abu Dhabi, while Reem Al Junaibi will be trained to work on Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ clean mobility simulator. Mozah Al Zeyoudi, on the other hand, will work with Toray Industries on water treatment techniques.

The five Masdar Institute students were invited by His Excellency Tatsuo Watanabe, Japanese Ambassador to the UAE, and his wife for a dinner reception recently. Dr. Amy Wohlert, Executive Director of General Education and Student Affairs, Masdar Institute, was also present on the occasion.

The students have begun their internship with the Japanese International Cooperation Centre.

Each company that has offered to host the student from Masdar Institute is an established leader in its area of operations. JGC is a leading builder of gas processing and liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants worldwide, while Chiyoda is engaged in the integrated engineering business. Toray Industries is a global leader in the production of carbon fiber. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is an international leader in the design and supply of energy, aerospace, machinery, transportation, as well as environmental systems and equipment.

As part of this special program, the five students will not only have the opportunity to gain practical work experience in renewable energy, smart community, and sustainable technologies, but will also be able to learn from cross-cultural experiences such as local site visits, and introductory language courses.

Dr Amy Wohlert, Executive Director of General Education and Student Affairs, Masdar Institute, said: “The internship program in Japan provides the students with an opportunity to gain access to some of the global leaders in technology, especially in the environment and engineering sectors. Such programs equip the students with special expertise and help them to become full-fledged professionals.

“We acknowledge the proactive measures initiated by JICE to establish this internship program and we thank the UAE’s wise leadership for guiding us in providing diverse learning opportunities for developing Emirati talent.”

JCG and Chiyoda will accept interns in their facilities at Yokohama, while Mitsubishi Heavy will accept the intern at Kobe. The Shiga prefecture facility will be the place for the UAE national graduate intern who will be working with Toray Industries. JICE will be organizing a foundation program in Tokyo for all participants, prior to the internship.

Summer work and cultural experience generally open up exciting career and business opportunities, so the internship experience could serve as a valuable addition to the students’ academic and research plans.

Established as an on-going collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow.  With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change through education and research.
 

Big Increase in Number of Applications for Six-Week Program that Offers Research in Over 15 Clean and Advanced Technology Projects

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 22 May, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced a total of 13 UAE national applicants have been selected for the six-week summer internship program.

University seniors and/or those graduating this year with science, engineering or computer science as major subjects were eligible to apply for the summer internship program. Scheduled to begin from 1 July, the internship program runs for six weeks.

The selected undergraduate students represent a cross-section of all the universities in the UAE and have registered excellent academic performance in science, engineering and computer science. They were meticulously chosen based on their high academic qualification requirements as well as evaluation by Masdar Institute faculty members. During the tenure of the program, students will be expected to act as full-time assistants and will be given responsibilities accordingly.

In addition to the academic records and a strong penchant for renewable energy and sustainable technology subjects, applicants must have a GPA not less than 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) and an IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent). A letter of recommendation was mandatory.

Over 40 undergraduate students submitted applications online for the summer research opportunities. From these applicants, 13 were chosen based on their academic and individual competency.

Dr Lamya Nawaf Fawwaz, Executive Director, Masdar Institute, said: “The volume of applications reflect the enthusiasm shown by UAE national graduates to take up internship options in areas that cover research in advanced energy and sustainable technologies. The new generation of students see potential opportunities in this new and fast-growing renewable energy industry for which Abu Dhabi has emerged as a hub. With the guidance and support of the country’s leadership, we will continue to offer engaging academic enhancement opportunities and an array of internship program offerings that are designed to further develop the capabilities of the students.”

Among the wide range of internship projects, the MATLAB Simulation Development for Power Grid Systems Development project led by Professor Amro Farid attracted the largest number of student participants. The Detection and Quantification of Emerging Contaminants in Abu Dhabi Recycled Water Using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) project led by Professor Farrukh Ahmad attracted the next biggest number of students while the rest of the projects attracted a near-equal number of interested UAE national graduates and seniors.

The Masdar Institute summer internship program will conclude with an award ceremony that will honor the most outstanding performers across these programs. Results obtained from the research will also be displayed for the specially invited guests and families of students during the ceremony.

Part of Masdar Institute’s outreach initiative, the summer internship program helps Emirati university students develop a keen sense of awareness and appreciation of environmental, energy and sustainability issues that impact their everyday lives, in addition to focusing on critical research areas of relevance.  Undergraduate students, however, need to possess the right academic skills, talents and dispositions necessary to obtain graduate education and eventual employment in these challenging areas.

Established as an ongoing collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow.  With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change through education and research.
 

Masdar Institute’s Young Future Energy Leaders Program Plays Significant Role in Developing Human Capital

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 20 May, 2012 – Elders play an instrumental role in shaping the future of any community that aims to be progressive. The greater the involvement of the successful community leaders in the affairs of the young, the greater the benefits will be for the emerging leaders of tomorrow.
 
Some effective community outreach initiatives offer the elders the right platform for nurturing, mentoring and closely engaging the youth. The Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) program is one such outreach initiative managed by Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies.

Because of its significant role in building the UAE’s human capital, community elders spontaneously turn to the YFEL program. With a mandate to inspire, engage and empower bright young people to be tomorrow’s leaders in the field of alternative energy and sustainability, the YFEL program has become an irresistible avenue for these elders to make their contributions, either financially or through other means.

The largest individual financial contribution of one million US dollars recently came from Sultan bin Rashed Al Dhaheri, a leading businessman in the UAE and a community elder. Al Dhaheri’s diverse participation in building the country’s many leading institutions and his contribution as a former member of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry make him a key member in the UAE community. He is also Chairman of the board of Sultan Bin Rashed Group of Companies, a nationally-owned trading group based in Abu Dhabi with branches in Dubai, Sharjah and Al Ain. The group of companies has an exhaustive list of illustrious projects and achievements. Contribution from such a man reflects the YFEL program’s strong appeal and profound impact on the community.

Al Dhaheri said: “As the citizen of the UAE and a proud Emirati, my contribution to the YFEL program means a lot to me. This country has helped me to contribute to its economic growth over the decades. My individual contribution to YFEL represents only a small token of my gratitude to the community which has guided me, taught me and made me the successful person I am today. My contribution to the YFEL program also stems from the fact that YFEL places equal emphasis on education as well as career progression opportunities. The YFEL members include both promising university students as well as young professionals just beginning their career with the enthusiasm to be innovative.

“Without the wider and stronger involvement from the community in the outreach programs, the youth will not gain an opportunity to learn from those who have become successful personally and professionally. I believe greater community involvement will be good for the youth to chart their career path, thereby laying a strong foundation for social progress.”

During the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2012 in Abu Dhabi, Al Dhaheri interacted with the top officials of Masdar Institute and acquainted himself with the institution’s academic and outreach activities in advanced energy and sustainable technologies. He also met with the YFEL officials, who updated him of the various special workshops, courses, and overseas programs that are organized for the YFEL members throughout the year.

Al Dhaheri added: “I have seen the outcomes of the YFEL program that continuously nurtures and molds the leaders of tomorrow. I knew the 2011 program that expanded into a year-long schedule of educational courses, activities, and events. I am convinced that the overseas visits, exclusive courses in technology, policy and leadership, have adequately helped the YFEL members. I have also seen the projects displayed by YFEL members at World Future Energy Forum during 2011 and earlier this year. In terms of innovation, they were quite impressive.”

In his opinion, the UAE has always remained an example for sustainable living even before the term ‘sustainability’ became widely known across the world. He commented: “Our elders in the pre-oil era had to live by only what was available in this desert region, while keeping the future generation in mind. In today’s world, the term ‘sustainability’ takes added significance because of the way the world’s natural resources are getting depleted, without even a passing thought about preserving the environment and tackling the additional burden of carbon emissions because of our various modern-day activities.”

Al Dhaheri strongly emphasizes the need to teach the importance of sustainability to today’s youth through programs such as the YFEL, and added that without such initiatives the natural resources of the world could be lost to the future generations forever.

In YFEL 2011, a total of 150 students and young professionals participated – nominated by their Deans and CEOs respectively. They included 60 UAE National students from key universities as well as 20 young professionals from various companies.

The YFEL program has consistently received support from the wider UAE community. The first-ever individual financial contribution of AED1 million came from Emirati philanthropist Mohammed Bin Salem Bin Kardous Al-Ameri, who pointed out at that time that YFEL is an organization which shares his values especially because of its ‘commitment to the next generation’.

But contributions by individuals alone cannot represent a wider commitment by the community to outreach programs such as YFEL. Leading government and non-government organizations have also offered their support to the YFEL program.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), one of the key sponsors last year, has once again pledged to continue its support for the YFEL program this year.

Al Dhaheri added that the UAE’s wise leadership has ensured Abu Dhabi remains at the forefront in so many industries, apart from the hydrocarbon sector. He also reiterated his strong belief that the leadership’s long-term vision will ensure Abu Dhabi registers significant growth across many fronts in the coming years.

Through various activities, the YFEL programs brings together students and promising young professionals from the UAE and around the world in a series of networking, skill development and idea sharing forums focused on this dynamic and vitally important field. It also helps members to enhance knowledge and leadership skills to achieve professional goals; organizes short courses, workshops and seminars; offers opportunities to share innovative ideas in advanced energy and sustainability with peers; provides networking opportunities and visibility through high-level events and meetings, as well as recognizes members’ contributions and accomplishments.

The YFEL program also helps to bring young professionals closer to government representatives, business leaders and other organizations active in the area of alternative energy and sustainability.
 

Three-Module Course Justifies Importance of US$482.8-billion Global Water Industry

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 13 May, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced it hosted a two-day course on water science and technology for 25 members of its outreach initiative, the Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) program.

Held at Masdar Institute, the course was led by three faculty members including Dr. Nidal Hilal, Professor – Nano-membranology and Water Technologies, Dr. Taha Ouarda, Professor – Water & Environmental Engineering, and Dr. Hassan Fath, Professor of Practice – Water and Environmental Engineering.

The enthusiasm of the YFEL members was justified by the fact that the global water market is forecast to grow from the current US$482.8 billion to US$865 billion by 2025, according to Global Water Intelligence (GWI). By region, the Middle East, Africa and Asia will be the main spots for the water business and these regions are projected to see 10% annual growth in their water markets until 2025.

The water science and technology course had three modules focusing on ‘Introduction to water science’, ‘Thermal Desalination Processes’, and ‘Main brain Quality’. The first day’s proceedings included four theory sessions, while the second day’s agenda included a tour of the Water and Environmental Engineering Laboratory at Masdar Institute.

Dr Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director-Public Affairs, Masdar Institute, said: “The importance and the need to preserve water resources is evident and is recognized by the UAE’s wise leadership. Launching of the international water summit at the World Future Energy Summit 2012 is an illustration of this recognition. Masdar Institute is developing water scientists through academic programs such as Water and Environmental Engineering and research in developing waste water technologies. The YFEL outreach workshop on water is timely, reflecting the importance of this to Masdar Institute and the UAE.”

Dr. Taha Ouarda hosted the first module, offering participants an overview of the water situation in the UAE, as well as an introduction to the technical issues associated to water resources estimation, analysis, planning and management. Additionally, participants were prepared for more advanced activities related to specific issues such as statistical hydrology, deterministic hydrology, or risk analysis in water resources. Holder of a PhD in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University and a hydrologic engineering degree from the National Engineering School of Tunis, Tunisia, Dr. Ouarda’s area of specialization includes hydrometeorology, environmental modeling, and risk analysis.

Dr. Ouarda has also led several international projects dealing with hydro-meteorological modeling, environmental analysis and climate change impacts in water resources. Recipient of a number of prestigious awards, he is also a member of the editorial board of a number of international scientific journals such as the Journal of Hydrology and the Hydrological Sciences Journal.

In the second module, Dr. Hassan Fath introduced desalination technologies, the various processes and their integration with alternative energy resources (as solar and nuclear). Author of two filed patents in MSF-MED desalination technologies, Dr. Fath has a wide range of industrial and academic experience. He has published a book titled ‘Desalination Technology’, and is the co-author of the Encyclopedia of Desalination & Water Reuse (DESWARE), as well as the author of ‘Selections of Desalination Scientific Encyclopedia’ (now in print). He has also published over 100 papers in desalination and energy technologies, while his academic and industrial experience spans desalination and energy technology areas.

Led by Dr. Nidal Hilal, the third module focused on the global water shortages and demonstrated how the application of membrane technology can provide modern tools for further cost reduction. In addition to providing an overview of membrane separation process including membrane classifications, and challenges facing this technology, the module also comprised membrane application in water industry, including desalination.

An expert in desalination and membrane technology, Dr. Hilal is internationally recognized as a pioneer in developing and applying the force measurement capability of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to the study of membrane separation and engineering processes at the nanoscale level. He has made major contributions to discussion panels for a number of live science programs for the BBC. Dr. Hilal is a Professor in Nano-membranology and Water Technologies at Masdar Institute. He obtained his PhD in Chemical Engineering and a DSc in Nanotechnology and membrane separation from the University of Wales.

Through organizing various specialized workshops and events, the YFEL program helps students and young professionals to develop professional and work-related skills. The YFEL 2012 program has 167 members. Led by Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, the pre-eminent YFEL program aims to nurture future leaders capable of solving the world’s most pressing challenges in advanced energy and sustainability.
 

Students Seek Opportunities in Global Renewable Energy Industry that Witnessed Record 5% Investment Growth to US$260 billion in 2011

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 02 May, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announcedthe Career Service Office (CSO) organized a workshop for students in conjunction with Emirates Solar Industry Association (ESIA) at the campus.

ESIA members and high-level executives from six leading companies operating in the renewable energy sector offered an overview of their respective organizations, individual projects in the global, GCC and the UAE markets, track record in attracting emerging talent and the potential employment opportunities that may open up in the near future. The event was also an opportunity for Masdar Institute students to interact with company representatives on possible career opportunities.

More than 25 students attended the workshop to engage Vahid Fotuhi, President of ESIA, and Director for Middle East and North Africa, BP Solar; Adrian K. Wood, Marketing and Communications Director for ESIA, and Regional Director – Renewable Energy (Solar/Hydro)Middle East, Siemens; Sara Georges, Business Developer, Solar Energy, Hilti Construction; Imad Meselmani, Middle East Key Account Manager, Power One; and Karel de Winter, Division Manager of Alsa Solar, offered presentations about their respective companies, in addition to Hannes Reinisch, Senior Manager, Energy, Utilities and Mining and Adrian Hogg, Head of Talent Recruitment, from PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Masdar Institute is also a member of ESIA and Dr. Steve Griffiths, Executive Director for Institute Initiatives, is a member of the Executive Committee of ESIA.

Dr Amy Wohlert, Executive Director for General Education and Student Affairs, Masdar Institute, said: “Part of our capacity building mandate is to offer appropriate guidance to students in choosing and establishing their professional careers in key industries. Our first batch of students now contributes to leading companies regionally and globally and we believe the current batch too will demonstrate their academic and individual leadership capabilities. We thank the country’s wise leadership for their support in providing the right channels for the career success of these talented young graduate students.”

Some of the areas the ESIA member companies were headhunting included research and development. However, the main interest from the industry covered various disciplines, such as Engineering, System Design, Supply Chain Management, Project Management as well as Finance and Legal relating to the renewable energy sector.

Vahid Fotuhi said: “Renewable energy is a new, exciting and rapidly expanding market. With the Middle East poised to seriously enter the solar market, we see good career prospects for post-graduates from Masdar Institute. Given the trends and market development in Europe, we expect the renewable energy market in this region to also rapidly develop in the coming years and offer sufficient prospects to retain talent in this region.”

Some ESIA members emphasized the fact that Masdar Institute graduates have something special to offer.

Adrian K. Wood said: “Due to the underlying concepts of Masdar Institute, the post-graduates coming from there have a strong grounding and a good understanding of alternative energy technology, the related markets and the inherent challenges. This understanding is important for the renewable energy industry and this is something special that the Masdar Institute students can offer.”

Several Masdar Institute students raised pertinent questions regarding the renewable energy industry, long-term growth prospects, and the regions that prioritize this fast-growing sector. Though the industry faced some challenges, spending bounced back in 2010 and expanded 31% to US$247 billion, according to a Bloomberg New Energy Finance report earlier this year. The report also pointed out that renewable energy investment rose 5% to a record US$260 billion in 2011, driven by a surge in solar developments and increased spending in the US. The research report also specified that new spending on solar energy jumped 36% to US$136.6 billion in 2011.

Lakshmi Natarajan, Student of Engineering Systems and Management program and Research Assistant, said: “I feel that the UAE especially Abu Dhabi has immense potential for growth and hence I am extremely optimistic of future opportunities for graduates here. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are coming up to establish themselves as future knowledge centers and hence it is necessary for companies to encourage talent and provide avenues for training and development of graduates.”

The networking lunch was co-sponsored by ESIA.

The Masdar Institute Career Service Office facilitates Abu Dhabi and UAE-based employers to engage the students and enable them to contribute to the developing the country’s knowledge economy.

Established as an ongoing collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow.  With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change through education and research.
 

Biochemistry, Microbiology, Cell/Molecular Biology, General Biology, or Biotechnology Students Encouraged to Take Up Project Opportunity

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 10 May, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced biological wastewater treatment processes will be one of the project options offered for summer internship this year.

The project titled ‘Phylogenetics for Mixed Microbial Cultures” will be offered under the six-week internship program. Students interested in this particular area of research can submit applications online through the Masdar Institute website.

The objective of this project is to determine the community profile that involves the field of phylogenetics. In phylogenetics, a particular evolutionary gene marker is analyzed from a DNA sample that has been extracted from a mixed microbial community. The marker typically examined for prokaryotes (single-celled organisms) is the gene for the 16s ribosomal RNA (16s rRNA), which is considered to be unique for every known species. Separating the different 16s rRNA genes for a DNA sample from a mixed culture of microorganisms helps to determine the population make-up of the sample.

Mixed-culture biological processes, such as bioremediation, biomineralization, and wastewater treatment often rely on cumulative metabolic pathways of a community of organisms to achieve their goals. Disruption in the makeup of the community through toxic shock or other environmental stressors can affect the performance of the overall process. Hence, it is essential to know the identity of the types of organisms present in a mixed-culture biological process.

Graduates and senior-level undergraduate students majoring in Biochemistry, Microbiology, Cell/Molecular Biology, General Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering will be preferred for this project.

Student interns who take up this project will be tasked with learning and performing phylogenetic techniques like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). They will also be asked to assist Research Engineer in the analysis of experimental samples and review environmental micro- and molecular-biology literature.

The summer internship program that offers over 15 project opportunities is scheduled to begin from 1 July. The deadline for submitting applications closed on 3 May.

Dr. Farrukh Ahmad, Associate Professor, Water and Environmental Engineering, Masdar Institute, said: “Microbial community analysis in water using phylogenetics and other molecular biology tools can tell us the effectiveness of biological wastewater treatment processes, and can also help in pathogen detection in reclaimed water.  We are offering this project as part of the summer internship so that students understand the DNA structure of biological processes and find effective means of finding a solution.

“This year’s summer internship program offers a wide spectrum of areas for research which, we are confident, will be interesting to the students. We thank the UAE’s wise leadership for their support in creating the right learning tools and techniques for students at Masdar Institute.”

Dr. Ahmad holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Rice University, US, and undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He has to his credit several publications in peer-reviewed journals as well as in refereed conference proceedings.

Other projects that are being offered for internship include ‘Development of Advanced Amine-Based Solvents for CO2 Post-Combustion Capture’, ‘MATLAB Simulation Development for Power Grid Systems Simulations and Applications Designed Filters for Applications in Solar Cells’, ‘Solar Cell Technologies and Applications for Desalination and Renewable Energy’, and ‘Cost Comparisons of Renewable and Fossil Fuel Technologies’.

Established as an ongoing collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow.  With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change through education and research.

 

Second Project to be Completed in February 2013

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 08 May, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, and Siemens, global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, today jointly announced the successful completion of their first carbon capture and storage (CCS) research collaboration project.

The project focuses on CO2 capture at gas-fired power stations and utilization of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR)..

The meeting of an advisory committee of representatives from Masdar Institute and Siemens also announced that a second R&D project is progressing satisfactorily. In addition, the committee finalized ideas for potential research projects in the Master’s and PhD levels.

The first project on “Evaluation of CO2 Purification Requirements and Techno-Economic Evaluation of Processes for Impurities Deep Removal from the CO2 Product Stream” began in May 2011 and the final presentation was provided recently. Dr. Mohammad Abu Zahra, Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, Masdar Institute, was the project lead with Dr. Toufic Mezher, Professor – Engineering Systems and Management, as the co-project lead. Second Year student Zeina Abbas of the Engineering Systems and Management, delivered the final report of the project to Siemens after defending her thesis.

Started in December 2011, the second project titled “Evaluation of Handling Approaches of Solid Waste Generated from the Post-Combustion Process Considering Regulations in UAE” is currently progressing. The project, which focuses on the evaluation of CO2 capture process waste reuse and recycling in the UAE is expected to be completed in February 2013, according to the original plans. The project team members include Dr. Mohammad Abu Zahra, Dr. Toufic Mezher and First Year student Laila Nurrokhmah of the Engineering Systems and Management program, who will deliver her project report.

Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute, said: “The research partnership with Siemens strongly reflects the extent of our cooperation with international companies. This is also part of our human capital building endeavor to facilitate a knowledge-based economy in the UAE. We acknowledge Siemens’ contribution to the success of the first carbon capture project as we look forward to other potential areas for partnerships.”

Dr. Steve Griffiths, Executive Director of Institute Initiatives, Masdar Institute, said: “The completion of this CCS project furthers our progress in delivering research that brings direct benefits to Abu Dhabi and the UAE. Close research collaboration between Siemens and Masdar Institute has enabled the successful completion of the project. We thank the country’s leadership for their consistent support to our endeavor in advanced and sustainable technology research.”

Nicolas Vortmeyer, Head of New Technologies in the Siemens Energy Fossil Division, said: “Siemens remains committed to supporting the research and educational activities related to CCS within Masdar Institute, to help CCS capacity building in the UAE. The research projects reflect our long-term collaboration to continuously develop CO2 post-combustion capture technologies that are suitable to the GCC region. We are confident our partnership will extend to cover more areas in sustainable technology for the benefit of the wider community.”

Sponsored by Siemens, the first project evaluated the CO2 purification requirements for the CO2 pipeline transportation, enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and CO2 geological storage; assessed the CO2 streams specifications and impurities from the major CO2 capture technologies and finalized the selection and techno-economic evaluation of the processes for CO2 stream impurities deep removal.

The second project evaluates the possibilities of CO2 capture process waste reuse as a raw material and waste recycling in the chemical industries, to study the disposal method for the non-reusable waste considering the regulations in the UAE and to analyze the performance vs. cost ratio in waste reuse, recycling, and disposal.

Dr. Mohammad Abu Zahra, who is leading the Siemens-Masdar Institute CCS collaboration and the coordinator of the CCS research activities within Masdar Institute, received his Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Jordan. He obtained his Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Twente and his PhD in Chemical Engineering from Delft Technical University in the Netherlands. His research interests include the development of CO2 capture technologies including the development of advanced solvents, solid sorbents and novel process concepts.

Dr. Toufic Mezher earned a BS in Civil Engineering from University of Florida, and a Master’s and ScD in Engineering Management from George Washington University. His research interests include Sustainable Development, Renewable Energy Policy, Building Knowledge-Based Economies and Innovation Systems, and Knowledge Management.

For Siemens, the research and development aspect of the partnership with the Masdar Institute is the largest global investment of its kind with a science and technology organization. It comprises a long term R&D program for Smart Grid, Smart Buildings, and Carbon Capture and Storage and includes grants, scholarships and educational programs for the advancement of the knowledge economy in the UAE.

Established as an ongoing collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow.  With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change through education and research.