Antarctica Expedition Part of Masdar Institute’s Outreach Initiative Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) program

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 14 March, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced two of its students proudly displayed the UAE National flag and the Masdar insignia in Antarctica.

Reem Al Junaibi and Maitha Al Kaabi, the two Masdar Institute students, were part of the International Antarctica Expedition (IAE) 2012 team that was led by polar explorer Sir Robert Swan from 27 February – 12 March. Al Kaabi and Al Junaibi, with Sir Robert Swan, proudly held the UAE National Flag and the Masdar Insignia during the expedition in Antarctica.

The two students’ Antarctica expedition comes as part of the Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) program, a Masdar Institute outreach initiative that aims to inspire, educate and empower energy leaders of tomorrow.

Maitha Al Kaabi said: “It was truly a momentous occasion for me to stand with Sir Robert Swan and proudly display the Masdar insignia, which represents Abu Dhabi’s achievements in renewable energy. As a student, it was also an opportunity for me to represent Masdar Institute through the YFEL program, and remember all the research work I could conduct down in the Antarctic cold. This is really an honor for me, my parents and my country.”

Reem Al Junaibi said: “Holding the UAE national flag in Antarctica was an exhilarating moment for me. It was also a privilege to hold the national flag aloft as a Masdar Institute student and remember everything we have accomplished so far in renewable energy and sustainability through the YFEL program. My research work progressed well in Antarctica, which I believe will greatly delight my parents, family and the entire country. This is a proud moment for all.”

The two Masdar Institute students, who are back in Argentina after successfully completing their Antarctica expedition, will arrive in Abu Dhabi on 16 March.

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.

 

 

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 12 March, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced it will highlight its academic offerings at the inaugural Bahrain International Green Technology Expo and Forum.

Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multifaceted renewable energy company, is a key supporter of the Bahrain International Green Technology Expo and Forum, which is being organized under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Personal Representative of His Majesty the King of Bahrain,and President of the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife. Hosted in collaboration with the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the event will be held from 13-15 March at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre.

International experts will be promoting green technologies to investors, regulators as well as trade and industry visitors at the event.

Masdar Institute serves as an academic magnet that attracts scientists, researchers, and technology businesses to the UAE and the region. Through participating in the Bahrain International Green Technology Expo, Masdar Institute will seek to create awareness among the trade visitors and clean energy professionals about its academic programs and research offerings that focus on green energy and sustainable technologies.

The center-piece of Masdar City, one of the most sustainable andlow-carbon cities in the world, Masdar Institute provides students an unparalleled opportunity in the entire spectrum of research, from theory to applied research to commercialization in a single location. Established in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute remains committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change through education and research.
 

By Dr Mahieddine Emziane

Buildings account for around two-thirds of the Gulf’s energy consumption. And the region’s cities grow, the need to reduce this figure is ever more pressing.

One answer to that is to integrate of solar cells into buildings. That is particularly advantageous for the UAE and wider Gulf, where a good chunk of the population live reside in areas where it is not economically feasible to provide electricity through the national grid.

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) not only generate energy, but also contribute to buildings’ architecture, as roofs, façades, skylights and glass cladding. If you use a solar panel for your roof, you may not need to spend so much on the roof itself.

So why is it still rare in the Gulf? One reason is that the atmospheric conditions here are quite different from other regions – the air, for one thing, is much dustier. That means many of the lessons learnt and technologies fine-tuned elsewhere are not wholly transferable.

So we need to look at different solar panel technologies. For each, we need to assess cost, efficiency, climate, flexibility, use of diffuse sunlight, long-term stability, sensitivity to the angle of inclination, transparency, aesthetics, and long-term operation costs.

Cost has long been the biggest barrier to large-scale use of solar cell technologies. We need to work out how to make them more cheaply, and put in place a system of feed-in tariffs to make the pay-off of installing them worth it.

In a solar plant out in the desert, efficiency is less important – you can happily have thousands upon thousands of low-yield cells that sprawl over many square kilometres and add up to a large total production. But in cities space is limited, so the technology has to be compact and collect as much energy available as possible.

That is where climate – namely temperature – becomes a problem. 
Some photovoltaic technologies work dramatically less well when it’s hot, making them unsuitable for the Gulf. We need to look at technologies that do not suffer this temperature drop-off.

Flexibility is important, too. Buildings are not always simple flat structures; they can be nearly any shape, making a flexible PV module more useful than a rigid one.

Even square buildings are an awkward shape for solar panels. They are often tall, with lots of vertical but few horizontal surfaces. And they are of course immobile, so the amount of power received by any one panel changes as the sun moves.

So they need to be as tolerant as possible to various angles of inclination, giving a similar power output when installed on either the façade or the roof.

And they need to be able to efficiently harvest energy both from full direct sunlight, and more diffuse light – perhaps reflected from another surface. Transparency is useful – a transparent cell can be used as a window, dramatically increasing the area on which it can be used. And if not transparent, they at least need to look good, or architects are unlikely to want to use them.

They need to last, too. If incorporated into buildings, solar cells need to last as long as possible without losing power over time.
And while operation and maintenance costs for photovoltaics tend not to be very high, they still contribute to the overall cost. Their maintenance requirements must be manageable for the Gulf market.

All these parameters need to be assessed together to meet the local needs. To this end the solar energy materials and devices laboratory, which I head at the Masdar Institute, has received funding from a foreign institutions to test flexible solar cell technologies in the built environment within our campus and under the real outdoor conditions.

This joint project is allowing us to investigate the performance and other key features of these flexible solar cells for integration into the built environment.

Abu Dhabi is a very good model for a coastal Gulf city, so our results could be used as reference for applications throughout this region – as well as feeding into the Abu Dhabi solar rooftop plan, which aims to install 500 megawatts of photovoltaic panels on the emirate’s buildings over the next 20 years.

Dr Mahieddine Emziane is Associate Professor in Materials Science and Engineering and heads the Solar Energy Materials and Devices Laboratory at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.

2012 Women as Global Leaders Conference to be Held Under the Patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and Chairperson of the UAE Women’s Federation

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 11 March, 2012 – Representatives from Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, will drive discussions on strategies to inspire the next generation of young women at the 2012 Women as Global Leaders Conference in Abu Dhabi.

Members of a panel titled ‘Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Women’s Initiative Roundtable Discussion’ will also focus on professional and academic challenges faced by women, as well as factors that impact women in renewable energy industry during the fourth edition of the conference.

The event is organized under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and Chairperson of the UAE Women’s Federation.

The 2012 Women as Global Leaders Conference will be held from 13-15 March at the Convention Center of Zayed University new campus in Abu Dhabi. Participants from over 40 countries across a variety of sectors including education, government and non-governmental organizations will gather for the conference.

His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister for Higher Education & Scientific Research and President of Zayed University, will offer the welcome address. The conference is themed “Creating a Sustainable Future for the World” and will gather internationally and regionally-renowned women leaders to share ideas; and engage in debates.

In addition to Dr. Noura Al Kaabi, Assistant Professor of Construction Engineering and Management at UAEU, and Noor Ghazal Aswad, Junior Programme Officer-Policy Advisory Services and Capacity Building Directorate, IRENA, the representatives from Masdar Institute including Dr. Inas Khayal, Assistant Professor, Dr. Amal Al Ghaferi, Assistant Professor, Ms. Reem Ketail, Research Assistant, and Dr Ken Volk, Head of Outreach Program, will participate in a panel titled ‘Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Women’s Initiative Roundtable Discussion’.

Dr. Amal Al Ghaferi said: “Arab women have consistently registered progress as leading professionals and successful entrepreneurs across the social and economic landscape. While we need to highlight the achievements, it is equally essential to identify ways to inspire the next generation of women leaders.

“Masdar Institute remains in the forefront not only in launching and implementing cutting-edge research projects but in also providing women with the right opportunities to chart their professional and academic career. We are confident the Women as Global Leaders Conference will generate new ideas to strengthen women’s progress and we thank the country’s wise leadership for their continuous support to this cause.”

Dr. Noura Al Kaabi continues to be a key supporter of all Masdar Institute women’s initatives since May 2010. Her academic and industrial experience as a member of the GCC Green Building Committee within the Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology (ESMA), and as Projects Director at the National Rehabilitation Center in Abu Dhabi, is expected to enrich the panel discussions.

The panelists will share their professional and personal development in their respective fields and how they are paving the way to a clean energy future. The audience will be invited to be actively involved in questioning and contributing to the topics discussed.

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.
 

First Operational 2032 Lithium-ion Coin Cell Developed with New Solid Polymer Electrolyte

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 5 February, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced it has filed a  provisional patent application with the US Patents and Trademarks Office for a new lithium ion battery technology, marking a milestone in developing advanced materials for the renewable energy sector.

This is the first lithium battery-related patent application filed by Masdar Institute, although the research-driven institution has already filed eight other patent applications on technologies developed by faculty and students over the past year. The filing of a patent application is the first step before the technology begins the commercialization process.

A team of scientists and researchers led by Dr Raed Hashaikeh, Associate Professor – Materials Science and Engineering, Masdar Institute, has successfully developed the first operational 2032-coin cell type lithium battery using the new patented technology. The team included Materials Science and Engineering students Yarjan Abdul Samad, Ali Asghar, and post-doctoral fellow Dr. Boor Lalia.

The technology is currently termed ‘solid polymer electrolyte containing networked cellulose/PEG/LiClO4’. The ‘2032-coin cell type lithium battery’ is a small cell of 20mm diameter and 3mm in thickness, used for testing purposes at laboratories.

Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute, said: “We have crossed another key milestone in driving innovation. The patent filing for the new solid polymer electrolyte has once again demonstrated Masdar Institute’s inherent strength as a research-driven institution. Our efforts towards reaching new frontiers in technology will continue and we thank the country’s leadership for their support that has kept us in the forefront of research and innovation.”

The electrolyte material that researchers at Masdar Institute have developed can be used to make batteries of varying sizes for different applications. It also has an enhanced room temperature ionic conductivity and enhanced mechanical stability which enables it to be used at a wide temperature range. This can be achieved without adding any flammable organic solvents that are typically used with lithium ion batteries. In addition, the conventional solid polymer electrolytes have poor mechanical properties at elevated temperatures, compared to the electrolyte developed at Masdar Institute.

Dr Raed Hashaikeh said: “With our recent 2032-coin cell prototype, we have passed the ‘proof of concept’ stage. However, further optimization, as well as research and development are still needed prior to commercializing this technology. At Masdar Institute, we are focused on developing new technologies, while commercialization of these technologies depends on many other external factors.

“The new technology may not have any direct relation with the Mitsubishi EVs that are being piloted at Masdar Institute. However, EVs in general that use Li-ion batteries – especially in extreme weather conditions and desert regions including the UAE – and can therefore benefit from the functional and mechanical stability of the newly developed electrolyte at elevated temperatures.”

Karen Hersey, Director, Technology Transfer Office (TTO), Masdar Institute, said: “At any time within 12 months of filing the provisional application, Masdar Institute can convert it into a full utility application in the USPTO and, if we choose, file it in the European system as well. This puts the application into a full examination process. If the invention is found to be novel and passes other tests required for patentability, it will be issued as a Masdar Institute-owned patent in 24-36 months. While the application is pending, Masdar Institute will look for commercial partners to develop useful applications for this new technology.”

Dr Hashaikeh received his Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from McGill University. Before joining Masdar Institute, he spent two years at FP Innovations-Paprican division, Canada, as Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Industrial Research and Development Fellow. In 2008-2009, he was a visiting scholar at MIT.

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.
 

International Antarctic Expedition 2012 Team Members to Gather in Argentina’s Ushuaia Town

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 28 February, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced two students – Reem Al Junaibi and Maitha Al Kaabi – have departed on their way to Antarctica.

Dr Kenneth Volk, Head of Outreach Programs, Masdar Institute, and Bader Al Zarei, Communications Manager, were present at the airport to wish them luck.

The expedition organized for the two students is part of the Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) program, a Masdar Institute outreach initiative that aims to inspire, educate and empower energy leaders of tomorrow.

The students will reach Ushuaia in Argentina on 28 February and board the Sea Spirit on 1 March with members of polar explorer Sir Robert Swan’s International Antarctic Expedition (IAE) 2012 team for a voyage to the southern continent. The expedition will traverse through Chilean territories on Antarctica including Cape Horn, Drake Channel, King George Island and South Shetlands.

During the journey, Reem Al Junaibi and Maitha Al Kaabi will participate in the ‘2041 Education Base (E-Base) Goes Live’ mission by utilizing the knowledge they gained at Masdar Institute. The E-Base, powered solely by renewable energy, is intended to educate young people on the importance of preserving Antarctica, to promote the use of renewable energy, and to raise the awareness of global warming. They will also experience ‘Leadership on the Edge’, Sir Robert Swan’s personal leadership and sustainability program.

Al Junaibi will be applying the planning and forecasting tools she learned from Masdar Institute in Antarctica to help improve the reliability of renewable energy. Al Kaabi will conduct research on the process of temperature-induced salt precipitation, a key principle in her research, in a natural environment. In the dynamic classroom of the Antarctica, guest experts will host presentations, debates, and lessons on environment, climate change, sustainable development, and outdoor leadership.

After completing their expedition, they will return to Ushuaia on 12 March to board their flights home. The two students will reach Abu Dhabi on 16 March. Later, they will share their experience in sustainable living and use of renewable energy with students and faculty of Masdar Institute as well as the wider community 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.
 

Presentation Offered Details on Internship Opportunities for Masdar Institute Students

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 27 February, 2012 – Addressing the challenges posed by climate change, focusing on monitoring and ensuring air quality, implementing measures towards better water resources management, highlighting habits on habitats and biodiversity, and effective waste management are ourcurrent priority areas, according to Dr. Richard Perry, Executive Director –Environmental Information, Science and Outreach Sector, at the Environment Agency -Abu Dhabi (EAD).

Dr. Perry was offering a presentation at a workshop that was organized at Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies. More than 30 experts, faculty and students attended the event that brought out the various aspects of Abu Dhabi’s environment program.

Dr Steve Griffiths, Executive Director of Institute Initiatives, Masdar Institute, said: “Masdar Institute is pioneering advanced energy and sustainable technologies and therefore is deeply concerned with environmental sustainability. The presentation by Dr. Perry not only provided insights regarding Abu Dhabi’s Environment Vision 2030, but also offered students an opportunity to learn about internship and employment prospects at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi. We thank the UAE’s wise leadership for making environmental protection a nationally recognized issue that may be the source of future employment for our students.”

The presentation by Dr. Perry covered internship and recruitment opportunities for Masdar Institute students, the five priority areas of research and the alignment of its current mandate with the Abu Dhabi’s Vision 2030.

The five priority areas of Environment Vision 2030 include minimizing impact of climate change, ensuring clean air and limited noise pollution contributing to safe and healthy living conditions, efficient management and conservation of water resources, preservation of habitats, biodiversity, and cultural heritage, as well as enhanced value creation through optimized material flows and waste management.

The Environment Vision 2030 program is still a work in progress and comprises dual focus areas – pragmatic thresholds and idealistic sustainability values. While the former aims to prevent the vicious circles of pollution and depletion by setting minimum thresholds for preserving the environment, the latter aims to create virtuous cycles that enhance the environment by pursuing idealistic states of long-term sustainability.

Dr. Perry said: “On the pragmatic segment, the program seeks to implement measures for capping emissions of air pollutants, limiting depletion of natural resources and protecting sensitive habitats without impacting upon Economic 2030 objectives, while the other side of the spectrum involves in exporting green knowledge services, investing in natural capital and promoting voluntary green standards. At the same time, the program suggests that increasing electricity and water efficiency, improving fuel efficiency in vehicles, as well as using renewable energy and eliminating waste will contribute significantly in achieving the main objectives.”

At the request of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) is developing the Abu Dhabi Environment Vision 2030 policy agenda as an integral part of Abu Dhabi Government’s holistic policy agenda framework encompassing the driving Economic, Environmental and Social Agendas that together will steer the Emirate towards sustainable development.
The Environmental Vision 2030 has been developed through an extensive consultative process involving stakeholders from across the board with the intent that it serves not only to protect the environment but also to complement the economic and social agenda for Abu Dhabi, as well as build upon existing environmental initiatives.

Established in 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.
 

 

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 26 February, 2012.

Reem Al Junaibi and Maitha Al Kaabi, two Master’s students from Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, are in final preparations before leaving to join Sir Robert Swan’s International Antarctica Expedition 2012 team on 28 February in Ushuaia, Argentina. Their joining the expedition is part of the Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) program, a Masdar Institute outreach initiative that aims to inspire, educate and empower energy leaders of tomorrow.

During their expedition through the southern continent, Reem Al Junaibi and Maitha Al Kaabi will participate in the ‘2041 Education Base (E-Base) Goes Live’ mission by utilizing the knowledge they gained at Masdar Institute. They will also conduct research their own independent research projects and return to the UAE on 16 March.
 

CIRP Member Dr. Marwan Khraisheh to Help Open Doors for Region’s Capable and Proven Researchers and Gain Entry to Elite Club of Scientists

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 25 February, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced one of its faculty has raised the institution’s global profile by becoming the first-ever member to represent the region on the prestigious International Academy for Production Engineering, known by its French acronym CIRP.

Dr. Marwan Khraisheh, Dean of Engineering at Masdar Institute, currently represents Abu Dhabi as an Associate Member on the International Academy for Production Engineering known as Collège International pour la Recherche en Productique (CIRP), world leaders in the research and underlying science for advanced manufacturing technology. Only international R&D experts of many years standing are admitted to the elite and highly selective organization. A researcher has to be nominated and supported by existing members, following which a strict vetting process will ensure the standing of the potential candidate before being admitted to the club of top-level scientists.

Dr. Khraisheh has published extensively in various international journals. Specialized in materials processing and manufacturing technologies, his interests also include sustainable manufacturing, advanced materials and light-weight alloys.

The membership of Dr Khraisheh on CIRP is expected to further propel Masdar Institute towards more specialized international gatherings of top level scientists, paving the way for submission of papers and participating in various working group meetings on advanced manufacturing technology.

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 UAE as a member country of CIRP, opening the door for capable and proven scientists and researchers from this region to gain an entry into the highly selective club. His request was approved by the membership committee and the general assembly of CIRP. No country can automatically become a member of this group, but Dr Khraisheh’s credentials have ensured that Abu Dhabi is now represented on CIRP as a country.

Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute, said: “Masdar Institute has accomplished several milestones in global recognitions during the last few years and what Dr Marwan Khraisheh has achieved will further elevate our status among the international scientific community. We acknowledge his noteworthy commitment to the region and Masdar Institute.

“With Dr Khraisheh as a member, there is immense scope to work with budding innovators in manufacturing technologies and increase members to this prestigious club from the UAE over the next few years. We thank the UAE’s wise leadership for their vision in establishing an institution that has achieved multiple successes.”

Members are researchers and academicians with recognized credentials and the potential to become active CIRP contributors and collaborators. Currently, CIRP’s membership profile is dominated by countries such as the US, Germany and Japan, strongly demonstrating their role in advanced manufacturing technologies and R&D. However, countries such as Canada, Italy, France and China have sizeable membership on the CIRP as well.  One of the most important aspects of CIRP is its exclusive status, since membership is limited to only about 400 members worldwide and countries have limited seats.

Dr Khraisheh said: “More than a personal achievement, the CIRP membership representing Abu Dhabi raises the international profile of Masdar Institute and Abu Dhabi, bringing high-level recognition among the most influential club of researchers in the scientific community. This is essential for Abu Dhabi as the emirate is launching itself into various new manufacturing areas such as aerospace, metals and advanced components.

“My objective is to further highlight Masdar Institute’s special status in academia through such recognitions, to continue recruiting the best and brightest faculty and students, and make them proud of their place of study and research. In future, we will work towards setting up a group from the UAE on manufacturing and production comprising researchers from academia and industry to demonstrate Abu Dhabi’s emerging role in scholarly activities and research. This recognition is the first for the region and Masdar Institute will continue to reiterate its standing as an acclaimed institution where cutting edge research is conducted and recognized at global level.”

Masdar Institute has already gained status as a premier research-driven institution across the world, especially through the involvement of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Now being represented on CIRP, the scope widens for Masdar Institute faculty and others in Abu Dhabi to interact with and reach out to the world’s best scientists, and further promote scientific research, while mentoring the young to set higher benchmarks in academic and research excellence.

A leading organization in production engineering research, CIRP’s primary aim is to promote scientific research through the development of all aspects of manufacturing technology covering the optimization, control and management of processes, as well as machines and systems. The number of members is intentionally kept limited, so as to facilitate informal scientific information exchange and personal contacts.

Established in 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.
 

First-Ever Papers from MENA Region to be Accepted for Presentation at Premier Forum for Advances in Solid-state Circuits and Systems-on-a-chip

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 26 February, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced two of its faculty members presented papers at the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) 2012 in San Francisco.

This is the first time scientific papers from any Arab country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have been accepted by the ISSCC. Dr. Jerald Yoo and Dr. Michael Perrott, both Professors of Microsystems Engineering at Masdar Institute, presented papers titled ‘An 8-Channel Scalable EEG Acquisition SoC with Fully Integrated Patient-Specific Seizure Classification and Recording Processor’, and ‘A Temperature-to-Digital Converter for a MEMS-Based Programmable Oscillator with Better Than ±0.5ppm Frequency’, respectively.

Themed ‘Silicon Systems for Sustainability’, the 59th edition of the ISSCC is being held from 19-23 February. The flagship conference of the Solid-State Circuits Society, ISSCC is a premier forum for the presentation of advances in solid-state circuits and systems-on-a-chip, which is the integration of circuit components, such as analog, digital, memory, and clock module,on a common (silicon) device. This year, the conference featured more than 200 technical presentations, including the two from Masdar Institute faculty, which represented the benchmark results, designs in state-of-the-art processes, and circuits in emerging device technologies.

Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute, said: “ISSCC is extremely selective and so accepting two papers from our Microsystems Engineering faculty signifies Masdar Institute’s strong capability in Microsystems Engineering, particularly in areas of great relevance globally. Masdar Institute has become the first-ever institution in the MENA region to gain such an extraordinary honor, which bears testimony to our excellent faculty. We will continue to reach more science and engineering milestones and thank the UAE’s leadership for their support and clear economic development plans to help guide our research efforts and achieve such global recognitions.”

Prof Perrott also presented a talk in an evening session titled ’VCO-Based Quantizers: Has Their Time Arrived?’. In addition, he is on the Data Converters Subcommittee that was chaired by Venu Gopinathan of Texas Instruments, Bangalore. Dr Yoo participated as a panelist on a session titled ‘What is the Next RF Frontier?’ He offered his remarks during the session titled ‘Is RF Really and Answer for Healthcare Applications? – Low Power Circuits for BAN’.

Dr. Yoo’s work is from his MIT research collaboration with Dr. Anantha Chandrakasan, Professor and EECS Dept. Head at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Yoo and Dr. Chandrakasan have developed a system-on-a-chip (SoC) to detect, classify and record seizure activity from a patient’s electrical brain activity, referred to scientifically as a surface electroencephalogram (EEG). A patient-specific seizure pattern learning algorithm is employed to enable mapping of brain activity that occurs before a seizure is physically experienced. This SoC is the first full integration of seizure classification processor with analog front-end and data recording engine. Over a 50 million people are suffering from epilepsy around the world today , and they can benefit from this SoC. The work is a major development for both ultra-low power electronics and healthcare.

Dr. Perrott’s work was performed at SiTime Corporation, an analog semiconductor company that makes MEMS timing solutions and is based in Silicon Valley, US.  A highly stable frequency reference is presented that opens new doors to using silicon-based micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) resonators, oscillators, and clock generators for timing.  Nearly all modern electronic systems rely on timing devices, such as the clock required for microprocessors, the radio frequency generation required for wireless transceivers, and the timekeeping required for high speed internet traffic. The work in this paper shows that MEMS-based timing devices can offer very high performance that is similar to or better than quartz-based solutions, and points toward the possibility that MEMS-based devices could become the dominant source of timing for future electronic devices.

Predicting the future advances in ‘solid-state circuits and systems-on-a-chip’, Dr. Yoo said: “Healthcare sector is one of the semiconductor industry’s most promising fields of application. Circuit technology advances to date have dramatically increased microchip performance. Nowmicrosystems applications in fields such as healthcare are driving new innovations that will have the most profound future impacts. New technologies are being developed that satisfy the cross-cutting needs such as energy efficiency, high signal to noise for biomedical applications and patient safety– all at once.

“This year’s theme is ‘Silicon Systems for Sustainability’, a subject quite relevant to my research and in today’s world. In order to achieve sustainable world, low energy circuit technology is a key player. For instance, just 10% energy reduction in a unit circuit will save over 5 MWh of energy per year consumed by Google Data Center, according to the Google website. One of my research areas is to minimize energy consumption of biomedical circuits.”

According to Prof. Perrott, ‘Advances in mixed-signal integrated circuit design techniques enable new electronic devices to be developed which have more features, higher performance, lower power, smaller size, and lower cost than incumbent technology. MEMS technology enables entirely new sensors based on the electro-mechanical properties of materials.  In this work, we have shown that the combination of advanced mixed-signal design techniques and MEMS technology enables timing devices which have excellent frequency stability and unprecedented flexibility compared to traditional quartz-based solutions.”

Established in 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.

 

Dr. Nidal Hilal Joins Faculty of Water and Environmental Engineering Program

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 14 February, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced the appointment of Dr. Nidal Hilal, an expert in desalination and membrane technologies, as the Professor in Nano-membranology and Water Technologies at the Water and Environmental Engineering program.

Dr Hilal, who has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wales in the UK, is also entrusted with the responsibility of working with the faculty to establish a Centre of Excellence for Water Technologies at Masdar Institute. He is internationally recognized as a leader in developing and applying the force measurement capability of atomic force microscope (AFM) to the study of membrane separation and engineering processes at the nano-scale level.

The Centre of Excellence for Water Technologies at Masdar Institute will be the GCC region’s first international-quality provider of localized solutions to water technology needs. It will focus on membrane technologies, a newer way of removing salt and impurities from seawater that is estimated to use about 90 per cent less energy than standard thermal desalination plants. More specifically, the Centre will aim to help reuse the UAE’s wastewater, reducing the need to create desalinated water from the Gulf and thus saving on carbon emissions.

Dr Hilal is also the Editor-in-Chief of Desalination, published by Elsevier, the most widely respected international journal on the science and technology of desalting and water purification. Masdar Institute now leads the way in desalination.

Dr. Marwan Khraisheh, Dean of Engineering at Masdar Institute, said: “Our faculty represents a cross-section of talented and proven individuals in clean energy and sustainable technologies. Dr Hilal is an internationally-renowned expert in water-treatment technologies who brings enormous additional value to Masdar Institute’s highly focused research activities. We are delighted to welcome him and we thank the country’s leadership for creating an institution that serves as a magnet, attracting leading brains in science, technology and engineering.”

Dr Hilal’s research focus areas include the identification of innovative and cost-effective solutions to real world process engineering problems within the fields of chemical engineering, nano-water, membrane technology, water treatment including desalination, colloid engineering and the nano-engineering applications of atomic force microscopy (AFM).

As the Director of Centre for Clean Water Technologies at the University of Nottingham in the UK from 2003 until 2010 and later the Director of Centre for Water Advanced Technologies and Environmental Research (C WATER) at Swansea University in the UK, Dr Hilal has developed a successful research portfolio and established a wide range of international research collaborations over the last 10 years. He has more than 300 publications to his credit and his work has been published widely in journals, international proceedings including five books and 23 invited book chapters.

Dr. Nidal Hilal said: “Masdar Institute focuses on advanced technology solutions including new water treatment technologies and I am keen to contribute my expertise to identifying new solutions in this area. It is a privilege to be a member of Masdar Institute faculty and the additional responsibility of establishing the Centre of Excellence for Water Technologies demonstrates the institution’s confidence in my capabilities. I will contribute my efforts towards driving research and finding solutions in water technologies that is of paramount importance to the region.”

Dr Hilal won the Kuwait Prize of Applied Science in the Arab world in 2005 for his innovative development work in water technology. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) from the University of Wales in recognition of his outstanding research contribution in the fields of membrane technology and application of AFM to chemical and process engineering.

Representing 27 countries, Masdar Institute’s 63 faculty members across the eight Master’s programs are the alumni of some of the most globally-renowned universities.

Established in 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, Masdar Institute remains committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change.
 

Tough Youngsters Looking Forward to Learn from Research Projects

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 11 February, 2012 – For the families, the news came as a major revelation that the girls would want to go on an expedition as tough as this one.

But when the two announced their selection on the International Antarctica Expedition (IAE) 2012 team, the family members realized there was no turning back. The response ranged anywhere between elation and skepticism to caution.

The decision was definitely not that easy for the families. But the families realized Reem Al Junaibi and Maitha Al Kaabi had their minds set, and thereby the students won their initial victory.

The two students from Masdar Institute of Science and Technology have completely different research targets. But the venue for their research is one. And their commitment to reach there and conduct the research remains unfaltering.

Though the two students’ initial victory was easy, their selection by Masdar Institute was met with pride tinged with caution for the parents.

But if their past is any indicator, both have already proved their mental toughness. Last year, Reem spent six days in a remote village in Malaysia that could be accessible only through hiking up the mountain for more than four hours. It had no electricity and no connection to the outside world. And Maitha is a skydiver.

Jumaa Al Junaibi says: “I had an idea about the expedition to Antarctica and I understand the accompanying difficulty and challenge, but at the same time, I knew how beneficial it would be for Reem. I believe this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and my trust in my daughter and the knowledge of her strength and courage made me agree and be confident. I whole-heartedly support and encourage her not to miss this opportunity.”

Moza Khamis AlMeqbali, Maitha’s mother, says she ‘was so happy and proud when I heard my little girl has been selected to this trip’. She adds: “But I was, and I am still, scared of leaving her to complete her mission, even after Maitha explained to me all the safety precautions. I am a mother and you know a mother’s heart.”

At the same time, Mohammed Abdullah Butti Al Kaabi, Maitha’s father, was ‘happy and confused at the same time’. He says: “I do not want to be a tough father and I definitely do not want to stop her from achieving her dreams. I do feel proud of my daughter. Maitha is special to me; she has a different mindset than her sisters. She preferred to complete her higher education than take up a job. She loves to learn a lot and she respects education and the scientists.”

Reem, who is the first in the family to have undertaken an expedition of this magnitude, is researching on the effect of having mixed sources of energy, specifically renewable, with its intermittent behavior on the electric grid.

Like every parent, Jumaa Al Junaibi was proud that his daughter will be one of the few people to get a chance to go to Antarctica. He adds: “I also had a feeling that this will add to her knowledge and it will be a good start for her future career.”

Maitha’s commitment to her research stems from her desire to help the UAE in its desalination efforts and her father with ways to reduce ground salinity at his farms that produce dates. She expects the Antarctica expedition will allow her to see the process of temperature-induced salt precipitation, a key principle in her research, in the natural environment. She believes her research will effectively benefit the UAE community.

For now though, the purchase of necessary equipment is complete while the two students are making an effort to remain physically fit for the arduous journey.

Reem’s family believes that the organizers have the necessary professional experience in organizing such a trip to a difficult place and has helped her packing up.

Maitha’s father is happy too to see his daughter fully prepared for the expedition. He adds: “She went with her partner Reem Al Junaibi and Sara Al Sayegh, an employee from Masdar, to buy the necessary equipment. I also see Maitha doing some physical exercises, including jogging around our yard, very early in the morning. As she said, she needs to be physically fit for this expedition. I can see that she is super excited to go on this trip.”

For Maitha, adventure is not new. She has gone skydiving earlier. That is why Maitha’s father strongly believes his daughter is spiritually tough enough to withstand the challenges of this expedition.

Mohammed Abdullah Butti Al Kaabi says: “I think I have adventurous children. All my children, girls or guys, love to take up tough challenges such as climbing the mountains in search of honey. But I didn’t know that Maitha is the most adventurous of all my daughters. I did not believe her when she told me that she went skydiving last summer. I did not believe her until she showed me her videos. She jumped from the plane at a height of 13,000 feet. I felt initially angry, especially when she told me that it was real fun. But I know she loves trying new things.”

Maitha’s parents were not aware of the polar explorer earlier or the International Antarctic Expedition. They say: “We did not know about him (Sir Robert Swan), but Maitha’s elder sister Sabah, who is a physics teacher, once mentioned about him and his achievements. However, we did not expect that one day Maitha would join him in his trip. It is really a good opportunity for her and we all support her and wish her the best of luck.”

Jumaa Al Junaibi believes renewable energy is new and any study in the subject will be beneficial to humanity as many questions in this field haven’t been answered yet.

He adds: “Reem is very passionate and always talks to us about sustainability and made this subject a usual topic at family gatherings. This helped us understand the true issue and made us feel responsible and realize our role in reducing our impact on the environment.”

Maitha’s father proudly proclaims her daughter’s role model is none other than the Founding Father of the UAE, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Mohammed Abdullah Butti Al Kaabi adds: “Maitha always feels proud when people call him ‘the environmental leader’. She told us that she wants to be his daughter in this way. She wants to complete what he started. She profoundly believes that not only do we need to convert the yellow land to green but we also need to keep this green land clean.”

Reem’s father believes the trip to Antarctica is only a start for Reem to make a real difference in the community. Jumaa Al Junaibi says: “But I am sure that a trip of this magnitude will build a bright future and enhance the way she sees the world and how she deals with responsibilities towards her country and community.”

For now though all eyes are turned towards Ushuaia, the remote Argentine town, where the expedition including the two students from Masdar Institute will take off on 27 February to explore Chilean territories on Antarctica including Cape Horn, Drake Channel, King George Island and South Shetlands. The 16-day journey will help them conduct research, learn sustainable living, use renewable energy and contribute to raise awareness on keeping the isolated continent the way it is now, even after the Antarctica Treaty expires in 2041.

And the two students are quite clearly looking for a rewarding journey that will assist them in their research projects, while bringing honor not only to Masdar Institute, but to the whole of the UAE and the region.

Established in 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.