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.
 

‘Sustainable Arabia: Clean Energy 2012’ in Dubai Develops Common Stand for Arab Countries Attending Rio+20 Summit in Brazil

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 07 May, 2012 – Two members of the Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) program, an outreach initiative of Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, highlighted the role of youth groups in managing future economies at the Sustainable Arabia: Clean Energy 2012 conference in Dubai.

Organized under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the event was held from 2-3 May in Dubai. Hosted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in cooperation with the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DCSE), and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the event served as a preparatory meeting for Arab countries attending the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20 Summit) in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, in June.

Sustainable Arabia: Clean Energy 2012 aimed to address various issues and work toward reaching a common understanding of the need to transition to a green economy and what is needed to make such transition. Policy experts, representatives of global and regional development organizations and various practitioners and relevant stakeholders from across the Arab region attended the event.

The YFEL members’ participation was part of YFEL’s mandate to bring together students and promising young professionals from the UAE and around the world in a series of networking, skill development and idea sharing global forums with international political, business and sustainability leaders.

The two YEFL 2012 members who participated in the session titled ‘Public Engagement & Awareness’ – Who should be aware, of what? by whom? and How?’ included Iman Ustadi and Mohamed Al Sharhan, Research Assistants, Engineering Systems and Management program, Masdar Institute.

Dr Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director, Public Affairs, Masdar Institute, said: “YFEL is one of the most dynamic platforms for youth to engage and interact with international leaders in the energy sector. By highlighting and specifying their role in tomorrow’s green economies at Sustainable Arabia: Clean Energy 2012, the YFEL members have demonstrated their capabilities and strengths in preparation to become tomorrow’s leaders in this field. The event proved to be not only an appropriate knowledge-sharing forum for YFEL members, but an occasion to gauge insights from current energy industry leaders. We thank the wise leadership of the UAE for their guidance and support, enabling YFEL to continue being a meaningful and relevant program for the country’s youth.”

The session focused on how to engage stakeholders and reach a buy-in from all segments of societies in the Arab world – from policy makers to market developers and through to the average citizen. During the discussions, the YFEL members analyzed the best role for the youth groups’ engagement to ensure a green economy in which they will have the highest stake, the potential ways to mobilize the energy of the youth and the right combination to effectively use the youthful energy.

Zainab Al Ali, Senior Outreach Officer and Coordinator of the YFEL Program, said: “YFEL members are given opportunities to engage with global industry leaders and gain exposure to the expertise-sharing forums and policy-making processes. Several additional activities and courses have been lined up for the rest of the year for the YFEL members to proactively participate and benefit from these programs.”

The regional dialogue at Sustainable Arabia: Clean Energy 2012 helped open the doors for the Arab countries to share experiences, knowledge, and best practices, as well as to reach a common stand, while taking into account the previous work done on this issue. It also helped to promote public and private partnership within the regulatory framework and environmental policies, develop high-level but practical recommendations for policies, regulations, institutions, and practices, as well as develop recommendations for regional cooperation.

YFEL offers participants exceptional and unmatched access to top global leaders, senior business executives and academics engaged in alternative energy and sustainability through events such as World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in Abu Dhabi and other major events held globally. It is mandated to educate, inspire and empower students and young professionals to become future leaders capable of solving the world’s most pressing challenges in advanced energy and sustainability.
 

Ratio of UAE Nationals at Masdar Institute Set to Reach 46% by May-End

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 30 April, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced 12 UAE national graduates have signed up to become part of the academic institution and contribute to its administrative success.

The appointments are part of Masdar Institute’s commitment to building, retaining and further developing human and organizational capital through Madeem, a sustainable skill-based Emiratization program. Madeem, which means ‘sustain’ in Arabic, is also in line with the UAE leadership’s directive to strengthen indigenous human capital and give priority to qualified Emiratis at al levels.

The graduates signed their employment contracts in the presence of Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute, and Hamza Kazim, Vice-President, Operations and Finance, and Dr Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director, Public Affairs, and other officials and heads of various departments that will absorb the new Emirati employees.

The appointment of the 12 UAE national graduates will take the ratio of Emiratization at Masdar Institute to 43%. This is expected to increase further and reach 46% by the end of May.

Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh said: “Mandated to develop the human capital base of Abu Dhabi and the UAE, Masdar Institute focuses on Emiratization as directed by the country’s leadership. Our skill-based Emiratization program has proved effective in organizational development and we believe the talented new recruits will rapidly move ahead in their professional lives. We thank the UAE’s leadership for creating the right system that ensures adequate job opportunities to the country’s citizens.”

On their first day at work, Sara Al Muhairi, Human Resources Director, Masdar Institute, explained the newly employed various advantages of working for a prestigious institution like Masdar Institute.

Sara Al Muhairi said: “Masdar Institute identifies talented and qualified UAE nationals and equips them with the right skill sets as part of its Emiratization process. The collaboration with MIT is only a manifestation of our objective to develop and nurture indigenous capabilities, and raise our benchmark for excellence. We are confident the new employees will make use of the available resources at Masdar Institute and chart their professional careers, while contributing to the country’s growth.”

Masdar Institute implements specific strategies to develop and continuously improve the capabilities of every single UAE employee, who is considered a valuable asset within the organization.

The Human Resources Department at Masdar Institute has developed several Emiratization strategies among which is a one-year Fresh Graduate Program that targets students with high GPAs in various disciplines. Such students get an opportunity to develop professional skills and gain valuable work experience at Masdar Institute.

In coordination with local colleges and universities, summer internships are also offered for undergraduate students to develop skills and gain first-hand experience at one of the administrative departments. Additionally, work placement internships are offered in collaboration with local universities to provide hands-on professional experience and help them gain practical insight into the workplace ahead of graduation.

Through various employment initiatives and a commitment to enhance the UAE’s human capital, Masdar Institute plays a vital role in the development of a sustainable knowledge-based 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.
 

Dr. Nidal Hilal’s Book Assumes Significance as Global Demand for Membranes Forecast to Increase 9% Per Annum to Reach Over US$19 billion by 2015

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 29 April, 2012 – Membrane separation is extremely important for desalination, production of drinking water and waste water treatment in the UAE and the GCC region. Membrane modification techniques are aimed at increasing the efficiency and performance of membrane separation and making them attractive for specific separations, according to Dr. Nidal Hilal, an international expert in desalination and membrane technology and a Professor in Nano-membranlogy and Water Technologies at Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.

Membrane separation is a technology which selectively separates (fractionates) materials via pores and/or minute gaps in the molecular arrangement of a continuous structure. Membrane separations are classified by pore size and by the separation driving force. These classifications include Microfiltration (MF), Ultrafiltration (UF), Nanofiltration (NF), Ion-Exchange (IE), and Reverse Osmosis (RO).

Dr. Nidal Hilal is the co-author of a recently published book by CRC Press titled ‘Membrane Modification: Technology and Applications’. His remarks assume significance following an industry study by the Freedonia Group that reports global demand for membranes is projected to increase a healthy 9% annually to US$19.3 billion by 2015, while demand for water desalination products and services is forecast to increase 9.3% annually to US$13.4 billion by 2015.

The Freedonia Group is a leading international business research company that publishes more than 100 industry research studies annually. It predicts that rising environmental standards and regulations in many parts of the world, and high population growth, particularly in water-stressed areas, will further drive investment in membrane-based water and wastewater systems. Oil-rich nations are increasingly shifting to more efficient membrane desalination systems (reverse osmosis) and the Middle East and North Africa will account for about two-thirds of global demand for desalination products and services, the study adds and points out that Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait are the largest desalination markets in the Middle East.

Dr. Nidal Hilal’s book presents a comprehensive review of the current developments within membrane separation processes with a focus on process optimisation through control of membrane surface properties for key industrial applications.According to him, membrane processes have many other applications apart from desalination.

Dr. Hilal said: “In addition to their use in water treatment and desalination, membrane processes are used in pharmaceutical industries to separate valuable medical products as they are capable to separate solid materials such as powders in the size range between one nanmoeter and 10 microns.”

For example microfiltration membranes [MF] have pores between 0.1 microns and 10 microns, ultrafiltration membranes [UF] have pores between five nanometers and 0.1 microns and nanofiltration membranes [NF] have pores between one nanometer and five nanometers.

He added: “Thus, the importance and versatility of membrane systems could range from industries such as water treatment and desalination to fuel cells to pharmaceutical production and emerging medical technologies such as tissue engineering.”

The book presents a complete range of membrane modification techniques used to increase efficiency of membrane processes. Modification of different materials and geometrics including flat-sheet, hollow-fiber and nano-fiber membranes, reverse osmosis (RO), membrane distillation (MD), gas separation (GS), pervaporation (PV), and membrane fuel cells (MFC), are extremely important for professionals such as analytical scientists, material engineers, and environmental chemists, as well as chemical and environmental engineers.

Dr. Hilal concluded: “Membrane modification techniques will have significant impact on industry as they will lead to an improved efficiency of membrane processes that offer more products at less cost. More specifically, the UAE and the region will benefit from operating better fouling-resistant membranes in RO desalination plants as it will reduce operational fouling problems and therefore reduce cost.”

Holder of a PhD in Chemical Engineering and a DSc in Nanotechnology and membrane separation from the University of Wales in the UK, Dr Nidal Hilal, is additionally entrusted with the responsibility of working with the faculty to establish a Centre of Excellence for Water Technologies at Masdar Institute. Dr. Hilal is also the current Editor-in-Chief of ‘Desalination’, an international journal on the science and technology of desalting and water purification. In 2009, Dr. Hilal co-authored with Dr. W. Richard Bowen a book titled ‘Atomic Force Microscopy in Process Engineering: An Introduction to AFM for Improved Processes and Products’.

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.
 

Consensus at University Leadership Council Media Roundtable on Adequate Capacity Building to Make UAE True Knowledge Economy

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 24 April, 2012 – The right mix of support, investment, policy and incentives can make Abu Dhabi and the UAE a true knowledge economy and an R&D powerhouse, according to experts at a media roundtable in Abu Dhabi.

Organized under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan bin Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research, the media roundtable titled ‘Creating an R&D Culture in the UAE’ was held at Masdar Institute campus. It was attended by University Leadership Council’s Executive Council members, select members of the media and representatives from other universities.

The media roundtable served as an appropriate forum to discuss the white paper titled ‘Establishing a Research and Development Culture to Create a Knowledge Economy’. The paper was developed by the University Leadership Council, a platform for academic leaderships to share creative ideas, foster common interests and spearhead new initiatives for innovation and technology transfer in the region.

Moderated by Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute, the panelists included University Leadership Council’s Executive Council members Dr. Peter Heath, Chancellor of American University of Sharjah (AUS), Dr. Tod Laursen, President of Khalifa University, and Dr. Rory Hume, Provost of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU).

Panelists agreed that the wise leadership of the UAE with forward-looking and business-friendly policies has deftly steered the country’s economic progress. But they added that the country has now reached a critical stage from where it has to have an even broader perspective towards building knowledge capabilities for stable long-term growth. The University Leadership Council Executive Committee members also announced that a high-level workshop on R&D, innovation, entrepreneurship and intellectual property rights will be held in the near future as a logical course of action to inform stakeholders on the road ahead.

Moderating the discussions, Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh said: “Education, from primary school level to specialized technical and creative disciplines will be the core requirements as they help facilitate in fostering a strong culture of research and development; creativity; and rigorous testing of new ideas. And once we have regulatory a system conducive to the local development of new knowledge industries, the growth in entrepreneurial activity is sure to follow and the UAE leadership deserves to be commended for creating the right environment for long-term social and economic progress.”

Dr. Peter Heath said: “With basic, applied and development research, the right intellectual environment is required to create new ideas that may lead to innovation. The academia has an important role to play and we believe the white paper is one of the instruments that can offer us the roadmap to chart our progress. With these ingredients, the academia can collaborate with industry and the government to make way for a new era and gradually usher in the R&D culture in the UAE.”

Dr. Tod Laursen said: “Part of the entire process also calls for the industry to embrace change, invest in new ideas and build on human capability. This can be achieved by providing funding and engaging academic institutions in areas of interest to specific sectors, which will lead to businesses adapting or providing better and smarter products and services. Funding in my opinion is pivotal to the community adopting the culture of innovation.”

Dr. Rory Hume said: “The government has to remain the leading driver and the primary force behind the creation of the research culture. It can do so through setting up the right regulatory framework and providing incentives. The likelihood of positive and productive outcomes of funded research is much higher when competition for funding is kept open. And because it has the power to streamline and facilitate the market penetration of the results of research, we need the government to be actively involved in this endeavor.”

Representatives from the media agreed that the University Leadership Council’s white paper has correctly pointed out the components required to ensure the UAE remains on the long-term growth path. They also commended the University Leadership Council’s media roundtable initiative as well as the ‘Bridging the Knowledge Economy’ forum that was held in February earlier this year.

The media roundtable and the forum were part of the University Leadership Council’s endeavor to advance research and innovation, while promoting economic development in the UAE.

Acting as a link for faculty and students to interface with both the public and private sectors, the University Leadership Council aims to seek industrial, government, and private individual financial support for the academic and research activities of the universities. It is also mandated to advance the educational goals of the UAE-based universities and align their policies with the government with regard to meeting the requirements of the economy and the industry.
 

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 17 April, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced it showcased relevant research projects in robotics and electrical power engineering focusing on vocational skills at the Emirates Skills National Competition 2012 in Abu Dhabi.

Organized by Emirates Skills under the patronage of Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and Chairperson of the UAE Women’s Federation, the National Competition was held from 11-12 April at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC). Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multifaceted renewable energy company, was the silver sponsor of the event that represents one of the few platforms in the UAE for the Emirati youth to compete in 15 vocational and technical skill categories.

Masdar Institute participated in the event by highlighting its academic offerings and accomplishments in advanced technology and clean energy research. As an institution that has filed more than eight patents and has awarded research projects in excess of 120, Masdar Institute offered a glimpse into the kind of advanced research that could be relevant to students in specific age-groups.

Dr Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director, Public Affairs, Masdar Institute, said: “The Emirates Skills National Competition is a much-needed platform that guides the youth on the kind of technical and vocational skills that they need to develop for their individual growth. We appreciate Her Highness Shaikha Fatima’s support for a timely event that aims to empower the younger Emirati generation. We believe our participation has stoked considerable interest in the research areas of robotics and electrical power engineering. We are grateful to the UAE’s wise leadership for their support, allowing us to create the right competency levels at Masdar Institute to offer such programs.”

Dr. Ken Volk, Head of Outreach, Masdar Institute, offered a presentation on ‘Masdar Institute: Meeting Tomorrow’s Energy Challenges’, that was designed to encourage students from the Institute of Applied Technology (IAT), Abu Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute (ADVETI) and Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) schools to remain proactive through research and higher learning.

Some of the interesting projects that were on display included robotics research undertaken by Dr. Jacob Crandall, Assistant Professor – Computing and Information Science.Dr Crandallwas assisted by two UAE National Foundation students – Fatima Almemari and Abdulla Almehrezi.

Other categories featured at the event included IT-PC Software Applications, Web Design, Graphics Design, AutoCAD, Electric Installation, Mechatronics, CNC Machining and Caring.

Emirates Skills aims to raise awareness of career-based technical and vocational education among young Emiratis by organizing competitions, events, training programs and technical career activities.

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.

Opportunity for Interns to Evaluate Highly Advanced Technology Relevant to Abu Dhabi’s Long-Term Economic Objectives

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 18 April, 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 be offering a research project on amine-based solvents for post-combustion carbon capture as part of its six-week summer internship program.

Named “Development of Advanced Amine-Based Solvents for CO2 Post-Combustion Capture,” the program targets UAE national students from Chemical Engineering or Chemistry with some experience or interest in handling chemicals and laboratory equipment.

Scheduled to begin from 1 July, the summer internship program is offered to the UAE nationals who are university seniors and/or those graduating this year with science, engineering or computer science as major subjects. Students will have to submit their applications by 3 May for this internship program that offers a total of 15 project opportunities this summer.

Research activity in the “Development of Advanced Amine-Based Solvents for CO2 Post-Combustion Capture” will be carried out under the supervision of expert faculty while the interns will be mainly focusing on conducting experiments with state-of-art facilities such as multi-reactor solvent screening set up, vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) and titration facilities.

In the first phase, screening of various amine solvents will be carried out for CO2 absorption, while the second phase will evaluate detailed analysis of promising solvents. The evaluation and selection criteria of promising solvents will involve CO2 loading capacity, estimated enthalpy, and reaction kinetics measurements. ‘Enthalpy’ is a thermodynamic function of a system, equivalent to the sum of the internal energy of the system plus the product of its volume multiplied by the pressure exerted on it by its surroundings.

The research project is focused on the development of advanced chemical sorbents for carbon capture and the major tasks including synthesizing, screening, and evaluating new chemical solvents for CO2 separation from flue gas. Conventional solvent-based technology has serious limitations in large-scale implementations, necessitating the development of efficient carbon capture and storage (CCS) advance processes.

Dr. Mohammad Abu Zahra, Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, Masdar Institute, said: “The research category on post-combustion carbon capture offers UAE national undergraduate students an opportunity to conduct experiments and evaluate the relevance of such highly advanced technology for Abu Dhabi’s economic growth. This is an area Masdar Institute is already conducting research in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). We are confident students will find this area of clean technology challenging enough to pursue for their higher studies and we thank the country’s wise leadership for their vision that has ensured such technologies are available to students for research.”

Online applications for the summer internship program can be submitted through the Masdar Institute website which offers adequate details on each project category with a complete description and a list of tasks an intern is expected to do as well as the recommended skills and the formal education required. Only students applying for multiple projects need to submit more than one application. Interns will receive on-campus housing and a stipend, in addition to valuable research and professional experience.

A GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) and an IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent) are mandatory for the applicant who also has to submit a letter of recommendation.

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.