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.
 

Launched by University of Pennsylvania, MyHeartMap Challenge Aims to Integrate Social Media with Emergency Health Preparedness

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 1 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 are part of the group of international crowd-sourcing experts, teaming up to win the MyHeartMap Challenge that has been recently launched by the University of Pennsylvania in the US.

The MyHeartMap Challenge invites the public to participate by downloading a phone app that allows users to submit geo-tagged pictures of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) they see around Philadelphia, to create an effective location database of AEDs.

Masdar Institute’s computer scientists Dr. Iyad Rahwan and Sohan D’Souza and University of Southampton computational game theorists James McInerney, Dr. Victor Naroditskiy and Prof. Nick Jennings, will join the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Sandy Pentland and University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Research Scientist Dr. Manuel Cebrian, to solve the MyHeartMap Challenge.

Professor Pentland and Dr. Cebrian were part of the team that won the US$40,000 prize at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Network’s Red Balloon Challenge in 2009.

The scientists’ team has invited social networkers to get in on the MyHeartMap Challenge that aims to integrate social media with emergency health preparedness.

It is estimated that some 300,000 people die in the US every year from sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, some of which could be prevented through the timely use of a defibrillator. The University of Pennsylvania explains that the inability to locate AEDs in such emergency situations greatly reduces their intended life-saving impact.

The challenge will award US$10,000 to the team that finds and photographs the most AEDs in Philadelphia County in four weeks while the team or individual that finds the most confirmed eligible AEDs by the contest end date will receive the grand prize of US$10,000. The competition also has flagged a number of ‘Golden AEDs’ – which have a US$50 bonus for the first team or individual who photographs and submits the Golden AED to the contest.

Dr. Rahwan said: “Our team will use crowdsourcing to encourage people to report the location of AEDs, to verify other reports, and to recruit new participants. If we win, the money will be split among the participants who helped find defibrillators and the participants who recruited them.

“Crowdsourcing provides an unprecedented ability to accomplish information-gathering tasks that require the involvement of a large number of people, often at geographically spread out locations. The success of a task relies on the ability to identify trustworthy information reports, while false reports are bound to appear either due to honest mistakes or sabotage attempts. This information verification problem is a difficult task, which, just like the information gathering task, requires the involvement of a large number of people. Our team develops methods for solving this problem through crowdsourcing: we crowdsource not just gathering, but also verification of information.”

Dr. Rahwan recently co-authored a paper with the DARPA Network Challenge winners on their use of social networks to mobilize people to contribute to their team’s efforts. The paper was recently published in the prestigious Science journal.

Dr.Naroditskiy said: “When your goal is to find as many AEDs within as large an area as possible, it would seem obvious that the best way to do that is to involve as many people in the search as possible. That’s what our team is trying to achieve through our expertise in social networking, mobilization and technology.”

The team will use the challenge to test some of their theoretical research on social network mobilization and incentivization as well as verification, which adds a new layer of complexity not yet seen in crowdsourcing challenges.

Dr. Cebrian said: “To most people social networks are just a way to talk to their friends or share videos. But to scientists like us, they represent a unique way to form large teams of people to work in a coordinated way to achieve difficult tasks. If we can harness that power of social networks, then we can enlist countless numbers of helpful volunteers to canvass Philadelphia and seek out and verify the AEDs that are currently not geo-tagged or on any map. This information can later prove to be lifesaving for someone going through sudden cardiac arrest.”

The team will be shortly launching its own website to attract team recruits to help identify as many AEDs as possible. Those interested in participating in the team’s efforts can visit http://scailab.media.mit.edu/heartcrowd

The MyHeartMap Challenge was launched on 31 January and will run through 13 March.
 

Masdar Institute Entrusted with Hosting and Maintaining Atlas Servers at Its Sustainable Campus

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 25 January, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, and the Abu Dhabi-headquartered International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) today signed a memorandum of understanding to support the developing and advancing of a publicly-accessible atlas of solar and wind resources.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute, and Adnan Z. Amin, Director-General, IRENA, in Abu Dhabi. Dr Joseph Cecchi, Provost, Masdar Institute, and Gauri Singh, Director of IRENA Knowledge Management, Innovation and Technology, were present on the occasion.

The agreement ensures cooperation between the two organizations for exchange of information; joint implementation of project activities, analyses and research studies; as well as defining technical compatibility and methodological harmonization and data transparency protocols for solar and wind data. Other areas covered by the MoU include participating in developing the architecture of the global atlas and hosting and maintaining the atlas servers at Masdar Institute; capacity development among stakeholders in participating countries, as well as assisting developing countries to build their renewable energy technology databases.

According to the agreement, Dr. Hosni Ghedira, Director of the UAE Research Center for Renewable Energy Mapping and Assessment, will represent Masdar Institute in the project, while Ali Nimer, Acting Director, Administration and Management Services, will represent IRENA. Dr. Taha B.M.J. Ouarda, Professor – Water & Environmental Engineering, Masdar Institute, is also the Deputy Director of the UAE Research Center for Renewable Energy Mapping and Assessment.

Dr Hosni Ghedira is also an Associate Professor – Water and Environmental Engineering, at Masdar Institute. Before moving to the UAE, Dr Ghedira spent six years at the City University of New York as an Assistant Professor and Research Associate Professor. He also acted as Director of the Environmental Remote Sensing and Image Processing Laboratory at the NOAA Cooperative Remote Sensing Science & Technology Center in New York for more than four years. Dr. Ghedira’s current research interests include: application of remote sensing in environmental monitoring; solar and wind potential mapping; water resources management in water-scarce regions; satellite image processing; and remote sensing algorithm development. Dr. Ghedira has authored and co-authored more than 60 publications in peer-reviewed journals and referred conference proceedings. He has also supervised four PhD theses and 15 M.Sc. theses in the US and the UAE.

Prior to joining IRENA, Ali Nimer was the ICT Department Manager at Masdar, and IT Manager and Program Officer – Science & Technology at Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy. Earlier, he worked as Operations Manager at Injazat Data Systems.

The Research Center for Renewable Energy Mapping and Assessment at Masdar Institute aims to develop regional knowledge and leadership in renewable energy assessment and mapping for the UAE and globally. The Center responds to the objective of the UAE to support IRENA in its advancement of a publicly-accessible atlas of solar and wind resources, particularly for developing countries. The Center is in the process of building profiles of solar and wind resource quality, land use, and grid connectivity in the UAE through partnership between Masdar Institute, the UAE Directorate of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), IRENA and mapping/resource assessment entities, including those already involved in IRENA’s global atlas project. 

Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh said: “The MoU with IRENA comes within the general framework of cooperation between two organizations that continue to promote clean energy and sustainable technologies. As a research-oriented academic institution, Masdar Institute provides the right ingredients to enable innovation and as an international agency that promotes renewable energy, IRENA has similar objectives. We believe the MoU will bring out the synergy in both organizations to develop publicly-accessible data on solar and wind resources. We thank the country’s leadership for helping us develop into one of the most advanced institutions that offers expertise in this domain.”

Adnan Z. Amin said: “IRENA is delighted to enter into this agreement with Masdar Institute, a research-oriented institution that focuses on clean energy and sustainable technologies. Developing publicly-accessible atlas of solar and wind resources is fundamental to widen the use of clean and renewable energy. We are confident that together with the academic and research capabilities of Masdar Institute, we will be able to provide distinctive data that will be useful for everyone who is keen to tap clean energy.”

The aim of the global atlas is to build on existing partnerships and develop an inclusive, open system connecting the major databases and information sources. It also aims at creating as little new information as possible. Instead, the information will be gathered through partnerships, and based on an-open system architecture. This calls for using a state-of-the-art collaborative architecture, which provides an easy and unified way to access the different existing data sets yet from various sources and portals.

In November 2011, an initial prototype of the Global Atlas on Solar and Wind Energy was presented at the Multilateral Solar and Wind Working Group in Berlin, Germany. The prototype was to be refined to better represent user data needs and integrate additional tools and data sets. Several end-user groups discussed their data needs at the meeting. The United Nations Environment Programme is collecting additional end-user information via an online survey.

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.
 

Masdar Institute provides theoretical and practical experience for future scientists of the United Arab Emirates
Renewable energy projects to diversify energy sources and enhance energy security

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 30 January, 2012 – Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MI), commended Abu Dhabi’s Executive Council for approving the Institute’s budget for 2012. He explained that the move reflects the Executive Council’s keen interest in supporting the development of human capital amongst Emirati locals and enabling the development of a new generation of Emirati future scientists who specialize in the areas of renewable energy, clean technology and sustainable development.

“Abu Dhabi is evolving from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy through research-driven institutions like the Masdar Institute. Nurturing future leaders in the science and technology spheres is a fundamental mandate of the Masdar Institute. This is essential to the UAE’s long-term plan of achieving sustained economic growth and social progress. Through these academic efforts, we seek to directly meet the needs of key target sectors and important stakeholders directly relevant to Abu Dhabi’s major investments.”

“More importantly, the Masdar Institute seeks new ways to instill practical applications in throughout the student’s life in at the Institute. This enables graduates to immediately integrate into the work field upon graduation. MI students are fully equipped to practically interpret their insights and ideas; providing value to both the public and private sector,” he added.

Such measures are facilitated by the Executive Council’s approval of Masdar Institute’s budget clearly demonstrate Abu Dhabi’s support for fostering research and development, as well as enhancing the acquisition of knowledge and skills in renewable energy technologies. In turn, the Masdar Institute represents the research and development nucleus of Masdar City.

Dr Al Jaber also commented on the Executive Council’s approval of the budget of the “Shams One” Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant in the western region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the construction of the Sir Bani Yas onshore wind farm.  He explained that these projects achieve a set of benefits, including prolonging the life of the UAE’s hydrocarbon economy through the adoption and implementation of a diverse energy mix.

Construction is currently in progress at the Shams One project site, the 100 MW Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant being developed in the Western Region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Commercial operations on the plant are expected to begin in 2012. Shams One is set to be one of the largest CSP projects in the world and the first in the Middle East region. The project is owned by Shams Power Company, the entity that develops and manages the plant’s operations. It was established specifically for that purpose through a joint venture between Masdar (60%), TOTAL (20%) and Abengoa Solar (20%). The plant will contribute in securing renewable and clean energy in Abu Dhabi’s western region which will in turn help in the UAE’s sustainable socio-economic development.

Furthermore, Masdar City’s 10 MW solar farm has been operational for the past three years. Connected to the Abu Dhabi National Electricity Grid, the solar farm produces enough power to cover the energy needs of Masdar Institute and Masdar City residents and workers and feeds excess energy back into the grid. The project contributed in offsetting over 23.8 thousand tonnes of carbon emissions.

In addition, Masdar is also partnering with TDIC to develop an onshore wind farm on Sir Bani Yas Island, the natural reserve established by the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The wind farm will contribute to securing renewable and clean energy to cater for the sustainable development projects planned for on the island.

Dr. Al Jaber underscored how the support of the Executive Council to the renewable energy projects reflects the strategic vision of the UAE’s wise leadership, as it is the main catalyst to all aspects of economic and social development.

The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, a home grown, independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, is implementing significant measures in support of human capital development to enable the creation of a knowledge-based economy in the UAE.

Some of the distinct measures being implemented by Masdar Institute include post-graduate research activities through industry collaborations in various clean technology areas, outreach programs to foster students and young professionals into industry leaders of tomorrow, and dedicated special programs through inter-institutional partnerships that ensure raising awareness on the need to be innovative to create a highly competitive global-standard economy.

The driving force behind Masdar Institute’s research is its strategic relevance and benefit to the Abu Dhabi government and the industry. As part of its continuing endeavor, Masdar Institute has formed a working group with various units of Abu Dhabi Government’s investment arm Mubadala, including Abu Dhabi’s multifaceted renewable energy initiative Masdar, to align the research interests between the two organizations. Discussions have also been held with Etisalat, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), the UAE Armed Forces, as well as other governmental and industry organizations on aligning Masdar Institute academic programs and research with these entities. A deal has already been signed with the Abu Dhabi-headquartered International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which is awarding up to 20 scholarships at Masdar Institute.

More recently, Masdar Institute has entered into an agreement with Toyota Motor Corporation, the world’s leading automotive manufacturer to set up the Masdar Institute-Toyota Scholarship Program for conducting research on the advancement of low-carbon emission vehicle technologies, and a collaborative research deal with Masdar PV, a leading German-based manufacturer of photovoltaic films. An agreement with Siemens Energy Systems has also been signed on solar energy technology research and development to enhance the use of PV panels in the Middle East region. It has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with IRENA to support the developing of a publicly-accessible atlas of solar and wind resources.

Additionally, Masdar Institute engages with institutions such as Emirates Aluminum (EMAL), Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO) as well as other organizations, through a number of mechanisms. Work is already under progress on the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Project (SBRP) with Boeing, Etihad Airways and Honeywell UOP.

Masdar Institute focuses on some of the strategic sectors that are pivotal to Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification. They include energy, petrochemicals, water, metals, aerospace, defense, biotechnology and telecommunications. These are in addition to renewable energy, clean mobility, sustainable cities, and the semiconductor industry.

Some of the areas the Institute aims to develop core capabilities include advanced materials, thermal-fluid sciences, water and environmental technologies, power systems, computational and information sciences, policy and economic modeling, engineering systems, microsystems, and chemical processes.

Moreover, the Institute is hosting a forum on ‘Bridging the Knowledge Economy’ in collaboration with Khalifa University, Zayed University (ZU), the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and the American University of Sharjah (AUS), to discuss ways to spur research and development investment, facilitate research and innovation capacity building and further strengthen entrepreneurship development. The event is being organized under the University Leadership Council (ULC) to bring together research universities, government agencies and private sector companies and identify potential investment opportunities through collaboration and long-term partnerships.

The University Leadership Council serves as a platform to engage academic, government and industry leaders and seek their support to develop human capital as well as research and innovation (R&I) capacity.

Realizing the need to develop indigenous capabilities, Masdar Institute is implementing the UAE National Foundation program, which enrolled a total of 55 Emirati students for the 2011/2012 academic year. This is in addition to the 71 UAE national students registered for the eight post-graduate programs. Foundation students who demonstrate excellent academic performance are also offered a two-week practical training course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where they are exposed to courses on sustainable energy with hands-on training.

MI is mandated to provide students with the knowledge, skills and experience necessary for successful careers in industrial or academic roles in their chosen fields.

Established in collaboration with MIT in the US, 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 also remains committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change.
 

Exploring Antarctica, Masdar Institute Students Aim to Become Ambassadors for Education, Environment and Sustainability

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 28 January, 2012 – It will be an expedition with a difference – one that offers an opportunity to learn leadership and sustainable solutions, with the icy isolation of Antarctica as the backdrop.

Two students from Masdar Institute of Science and Technology will not only explore the Antarctic Peninsula, but experience ‘Leadership on the Edge’, Sir Robert Swan’s personal leadership and sustainability program, during their journey as part the International Antarctic Expedition (IAE) 2012 team.

Reem Al Junaibi and Maitha Al Kaabi recently joined Sir Robert Swan at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2012 in Abu Dhabi in their pledge to support initiatives that will maintain the continent’s current status even after the Antarctica Treaty expires in the year 2041. The inclusion of the two students was announced at the YFEL stand after Sir Robert’s address, which urged the youth to help save Antarctica that holds 70% of the entire world’s fresh water.

The ‘Leadership on the Edge’ program challenges those individuals who are compelled to make a difference by deepening their awareness of themselves in relation to the world. In doing so, they adopt new ways of seeing, thinking and interacting that result in sustainable solutions. The IAE 2012 expedition aims to create ambassadors for education, the environment and sustainability across the globe.

Dr Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director of Public Affairs, Masdar Institute, said: “The students chosen to be part of the International Antarctic Expedition team will be fortunate to experience the real life benefits of sustainability and renewable energy. Their research at Masdar Institute will benefit them and help contribute to the objectives of this exploration trip. We are confident their experience on the icy continent will encourage them to be more active campaigners of measures to curb global warming and environmental degradation. We are thankful to the UAE’s wise leadership for supporting us in all our sustainable initiatives.”

The two students were selected out of seven applicants, based on a 400-word essay that explained their reasons for joining the expedition and its relevance to the student’s ongoing research activities at Masdar Institute. Excellent physical health was another pre-requisite for the selection. A graduate student of Engineering Systems Management, Reem’s research focuses on the effect of having mixed sources of energy, specifically renewable, with its intermittent behavior on the electric grid, while Maitha is conducting her research in the preparation of materials for application in water treatment processes. Maitha is a graduate student and research assistant at Masdar Institute’s Water and Environmental Engineering, Green Composites and Bio-fuels Lab.

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. She feels the different operational methods that are used in large cities can be applied at a micro-scale, and if properly managed, renewable energy can become a reliable source of energy.

Reem Al Junaibi said: “This trip to Antarctica is a great opportunity for me to gauge the advantages of sustainability and renewable energy and judge for myself how clean technologies can be tapped. I believe it will greatly benefit me academically. Currently, I am learning how variable renewable energy could be depending on the weather conditions, and how such reliability issues could be solved. In Antarctica, the most essential issue is reliability of the electricity provided by renewable energy and that is what I am looking at.

“I aim to further my understanding in climate change, to be able to analyze the issues of renewable energy in such an extremely cold environment, share my knowledge and inspire people when I return. I am looking forward to the journey to Antarctica and I thank Masdar Institute for selecting me to be part of this great voyage.”

Maitha Al Kaabi said: “I feel privileged to be included in the International Antarctica Expedition (IAE) 2012 team and I am grateful to Masdar Institute for giving me an opportunity to be part of this international group. This expedition to Antarctica would allow me to see the process of temperature induced salt precipitation, a key principle in my research, in a natural environment. Masdar Institute has provided me with the expertise in water treatment and desalination. I will share this knowledge with my partners during the Antarctica trip and look forward to benefiting from their knowledge as well.”

Guest experts with IAE 2012 team on the environment, climate change, sustainable development, and outdoor leadership will host presentations, debates, and lessons in the dynamic classroom of the Antarctica, giving team members a broad, practical base to start the process of change.

During their 16-day 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.

The 2041’s mission is to inform, engage and inspire the next generation of leaders to take responsibility, to be sustainable, and to know that now is the time for action in policy development, business generation and future technologies.

The journey is scheduled to commence on 27 February from Argentina’s Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Tucked into the Beagle Channel and surrounded by peaks and glaciers, Ushuaia is the ideal place for the students to begin the voyage and learn the need for sustainability and preservation of nature.

The IAE 2012 team members will stay two nights in a hotel high up on the mountain above the city of Ushuaia, where team leaders will check the clothing and equipment required for the Antarctic journey. The ‘Leadership on the Edge’ program begins on Day-2 with a ‘meet and greet’ session and team introductions. A hike up the Martial Glacier on the mountain behind the town is scheduled for Day 3 and team work will be reviewed upon return from the trek.

On Day 4, the team will go on board the Sea Spirit, and a safety briefing on the deck of the ship is scheduled after dinner. On Day 5-6, the team will cross Cape Horn, the most southerly point of the Americas that was circumnavigated by Sir Francis Drake in 1580. The Drake Passage will also be the time for a selection of multimedia lectures about Antarctica’s wildlife, geology, history and geography. The expedition team members will also receive International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) guidelines for approaching wildlife, while discussions will begin on the importance of renewable energy and its vital role in the preservation of Antarctica. Day-6 will see the team nearing the tip of the Peninsula, with the ocean taking on a whole new perspective, surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures.

Day 7-12 will begin with landing on the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. The team will cruise along spectacular ice shelves or following whales feeding near the surface. The distinct advantage of being on a small vessel will offer everyone an opportunity to experience these special close encounters with the environment. During the six days, the team will schedule visits, weather permitting, to several islands including the dome-shaped Cuverville Island that is home to approximately 40,000-strong large Gentoo rookeries (penguins).

Neko Harbor with its calving glaciers and statuesque icebergs will be one of the locations for a visit and a strong reminder of the goal of respecting and protecting the beautiful continent for future generations. Another possible location will be the Paradise Harbor, which offers breath-taking mountain reflections into clear, unspoiled waters and is surrounded by glaciers that dramatically calve into the sea. The team will also get an opportunity to sail through the extremely steep-sided Lemaire Channel with near vertical peaks on either side.

An overnight camping expedition on the Antarctic ice, subject to weather conditions, will enable team members to experience the Antarctic night.

Day 13 will see the IAE 2012 team reach King George Island, the largest of the South Shetland Islands of the Peninsula. It is also the location of the 2041 E-Base. They will enter the Drake Passage towards the end of the day. Day 14-15 will see the Sea Spirit sail back towards Argentina, with an on-board program wrap-up. They will disembark on Day 16 at Ushuaia in Argentina.

When Reem Al Junaibi and Maitha Al Kaabi will return home to the UAE, they will have learned how renewable energy sources work under extreme weather conditions in Antarctica, understood the process of temperature-induced salt precipitation and shared knowledge with the expedition team members, engendering international cooperation in order to solve global environmental issues.

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.
 

Experts Speak on ‘Human Capital Needs of Renewable and Advanced Energy Industry: Where do Opportunities Exist?’

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 19 January, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, hosted a careers event on the sidelines of the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2012.

Organized under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the WFES 2012 opened on 16 January at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The four-day event has gathered several heads of state, government leaders and professionals from clean energy industry to discuss, promote and debate the challenges and solutions to the world’s energy requirements.

Titled ‘Human Capital Needs of the Renewable and Advanced Energy Industry: Where do Opportunities Exist?’, the event on the Masdar Institute stand included a panel presentation and a networking reception for the participants. The event was compered by Shamma Al Jaberi, a Foundation Year student, and Kenan Jijakli, a second year Master’s student, from Masdar Institute.

High-profile speakers at the panel discussions included Morten Albaek, Group Senior Vice-President for Marketing & Customer Insights, in the wind turbine manufacturing company Vestas Wind Systems and Jay Witherspoon, Global Water Sustainability Director, Senior Fellow Odour Control & Biosolids Technologist, Vice-President, and International Technology Manager— Water & Energy Infrastructure Services at CH2MHill.

Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President, Masdar Institute, said: ““Masdar Institute with a research-oriented academic program continues its contribution to the knowledge and human capital development in the UAE and the region. Out of the 71 students who graduated in the first batch, 14% per cent continue their doctoral studies at Masdar Institute, 7% continue in other universities while 51% have accepted employment offers. These statistics reiterate the advanced level of learning opportunities available at Masdar Institute that can launch an individual’s career in clean and renewable energy industry and sustainable technologies. We thank the country’s wise leadership for their vital support that continues to help Masdar Institute achieve bigger accomplishments.

“The need for human capital is an important factor for Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the region. Since, Abu Dhabi is driving economic diversification and the pillars also include advanced energy and sustainability to meet its renewable energy target, it will require a highly skilled work force in the field of science and engineering. Masdar Institute is contributing to this by training researchers in the areas of advanced energy and sustainable technologies – by doing so, it is also developing a culture of research and development and innovation that are the essential ingredients to sustainable economic development.”

In his presentation titled ‘Inspiring tomorrow’s leaders’, Morten Albaek said: “The energy industry has been traditionally dominated by two factors –profit and cause. However, the true solution to our global climate challenges comes in the sweet-spot between two paradigms – capitalism and humanism.

Stressing on the virtues of honesty and persistence, Albaek added: “More than 79% of the consumers would perceive a brand more positively if their prime energy source was wind and 50% of the world’s consumers are willing to pay extra for products made with renewables.”

Dr. Amy Wohlert, Executive Director, General Education and Student Affairs, said: “By engaging and networking at WFES with experts in clean energy and sustainable technologies, Masdar Institute student researchers will be able to see and hear first-hand about the trends and growth in this industry. As emerging future leaders in the field of environmental engineering, material sciences, mechanical and electrical engineering as well as computing information systems, Masdar Institute’s Master’s level graduates are ready to tackle the issues of climate change and energy security. They have gained the expertise to develop solutions through an interdisciplinary approach that requires real time research.”

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.
 

Workshop at Masdar Institute Campus Analyzes PV Industry Trends, Future Prospects and Relevance to Middle East

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 18 January, 2012– Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, and First Solar, Inc., aleader in photovoltaic (PV) solar modules and a premier provider of comprehensive PV solar systems, highlighted the vital role of R&D in the fast evolving solar power industry at a special workshop.

Titled ‘Solar PV: Striving for Grid Parity – the Importance of R&D in a fast evolving industry’, the workshop led by James Brown, President, Global Business Development, First Solar, offered key insights into developments in the solar power industry. The session on ‘PV technology, System Optimization and the role of R&D’, was conducted by David Eaglesham, Chief Technology Officer, while the last session titled ‘Innovation in EPC and O&M’ was led by Matthew Merfert, EPC Director, First Solar.

Dr Steve Griffiths, Executive Director of Initiatives at Masdar Institute, gave the welcome address that was followed by a talk on ‘Emirates Solar Industry Association (ESIA) Introduction: Solar potential in the Middle East’ by Sami Khoreibi, CEO of Enviromena Power Systems, a leading developer of solar projects in the Middle East and North Africa region. More than 20 industry professionals, as well as faculty, researchers and students from Masdar Institute attended the workshop.

First Solar supplied its thin film solar modules for the Masdar City PV plant that was designed and constructed by Abu Dhabi-based Enviromena. First Solar will also be engaging with Masdar Institute on research regarding the economic potential of solar PV in the UAE.

Providing an introduction to First Solar and an overview of the solar power sector, James Brown indicated that the solar industry has witnessed tremendous growth globally in the past few years.  At the same time, the cost of solar PV has fallen dramatically. First Solar has chosen to focus on utility-scale PV generation in order to translate low PV costs, economies of scale and engineering know-how into the lowest electricity cost in order to make the largest global impact. 

The company expects to produce approximately 2GW in 2012 and is targeting reductions in its module manufacturing cost per Watt from US$0.74 in Q3 2011 to less than US$0.60 by 2015. First Solar has two priorities: continuing its investments in R&D, and bringing its utility-scale solar power plants to ‘sustainable markets,’ regions experiencing high energy growth with high, although not readily apparent, energy costs. Brown noted that “key sustainable markets are the Middle East, India and China.”

David Eaglesham, Chief Technology Officer, offered an overview on R&D, system optimization and the First Solar evaluation criteria for commercial viability. Dr. Eaglesham explained the thought process behind First Solar’s selection and focused R&D support of its cadmium telluride thin film technology.  Following the workshop, First Solar announced at WFES a record CdTe PV solar module efficiency of 14.4%. This achievement supports First Solar’s roadmap of achieving nearly 15% module efficiency by 2015.

Matthew Merfert elaborated on the innovations and facts about engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) as well as operation and maintenance (O&M) that are essential to competitiveness in the solar energy industry. First Solar has many innovations in the EPC space that allow utility-scale solar plants to be constructed in a fraction of the time that it takes to construct traditional power generation facilities.

In his address, Dr Steve Griffiths said: “R&D is essential to driving forward the large-scale, unsubsidized deployment of solar energy. R&D is the basis for generating inventions that become innovations that diffuse into the market. True mass adoption of solar technology will likely come from an innovation that has not yet achieved the level of market diffusion that we seek.

“The region is undergoing a transformation from competition based on comparative advantage in hydrocarbon resources to competitive advantage in knowledge-based industries. R&D is foundational to this transformation, particularly with regard to industries such as solar that are part of many regional energy and industrial development roadmaps.”

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.