Two-Day Event on ‘Measuring Healthy Aging’ Returns to Abu Dhabi, 13-14 November 2025

 

Khalifa University of Science and Technology’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences, in collaboration with Nature Conferences (Nature Portfolio) and supported by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), and the Department of Community Development (DCD) – Abu Dhabi will host the Nature Forum: Measuring Healthy Aging – A featured event of the 3rd Healthy Longevity Symposium.

 

Offering a rare opportunity to engage with frontier research and policy debate, the two-day, in-person gathering at Erth Abu Dhabi Hotel, from 13-14 November 2025, will convene 21 international speakers and panelists, including some of the most influential scientists and thought leaders in the field of longevity. This agenda features two keynote addresses, multiple scientific sessions, poster presentations, and two high-level panel discussions, offering participants a rare opportunity to engage with frontier research and policy debate in one of the world’s most dynamic regions.

 

The opening ceremony will be attended by H.E. Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development, and will begin with a welcoming address from H.E. Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, followed by global experts from institutions including Harvard University, Stanford University, the University of Oxford, the National University of Singapore, Peking University, and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The scientific program, under the theme ‘Measuring Healthy Aging,’ will explore three core areas that reflect the frontier of longevity research whereas panels will address issues of urgent local and global relevance.

 

Dr. Habiba Alsafar, Dean, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, said: “The Healthy Longevity Symposium reflects Khalifa University’s commitment to innovation and international collaboration, ensuring that new insights in measurement and technology are translated into longer, healthier lives. Now in its third edition, the symposium remains one of the region’s signature scientific gatherings, and its partnership this year with Nature Conferences and with the DoH – Abu Dhabi’s and the DCD’s close involvement marks a significant milestone. By hosting world-leading experts, along with its strategic partners, Khalifa University is positioning itself at the forefront of the global conversation on healthspan innovation.”

 

Dr. Sebastien Thuault, Chief Editor, Nature Aging, said: “”This Nature Forum will tackle one of the most important questions in aging research — how to measure aging in humans. The answers will be crucial for defining the endpoints for gerotherapeutic clinical trials, both now and in the future, and will pave the way for using these measures at the population level to advance public health monitoring and disease prevention in our aging societies. Bringing together some of the world’s leading scientific minds on this topic, this event will also explore how research on human aging can inform policy-making and help shape healthier, more resilient societies. These discussions lie at the very heart of Nature Aging’s interests.”

 

Discussions on national policies, healthcare priorities, and demographic trends across the region will take center stage in a dedicated regional panel titled ‘Healthy Aging Challenges and Opportunities in the UAE and MENA Region,’ which also represents the Middle East’s perspectives and innovations within the global dialogue on healthy aging. Another highlight of the program will be the panel discussion on ‘How Will We Measure Aging in the Future?’ that focuses on emerging technologies, advances in clinical translation, artificial intelligence, and real-world, population-scale data could transform the way aging is tracked and understood.

 

The Healthy Longevity Symposium was first launched in 2023 and has since developed into one of the Middle East’s leading scientific gatherings on health and life sciences. This year’s edition also marks the first time the scientific event has been co-organized with Nature Conferences, bringing its internationally recognized platform to the MENA region.

 

For further information, visit: https://ku.events/3rd-healthy-longevity-symposium/

Spotlight on Tough Competitions between Teams across All Stages

 

Khalifa University of Science and Technology today announced various leagues within the 8th edition of RoboCup Asia-Pacific (RCAP) 2025 have stirred up competitive spirit among students and enthusiasts, heightening the interest among visitors and guests expected to reach above 1,000 each day.

 

More than 700 participants from 22 countries are competing in various leagues at the RoboCup Asia-Pacific (RCAP) 2025 that is themed AI and Robotics for a Sustainable Future. The event that runs until 15 November at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi also coincides with the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week 2025, being organized under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs.

 

Dr. Hamad Karki, General Chair, RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2025, & Associate Professor, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Khalifa University, said: “The large number of participants at the leagues at RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2025 emphatically highlights Abu Dhabi as a destination where competitions drive new robotics technologies. The intense competitions demonstrate the role Abu Dhabi plays in offering a distinctive advantage for AI and robotics research. It also reflects how much interest is generated because innovation in Abu Dhabi is backed by clear government strategies, major investments, and strong collaboration between academia, industry, and government.”

 

RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2025 has competitions across all categories with eight leagues and 15 sub-leagues, spanning soccer and rescue robotics. More than 170 teams from across the world including 22 teams from Singapore with a strong contingent of 61 students and 55 officials, 20 from South Korea, India with 19 teams, Egypt with 18, Russia with 18, and China with 12 teams are participating at the event.

 

The adult, teen, and kid size leagues feature – football and rescue with the UAE fielding 10 teams including 44 students. Local schools and universities are participating under national leagues, ensuring domestic representation alongside international competitors.

 

 

Participating teams are building robots with smarter algorithms, and fully autonomous systems. A large number of visitors were thrilled by the new technologies at play during the competitions.

 

Technologies first tested under competitive pressure have eventually been deployed across various sectors and RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2025 is expected to be no exception. The event also proves to be a platform for knowledge exchange and technology transfer.

 

RoboCup Asia Pacific 2025 is organized by Khalifa University with the support of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, as part of Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week 2025. The event is sponsored by Mubadala (Strategic Partner), Etisalat e& (Gold Sponsor), and Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Supporter), reflecting a shared commitment to advancing robotics, AI, and sustainable innovation in the UAE.

 

Two-Day Event on ‘Measuring Healthy Aging’ Returns to Abu Dhabi, 13-14 November 2025

 

Khalifa University of Science and Technology’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences, in collaboration with Nature Conferences (Nature Portfolio) and supported by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), and the Department of Community Development (DCD) – Abu Dhabi will host the Nature Forum: Measuring Healthy Aging – A featured event of the 3rd Healthy Longevity Symposium.

 

Offering a rare opportunity to engage with frontier research and policy debate, the two-day, in-person gathering at Erth Abu Dhabi Hotel, from 13-14 November 2025, will convene 21 international speakers and panelists, including some of the most influential scientists and thought leaders in the field of longevity. This agenda features two keynote addresses, multiple scientific sessions, poster presentations, and two high-level panel discussions, offering participants a rare opportunity to engage with frontier research and policy debate in one of the world’s most dynamic regions.

 

The opening ceremony will be attended by H.E. Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development, and will begin with a welcoming address from H.E. Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, followed by global experts from institutions including Harvard University, Stanford University, the University of Oxford, the National University of Singapore, Peking University, and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The scientific program, under the theme ‘Measuring Healthy Aging,’ will explore three core areas that reflect the frontier of longevity research whereas panels will address issues of urgent local and global relevance.

 

Dr. Habiba Alsafar, Dean, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, said: “The Healthy Longevity Symposium reflects Khalifa University’s commitment to innovation and international collaboration, ensuring that new insights in measurement and technology are translated into longer, healthier lives. Now in its third edition, the symposium remains one of the region’s signature scientific gatherings, and its partnership this year with Nature Conferences and with the DoH – Abu Dhabi’s and the DCD’s close involvement marks a significant milestone. By hosting world-leading experts, along with its strategic partners, Khalifa University is positioning itself at the forefront of the global conversation on healthspan innovation.”

 

Dr. Sebastien Thuault, Chief Editor, Nature Aging, said: “”This Nature Forum will tackle one of the most important questions in aging research — how to measure aging in humans. The answers will be crucial for defining the endpoints for gerotherapeutic clinical trials, both now and in the future, and will pave the way for using these measures at the population level to advance public health monitoring and disease prevention in our aging societies. Bringing together some of the world’s leading scientific minds on this topic, this event will also explore how research on human aging can inform policy-making and help shape healthier, more resilient societies. These discussions lie at the very heart of Nature Aging’s interests.”

 

Discussions on national policies, healthcare priorities, and demographic trends across the region will take center stage in a dedicated regional panel titled ‘Healthy Aging Challenges and Opportunities in the UAE and MENA Region,’ which also represents the Middle East’s perspectives and innovations within the global dialogue on healthy aging. Another highlight of the program will be the panel discussion on ‘How Will We Measure Aging in the Future?’ that focuses on emerging technologies, advances in clinical translation, artificial intelligence, and real-world, population-scale data could transform the way aging is tracked and understood.

 

The Healthy Longevity Symposium was first launched in 2023 and has since developed into one of the Middle East’s leading scientific gatherings on health and life sciences. This year’s edition also marks the first time the scientific event has been co-organized with Nature Conferences, bringing its internationally recognized platform to the MENA region.

 

For further information, visit: https://ku.events/3rd-healthy-longevity-symposium/

Projects Cover Decarbonization, Water, Efficient Cooling, Materials, and AI 

 

Khalifa University showcased innovative solutions across the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) spectrum, covering sustainable energy transition solutions, as well as hosting advanced technology workshops, and youth engagement activities at ADIPEC 2025.

 

Themed ‘Energy. Intelligence. Impact,’ ADIPEC 2025 brought together global leaders to accelerate inclusive global progress from 3-6 November at the ADNEC Center . Khalifa University project showcase focused on energy transition including decarbonization, water, efficient cooling, materials, and AI, incorporating tactile learning such as microscopy, optics, math modeling, membrane separations, and motion sensors.

 

Khalifa University hosted interactive stations, guided workshops and project/start-up exhibits, that inspired visitors and guests to explore STEM programs and research pathways for careers. The activities targeted high school students from Grades 10–12 to get inspired through short, hands-on workshops, and undergraduate/senior students to look at Khalifa University’s innovation pathways and their industry impact. The project showcase also aimed to empower emerging young professionals, encouraging them to become future energy leaders through leadership dialogues.

 

Workshops spanned disciplines including Petroleum Engineering, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Water and Environment, Chemistry, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Nanotechnology, and Chemical Engineering. Participants explored Khalifa University’s initiatives such as AI-enabled reservoir modeling, CO₂ storage, crystal design for space research, lab-grown skin, graphene technologies, and clean energy systems.

 

Each day of ADIPEC 2025 featured projects that demonstrated Khalifa University’s applied research impact from gas injection into carbonates in UAE, enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes, enhancing cooling efficiency and improving electric vehicle performance to developing virus-selective water filtration, sustainable lithium extraction from desalination brine, and hybrid aerogels for atmospheric water harvesting.

 

The Day 3 project showcase included Proscreenix, a startup that focuses on growing protein crystals in microgravity that produce higher-quality samples, helping scientists better understand proteins and design new medicines, as well as ‘Mashyah Health,’ a startup in Ergonomics and a spin-off from Khalifa University. Mashyah Health leverages cutting-edge human motion capture technology and physics-informed AI models to analyze human biomechanics and provide actionable functional assessments across rehabilitation, injury prevention, and ergonomics.

 

Alisha Roy
Science Writer 

More than 700 Participants and Over 2,500 Visitors Expected to Gather in Abu Dhabi from across the World

 

Khalifa University of Science and Technology today announced the 8th edition of RoboCup Asia-Pacific (RCAP) 2025, largest-ever in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, is kicking off on 10 November, coinciding with the inauguration of Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week 2025, being organized under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs.

 

To run up to 15 November, RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2025 is expected to gather more than 700 participants with over 2,500 visitors and guests from around the globe to compete in AI-driven autonomous robotics challenges with competitions across all categories – eight leagues and 15 sub-leagues. These competitions align with UAE’s national priorities, emphasizing themes like smart mobility, AI for sustainability, and technologies addressing regional challenges. In addition, the event also features a dynamic showcase of Khalifa University’s cutting-edge research in autonomous robotics, swarm intelligence, AI-based perception, human-robot interaction, and robotic hardware design.

 

For the first time, the 5v5 humanoid soccer will be one of the unique features of this year’s RoboCup Asia-Pacific. These soccer matches were part of the Beijing Olympics (World Humanoid Robot Games 2025) but they are now included with the RoboCup fixtures in Abu Dhabi. The event also includes a special showcase of humanoid robot performance in boxing, running, and dancing.

 

The UAE will field three teams with 20 students across the RoboCupJunior leagues, representing the country in categories such as Soccer, Rescue, and OnStage performance robotics. These young innovators will compete alongside peers from 22 countries, gaining exposure to international research environments and world-class robotics standards. The UAE contingent will also be supported by volunteers and research mentors from the Strategic Program for Autonomous Robotics Challenge (SPARC), which includes technical collaboration, research exchange, and event organization.

 

Professor Bayan Sharif, Provost, Khalifa University, said: “As a pioneer in robotics education and research in the UAE, Khalifa University has successfully inaugurated the RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2025 during the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week 2025, demonstrating our role as a pioneering institution that actively participates in national initiatives. Moreover, the number of participating teams and the quality of the technologies they have assembled here in Abu Dhabi have placed the UAE on the global map for innovation in autonomous systems. We believe this event will significantly facilitate collaborations among stakeholders across various sectors including industry, academia and policy-making.”

 

RCAP 2025 has attracted 151 confirmed teams comprising 468 students and 187 mentors, and officials from 21 countries and regions. Participation reflects strong global presence from countries including China, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and Russia.

 

The leagues include RoboCupSoccer with five challenges – Humanoid, Standard Platform, Middle Size, Small Size, and Simulation, demonstrating advanced robotics in football-playing scenarios; RoboCupRescue with two challenges – Robot and Simulation focusing on autonomous robots designed for disaster response and rescue operations, RoboCup@HOME with three challenges –  Open Platform, Domestic Standard Platform, and Social Standard Platform, demonstrating intelligent service robots that assist in household and caregiving tasks; RoboCupIndustrial with two challenges – RoboCup@Work, and RoboCup Logistics; and RoboCupJunior with three leagues – Soccer, OnStage and Rescue – aims to inspire youth to pursue STEM careers, and nurture Emirati youth to lead the next wave of AI and robotics innovation.

 

The RCAP Challenges include RCAP CoSpace Challenges, RCAP Small Size League Challenge, and Junior Humanoid Soccer. In addition, there will be RCAP Industry Sponsored League and RCAP Demonstrations.

 

RCAP 2025 is organized by Khalifa University with the support of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, as part of Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week 2025. The event is sponsored by Mubadala (Strategic Partner), Etisalat e& (Gold Sponsor), and Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Supporter), reflecting a shared commitment to advancing robotics, AI, and sustainable innovation in the UAE.

 

Teams will build eco-friendly robots, use recyclable materials, and apply AI to optimize resource management. The event is centered around the global themes of ‘Sustainability’, ‘Transforming Industries’, ‘Energy-Efficient Robotics’, ‘Sustainable Manufacturing’, and ‘AI-Driven Sustainable Models’.

 

 

As Majority of UAE Cohort, Khalifa University Students Help Classify Asteroid (623) Chimaera for Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt

 

A total of five Khalifa University students took part in the Space Exploration Research Experience (SERE) program – a flagship initiative of the UAE Space Agency developed in collaboration with the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), University of Colorado – Boulder in the US.

 

The SERE program forms part of the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), the first Arab interplanetary mission beyond Mars, and provides undergraduate Emirati students with direct exposure to planetary science research, spacecraft operations, and mission management.

 

The Khalifa University students accepted into the program represent more than 70% of UAE’s SERE cohort this year. Four were from Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPSS) track including Undergraduate student Mariam Saif Aldhaheri, Maitha Alteneiji, Saif Alhosani, Alya Almaazmi, as well as Yousuf Mohammed, Aerospace Engineering, who contributed to the mission’s scientific investigations. Three of the students joined the LASP team, US, while others were placed in Italy at the Instituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF) and at TII – Abu Dhabi.

 

As part of their work, the Khalifa University students helped spectrally classify asteroid (623) Chimaera, one of seven asteroids the EMA spacecraft will study in the Asteroid Belt. Asteroid Chimaera is the largest remnant of its collisional family, offering insights into the long-term evolution of the Asteroid Belt.

 

According to Dr. Mohamed Ramy Elmaarry, Associate Chair, Undergraduate Studies, Earth Science, and Associate Professor, Earth Sciences, Khalifa University, and member of the EMA mission team, the asteroid’s spectral signatures suggest the possible presence of water, a key target for EMA. At about 45km in diameter, it is also among the largest objects on the EMA itinerary, providing a “rehearsal” for the mission’s final target – asteroid Justitia – where the spacecraft is planned to enter orbit and deploy a dedicated lander.

 

Dr. Elmaarry, said: “The UAE’s space sector requires equal investment in both technology and science. Through programs like EPSS, Khalifa University students are able to complement engineering advancements with world-class scientific research, ensuring that Emiratis play a leading role in every aspect of space exploration. 

 

“Khalifa University’s EPSS program – the only track of its kind in the region – equips students with the knowledge and skills to directly contribute to UAE-led space missions. Courses such as Planetary Science, Remote Sensing of Planetary Bodies, and Small Bodies in the Solar System are specifically designed to prepare students for participation in projects like EMA. And with Khalifa University as a strategic partner of the UAE Space Agency, more students will be prepared to take part in upcoming research, training, and mission activities, reinforcing the University’s role in building the country’s human capital for the space sector.”

 

The program also enhanced the student team’s knowledge of space missions – from subsystem lectures to cleanroom and Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) training, and even field trips and facility tours. Most importantly, the students were included in national team meetings, giving them a first-hand look at how missions are managed in real-world settings.

 

 

Alisha Roy
Science Writer