I was drawn to study science because it represented a way of decoding and making sense of the world. It has always been about discovering the underlying reasons behind things.
Our cars, our homes, and our smartphones owe a debt to science. The energy that powers every aspect of our modern world, from the clothes we wear to the food we eat. All of these were developed and improved through, and because of, the contribution of science and scientists.
In fact, one of the aspects about my job as a scientist that I loved the most was that I spent my time expanding the bounds of human knowledge. But importantly, I have always thought of science as a verb, not a noun. It is something you do, not something you know. It is practical. One can improve the lives of people around the world through science.
That ethos is one I have sought to put at the heart of my leadership of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. At the ministry, we deliberately draw on scientific data to inform our national climate strategies. Collaboration with scientists has led to strategies and policies that not only align with the Paris Agreement but are unique to our country’s specific environmental opportunities, strengths and vulnerabilities. Our Nationally Determined Contribution and Net Zero 2050 Strategy, for example, are policies rooted in data and analysis.
Culturally, armed with evidence, information and expertise, I want our team to become active and curious problem solvers, challenging themselves to address issues across the breadth of our brief – including, but not limited to, food security, desertification, the health of oceans and species conservation.
At the ministry, we understand that science is our ally. Science is mankind’s response to societal needs and global challenges. And no challenge requires science more that the challenge of climate change.
The environmental programmes we promote and invest in internationally are rooted in science. Take the Mangrove Alliance for Climate, for example. Because we understand the science behind the natural world, we have been able discover that mangroves could be a secret weapon in helping to turn the tide on climate change.
Scientific research has helped us understand that mangrove trees act like a carbon bank – capturing four times more carbon than rainforests and locking it deep in their roots or vaults. What’s more, they then keep that harmful gas from entering the atmosphere for millennia. That discovery has led our ambition to plant huge swathes of new mangroves to guard our shores and waterways, but also to encourage other nations to follow and grow mangrove habitats throughout the world.
But my scientific education teaches me that innovation and investigation should never sleep. And that is why the UAE continues to fund and invest in scientific research that will deepen our understanding of mangroves.
Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of being in Bali to unveil the Mohamed bin Zayed-Joko Widodo International Mangrove Research Centre, which will be built on 2.5 hectares of land in Bali's Ngurah Rai Forest Park.
Backed with $13 million of investment from the UAE, the centre will be an ideal platform for scientists and researchers to join forces and exchange knowledge to improve our ability to counter current and future environmental challenges. The work environmental scientists conduct there will help humanity understand more about how the process of carbon sequestration works to stem the tide of climate change and even reverse the seemingly inexorable journey to disaster.
The mangrove alliance is emblematic of our commitment to science. Science is the beating heart of all the global, regional and domestic programmes that the ministry supports. My exceptional colleagues across the ministry, who lead programmes such as our Extended Product Responsibility Initiative, Biological Risk Predictor, the National Animal Health Plan, Palm Pest Control Project, and the National Carbon Registry, will tell you how much their work is informed by scientific rigour.
My team is committed to achieving sustainable and effective solutions, and they know that we must continue to use evidence-based decision-making at a strategic level. To do this, we must empower the scientific community to drive transformative solutions for a sustainable future, because collaboration is critical in enabling science to govern our climate action.
The beneficiaries of science are all around us – every community in the UAE and beyond. The old, the young and the generations to come.
Before putting pen to paper on this piece, I turned to a member of the next generation. On the school run, I told my son that I wanted to explain to people why I was putting science at the heart of my vision for the ministry, and I asked him what he would say about science.
“That’s easy, Mum,” he replied. “It’s the foundation of everything.”
He is right.
And that is why scientific research deserves our steady commitment and support, and why science is the basis for the decisions we take and the investments we make at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Six tips to secure your smart home
Most smart home devices are controlled via the owner's smartphone. Therefore, if you are using public wi-fi on your phone, always use a VPN (virtual private network) that offers strong security features and anonymises your internet connection.
Keep your smart home devices’ software up-to-date. Device makers often send regular updates - follow them without fail as they could provide protection from a new security risk.
Use two-factor authentication so that in addition to a password, your identity is authenticated by a second sign-in step like a code sent to your mobile number.
Set up a separate guest network for acquaintances and visitors to ensure the privacy of your IoT devices’ network.
Change the default privacy and security settings of your IoT devices to take extra steps to secure yourself and your home.
Always give your router a unique name, replacing the one generated by the manufacturer, to ensure a hacker cannot ascertain its make or model number.
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
The%20specs
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The Farewell
Director: Lulu Wang
Stars: Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Diana Lin, Tzi Ma
Four stars
SPECS
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RoboCop%3A%20Rogue%20City
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETeyon%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENacon%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%205%2C%20Xbox%20Series%20X%2FS%20and%20PC%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
RESULT
Liverpool 4 Southampton 0
Jota (2', 32')
Thiago (37')
Van Dijk (52')
Man of the match: Diogo Jota (Liverpool)
Tips%20for%20holiday%20homeowners
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WORLD CUP FINAL
England v South Africa
Yokohama International Stadium, Tokyo
Saturday, kick-off 1pm (UAE)
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Places to go for free coffee
- Cherish Cafe Dubai, Dubai Investment Park, are giving away free coffees all day.
- La Terrace, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, are serving their first 50 guests one coffee and four bite-sized cakes
- Wild & The Moon will be giving away a free espresso with every purchase on International Coffee Day
- Orange Wheels welcome parents are to sit, relax and enjoy goodies at ‘Café O’ along with a free coffee
Result
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Naval Crown, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m; Winner: Volcanic Sky, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Zainhom, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes
Cheat’s nigiri
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.
Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.
Deconstructed sushi salad platter
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.
HOW TO WATCH
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ON%20TRACK
%3Cp%3EThe%20Dubai%20Metaverse%20Assembly%20will%20host%20three%20main%20tracks%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEducate%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Consists%20of%20more%20than%2010%20in-depth%20sessions%20on%20the%20metaverse%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInspire%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Will%20showcase%20use%20cases%20of%20the%20metaverse%20in%20tourism%2C%20logistics%2C%20retail%2C%20education%20and%20health%20care%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EContribute%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Workshops%20for%20metaverse%20foresight%20and%20use-case%20reviews%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULT
Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2
Arsenal: Aubameyang (13')
Chelsea: Jorginho (83'), Abraham (87')
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
RESULTS
Cagliari 5-2 Fiorentina
Udinese 0-0 SPAL
Sampdoria 0-0 Atalanta
Lazio 4-2 Lecce
Parma 2-0 Roma
Juventus 1-0 AC Milan
Simran
Director Hansal Mehta
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey
Three stars
