ABU DHABI // Two teams of UAE researchers are among the first to receive grants from a total of Dh45 million being awarded by the British government in the Arabian Gulf to tackle global challenges.
Researchers at Masdar Institute of Science and Technology and Khalifa University are each receiving Dh1.8m for work on sustainability, in desalination and algae control.
Eight grants are being given.
Clare Grundy, deputy country director for the British Council and Gulf programme director, said that collaboration was “a key driver for innovation” and crucial for the UK and Gulf to tackle “global challenges” such as sustainable energy.
“When we opened calls for research in July, we received 172 applications from the Gulf,” Ms Grundy said. “We didn’t expect to receive that many.”
Most submissions, which could be for research but also for training and leadership, came from the UAE and Saudi Arabia – about 40 from each.
All applications went through a comprehensive international peer review before funding was approved.
With the funds, the Masdar Institute will continue its collaboration with the University of Manchester on desalination to improve techniques using membranes to reduce the energy required and increase the volume of fresh water produced.
Desalination is one of the main reasons the UAE has among the world’s largest carbon footprints.
The lead researcher on the project, Prof Linda Zou, said she would be able to hire a post-doctoral research assistant and a postgraduate student using the grant, which is for two years.
“It’s really good news and good timing,” she said.
After two and a half years in the UAE, Prof Zou is seeing many more such opportunities arise, having recently been funded for work on cloud seeding.
She called the grant an acknowledgement of the importance of her research.
“Desalination is an area so important to this region and this grant signifies the importance of the development of new technologies for this issue.”
Khalifa University will collaborate with the UK’s University of Bristol on a project to improve detection, prediction and prevention of harmful algal blooms, which are increasing in Gulf waters and can have a significant impact on health, tourism, desalination and aquatic industries.
“Having got two of these eight grants speaks well of the UAE. It was a very competitive process,” said Dr Steven Griffiths, associate provost for research at Masdar.
Dr Sheikha Al Dhaheri was one of three Emirati scientists to travel to the UK in January as part of a leadership programme for women in science and research, with funding coming from the same source.
The executive director for terrestrial and marine biodiversity at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi said the trip helped her professional development.
“It’s so different for women researchers to step out from the laboratory and research-based jobs into higher management positions, which sometimes can be a shocking experience,” she said. “As such, it’s vital to provide preparation courses and to listen to others who went through it.”
The Gulf, Science, Innovation and Knowledge Economy Programme is led by the UK government’s department of business, energy and industrial strategy, in partnership with the British Council in all six Gulf countries.
Research topics ranging from nanotechnology to cyber security will be included in the funding
According to Unesco, the UAE spends 0.7 per cent of its GDP on research.
In Vision 2021, the UAE states its goal is to reach 1.5 per cent.
mswan@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group B
Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Eriksen 80')
Inter Milan 0
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The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Results
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: RB Money To Burn, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Turf) 2,410m, Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Trophy – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (T) 1,900m, Winner: Secret Protector, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 - Group 2 (TB) $293,000 (D) 1,900m, Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
8.50pm: Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (T) 1,000m, Winner: Motafaawit, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Company%20Profile
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Wonka
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WE%20NO%20LONGER%20PREFER%20MOUNTAINS
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RESULTS
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Results
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EElite%20men%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Amare%20Hailemichael%20Samson%20(ERI)%202%3A07%3A10%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Leornard%20Barsoton%20(KEN)%202%3A09%3A37%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Ilham%20Ozbilan%20(TUR)%202%3A10%3A16%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Gideon%20Chepkonga%20(KEN)%202%3A11%3A17%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Isaac%20Timoi%20(KEN)%202%3A11%3A34%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EElite%20women%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Brigid%20Kosgei%20(KEN)%202%3A19%3A15%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Hawi%20Feysa%20Gejia%20(ETH)%202%3A24%3A03%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Sintayehu%20Dessi%20(ETH)%202%3A25%3A36%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Aurelia%20Kiptui%20(KEN)%202%3A28%3A59%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Emily%20Kipchumba%20(KEN)%202%3A29%3A52%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
South and West: From a Notebook
Joan Didion
Fourth Estate
The Byblos iftar in numbers
29 or 30 days – the number of iftar services held during the holy month
50 staff members required to prepare an iftar
200 to 350 the number of people served iftar nightly
160 litres of the traditional Ramadan drink, jalab, is served in total
500 litres of soup is served during the holy month
200 kilograms of meat is used for various dishes
350 kilograms of onion is used in dishes
5 minutes – the average time that staff have to eat
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 0
Liverpool 2 (Mane 50', 54')
Red card: Andreas Christensen (Chelsea)
Man of the match: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP
Group A
Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA
Group B
Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti
Group C
Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia
Group D
Brazil
Oman
Portugal
Nigeria
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Top Hundred overseas picks
London Spirit: Kieron Pollard, Riley Meredith
Welsh Fire: Adam Zampa, David Miller, Naseem Shah
Manchester Originals: Andre Russell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sean Abbott
Northern Superchargers: Dwayne Bravo, Wahab Riaz
Oval Invincibles: Sunil Narine, Rilee Rossouw
Trent Rockets: Colin Munro
Birmingham Phoenix: Matthew Wade, Kane Richardson
Southern Brave: Quinton de Kock
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 4 (Salah (pen 4, 33', & pen 88', Van Dijk (20')
Leeds United 3 (Harrison 12', Bamford 30', Klich 66')
Man of the match Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)