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News

Opening Plenary of COP29

Nov 11, 2024

Watch the opening plenary of COP29 where the UAE will officially hand over the COP Presidency to Azerbaijan in Baku.

Community Member Receives Third Highest Civilian Order in UAE

Apr 23, 2024

Congratulations to Amer Al-Kindi our Senior Director of Government Relations for being honored with the prestigious First-Class Order of Zayed II by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates.

Livable Planet: Student Engagement and Community Building

Dec 13, 2023

NYU Abu Dhabi's Hoor Ahli is the COP28 UAE Youth Climate Delegate and an active participant in various student initiatives focusing on climate and sustainability across campus, and was a member of the organising team for this year's Student Energy Summit hosted by NYUAD.

Troubled Waters

Dec 12, 2023

Rapid human-caused change to the environment is jeopardizing the survival of one of our planet’s keystone species.

The Catch-all Organism

Dec 11, 2023

Could Algae help curb carbon emissions and solve food shortages in the future?

The Robot Revolution

Dec 07, 2023

Muhammad Shafique is working to make sustainable technology accessible to everyone, with inventions ranging from driver assistance tools to cognitive robots with their own “tiny brains.”

Rethinking the Way We Build

Dec 06, 2023

Professor Kemal Celik, Director of the Advanced Materials and Building Efficiency Research Laboratory (AMBER Lab), has developed a method of using brine, a water desalination byproduct, to make cement in a process that requires significantly lower resources and energy than the conventional cement production process, while producing a similar quality product.

NYU Abu Dhabi Announces Key Activations During COP28

Nov 17, 2023

Highlights include youth-related conferences and programs, an Angel Rising investor education symposium, and a special forum for higher education leaders to explore academia's role in climate action and research for future COPs.

Livable Planet: Adapting To Climate Change

Nov 14, 2023

NYU Abu Dhabi's Transportation Infrastructure Management Lab is trying to predict and resolve road traffic issues that are likely to arise with rising sea levels in the UAE.

Universities Climate Network drives engagement with COP28

Nov 04, 2023

With the global climate summit COP28 on the horizon, 33 national and international higher education institutions based in the United Arab Emirates forged a Universities Climate Network to “drive engagement among youth and academia”.

Small Actions Long Term Impact

Oct 24, 2023

The NYU Abu Dhabi student government is proactively looking to improve sustainability on campus and launch campaigns aimed at more eco-conscious lifestyle choices for the community.

Livable Planet: Innovating for Sustainable Cities

Oct 17, 2023

Two thirds of the global population are expected to be living in urban areas by the year 2050 which means cities of the future are going to have to be smarter and innovative about how resources are used. Researchers at The Center for Interacting Urban Networks (CITIES) at NYU Abu Dhabi are investigating sustainable approaches to growing and maintaining cities of the future.

Happy Little Accidents

Oct 11, 2023

Researchers from the Smart Materials Lab and the Center for Smart Engineering Materials stumbled upon a discovery that could yield industry warping technology.

Livable Planet Video Series

Sep 26, 2023

As NYU Abu Dhabi counts down to COP28, a new video series highlights the University’s sustainability-driven work across campus.

Advocating for Marine Conservation

Aug 24, 2023

Amal Al Gergawi is a research fellow in NYUAD's Marine Biology Lab, working under Associate Professor of Biology, John Burt. Al Gergawi researches marine conservation, policy, and governance in the region focusing on the growing role of women in coral reef science.

Class of 2027: Isabella Ying

Aug 15, 2023

Firsr year student Isabella Ying believes small lifestyle changes, like eating locally, can make a real impact on the climate crisis.

Climate Challenge — John Burt

Jul 14, 2023

A marine biologist, John Burt uses the Arabian Gulf — the world’s warmest sea — as a natural laboratory to understand how marine organisms respond to and cope with extreme environmental conditions and to provide insights into the potential impact of future climate change on marine systems across the tropics.

Climate Challenge — Nidal Hilal

Jul 14, 2023

NYUAD’s Water Research Center aims to promote innovative research in water desalination, wastewater treatment, environmental policy, and social issues that can lead to water security and sustainability.

Fish Feed for the Future

Jul 14, 2023

Daria Zahaleanu, a Class of 2020 computer engineering major, co-founded and scaled up a school project into a startup that recently won funding from the Danish Venture Cup’s annual National Startup Competition.

Improving Biofouling

Jul 14, 2023

Maryam Almemari is working to reduce the accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, or small animals on submerged surfaces such as ship hulls and oil platforms to improve fuel consumption in ships.

A Key Organism in the Climate Solution

Jul 13, 2023

Algae, an unsuspecting and relatively simple organism on earth, could be the solution to several global challenges, including helping solve growing food demands, producing fuel to energize worldwide logistics, and even offsetting rising carbon emissions.

Climate Challenge — Monica Menendez

Jul 13, 2023

NYUAD’s Center for InTeractIng urban nEtworkS (CITIES) is an interdisciplinary research center dedicated to advancing urban science and promoting cutting-edge research that is translated into practical, real-world solutions for the benefit of society, with the ultimate goal to foster sustainable, resilient, and equitable cities.

Climate Challenge — The NYUAD Art Gallery

Jun 19, 2023

The NYUAD Art Gallery unveiled two exhibitions that explore human-landscape relations as they manifest in contemporary art practice. The exhibition, the only constant, includes works by Tarek Al-Ghoussein, Patty Chang, Gil Heitor Cortesão, Sharon Lockhart, Taus Makhacheva, Haroon Mirza, Clifford Ross, Thomas Struth, and Vivek Vilasini. 

Climate Challenge — Kemal Celik

Jun 19, 2023

Kemal Celik, Assistant Professor of Civil and Urban Engineering, focuses on construction materials and building energy efficiency to develop sustainable and multi-functional structural materials. To this end, he conducts multiscale and interdisciplinary research.

Desalination Sustains Modern Life in the Desert, But it is Costly

Jun 19, 2023

As Director of the Water Research Center (WRC), Professor Nidal Hilal researches the challenge of solving water scarcity in the  Arabian Gulf. Hilal works with membrane technologies capable of reverse osmosis desalination, a process whereby seawater is pumped through a thin polymeric film that separates fresh water from salty feed. The technology requires less energy to desalinate seawater than the traditional use of thermal desalination, which boils water to separate H2O from salts.

Local Mangroves Research and Water Conservation Efforts

Jun 19, 2023

The Arabian Peninsula is one of the most environmentally extreme regions in the world, yet is home to large and widespread stands of the gray mangrove, a unique mangrove species that is able to withstand extreme conditions. The gray mangrove forms the only naturally occurring evergreen forest in Arabia and supports high biodiversity and productivity in coastal areas across the region.

J-term 2023: Exciting Courses on Sustainability

Jun 13, 2023

From exploring an experimental farm on the island of Gozo in Malta to engaging in farming practices with BIPOC farmers in Maryland, students from NYU Abu Dhabi are taking a variety of courses that explore a multitude of climate crisis challenges.

Sustainable Cement

Jun 09, 2023

Assistant Professor of Civil and Urban Engineering Kemal Celik and his team are developing a process to make sustainable cement from the residual salt left by desalination plants. 

NYUAD Researcher to take part in Federal Youth Authority Roundtable on Marine Biodiversity

Jun 07, 2023

Iulia Bibire will be taking part in a discussion on marine biodiversity in Abu Dhabi organized by Federal Youth Authority on June 8, 2023. Bibire is a researcher at NYU Abu Dhabi's Arabian Center for Climate and Environmental Sciences (ACCESS), which is a leading research center on the climate and the environment of the Arabian peninsula and the Gulf region. The event, which is hosted by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi and The National Aquarium, will see Bibire join other scientists and policy makers in a roundtable on Abu Dhabi’s current and future plans to protect marine environments.

A Natural Fit for Renewable Energy

Jun 05, 2023

Tintié Koné, Class of 2022, is exactly where he wants to be — at the leading-edge of solutions in renewable energy in Abu Dhabi as an analyst for the consulting firm Guidehouse — a role he sought out specifically because of its sustainability focus.

Net Zero Now Week 2023

May 30, 2023

A highly anticipated week-long series of activities focusing on climate action, which showcased NYU Abu Dhabi's commitment to environmental stewardship, and brought together students, faculty, staff, and the wider community. From insightful panels to interactive workshops, research engagements, and community outreach opportunities, this week-long event provided the community with all the necessary tools to fight against climate change, promote sustainability, and achieve a net-zero carbon footprint. 

Middle East Can Drive Sustainable Change Through ‘Transition Investment’ Strategy

May 22, 2023

UAE institutional investors should focus on transition investment as a new philosophy to further the United Nations Social Development Goals, capitalizing on their unique access to emerging markets, according to NYU Abu Dhabi’s (NYUAD) new Transition Investment Lab (TIL) Annual Report 2023. The report was launched during a workshop titled Powering the Shift to a Sustainable Economy. 

The Student Energy Summit

May 17, 2023

In November 2023, hundreds of students will gather at NYUAD for the Student Energy Summit (SES). SES is a global youth-led organization empowering the next generation of leaders, and the largest youth-led energy conference in the world.

Bringing New Energy to the Green Economy

May 09, 2023

Environmental economist, and Master of Economics graduate, Humaid Kanji, is making an impact as the Head of Environmental Economics at the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD). With COP28 coming to the UAE at the end of 2023, he has set out to be “part of the solution” for a climate neutral UAE by 2050. “Clean energy is going to be the future,” says Kanji, Class of 2022. “Abu Dhabi and the UAE have a competitive advantage. We can lead in areas of clean development.”

Tomoh Fellow – Green Capstone

Apr 07, 2023

The Tomoh Fellowship Program will be a key contributor to NYUAD’s mission of developing a sustainable, knowledge-based economy in Abu Dhabi.

NYUAD’s Professor Hilal On Water Sustainability

Apr 04, 2023

Nidal Hilal, Director of NYUAD Water Research Center and Professor of Engineering, was interviewed by Middle East Economy regarding his opinions on ways to ensure water sustainability in the region in the long-term.

NYUAD Student on UN Youth Advisory Group

Apr 04, 2023

Beniamin Strzelecki, an engineering student from Poland, is co-chair of the Student Energy Summit 2023. His work involves coordinating a number of regional and international groups. He was selected to join the UN Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change in March 2023.

NYUAD Researchers Publish New Bioengineering Research

Apr 04, 2023

Researchers at NYUAD’s Laboratory of Algal, Synthetic, and Systems Biology (LASSB) recently published the review paper “Closing the Gap between Bio-Based and Petroleum-Based Plastic through Bioengineering” in the research journal Microorganisms to help facilitate future developments of bio-based, bio-degradable plastics. 

Maya Allison on COP 28

Apr 04, 2023

The NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) Art Gallery has unveiled its program for the year ahead, with two exhibitions that explore human-landscape relations as they manifest in contemporary art practice. 

Carbon Dots: Goodbye to Single-Use Plastic Waste

Mar 14, 2023

A team of researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have developed a single-step, organic solvent-free, hydrothermal process to convert polyethylene-based plastic bags and polypropylene-based surgical masks into carbon dots. The research was featured in the TECH TIMES website and in the journal Green Chemistry, and the team is currently exploring ways to implement the technique locally to manage plastic waste.

NYUAD Inaugural Falcon Ride

Mar 14, 2023

NYUAD launched its first Falcon Ride on March 14, attracting almost 300 community members. The annual event forms part of NYUAD's commitment to supporting national efforts to encourage citizens and residents to adopt a healthy lifestyle, and is also part of Abu Dhabi's multi-pronged support of cycling as a sport and a sustainable means of transport.

The NYU Abu Dhabi Industry-Academia Sustainability Dialogues 2023

Mar 02, 2023

In February, NYUAD hosted almost 30 senior executives from various industries, who discussed various aspects of sustainabiluty and related ideas over an evening of brainstorming and presentations. The event was co-sponsored by Gulf Intelligence, NYUAD (Global Education), and the Green House SIG led by Benji Strzelecki.

eARThumanites Focus

Mar 01, 2023

The eARThumanites initiative seeks to highlight the role of the arts in the broader conversation of climate change. It hosts the Geopolitics and Himalayan Water Initiative, which has produced content including podcasts in conversation with experts representing a variety of different fields to build awareness on wildlife and human issues exacerbated by climate change in the Himalayas and beyond, held events and webinars focusing on topics such as women's role in fighting climate change, held a conference, and more.

NYUAD Water Research Center Awarded Prize in Water Security and Sustainability

Feb 27, 2023

His Excellency Suhail Mohamed AlMazrouei, the UAE's Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, awarded the Research and Innovation Award for 2022-2023 to NYUAD Water Research Center in the category of Water Security and Sustainability.  The award was received by Professor Sehamuddin Galadari, NYUAD Senior Vice Provost for Research and Professor, and Nidal Hilal, Director of NYUAD Water Research Center today in a special ceremony in Dubai.

Research Kitchens at NYUAD

Feb 19, 2023

Weaving together five projects, we will examine and identify the transformative power of the Anthropocene by engaging in research, creative practice, and pedagogy on topics that are central to interdisciplinary work in the Arts and Humanities: storytelling, agency, place, installation and (urban) experience. Each project is linked to a specific question that addresses the transformative power of the Anthropocene.

Higher Education Climate Dialogue

Feb 19, 2023

The Higher Education Climate Dialogues is a student-led initiative, which aims to create a space for different stakeholders to exchange good sustainability practices and discuss how to further promote climate action in universities across the UAE.

Climate Activist on Two Sides of the Same Coin

Feb 14, 2023

The climate crisis has both financial and human costs. That’s why Rastaraj Bhandari, Class of 2019, is dedicating his personal and professional life to looking at the challenges from both angles. Bhandari is an economist, environmentalist, and true-blue outdoorsman from the Himalayas, where the effects of climate change are undeniable.

MBR Center for Solar Energy

Feb 03, 2023

The MBRSIC is raising its profile by widening its audience to include school and university groups.

Bioplastics Research Published

Feb 03, 2023

ِA team of NYUAD researchers has published a research paper on bioplastics. The team includes Alexandra Mystikou, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Associate, Kourosh Salehi-Ashtiani, Associate Professor of Biology, and Dina Imad Al Khairy, Instructor of Biology.