Arts and Humanities Research Platform
The NYUAD division of Arts and Humanities is aligned with NYU’s mission as a leading research institution and has a Research Platform with which diverse research activities are activated.
The platform is a catalyst for attracting exceptional scholars worldwide, nurturing an environment that fosters research excellence and a vital facilitator for advancing collaborative research in the arts and humanities and critical inquiries into the cultural, artistic, historical, philosophical and other foci on the examined lives of societies.
Research Centers
Research Projects
Advanced Research Projects
The Advanced Research Projects aim to promote research and scholarly exchange across fields and supports (especially the activities of faculty whose work transcends disciplinary/divisional boundaries). The goal is to achieve significant scholarly contributions and collaborations that can influence academic fields and enrich societal perspectives.
Cross-Disciplinary and Multicultural Perspective on Musical Rhythm
Our aim is to better understand the similarities and differences between rhythms of different cultures and ultimately provide a deeper insight into the musical behavior of humans as a species.
Dhakira Center for Heritage Studies in the UAE
Dhakira, an applied research center based at NYU Abu Dhabi, provides the framework, tools and platform to empower civil societies to become curators of their own heritage and custodians of their cultural memory.
eARThumanities Research Initiative
The Arts and Humanities Environmental Research Initiative at NYU Abu Dhabi seeks to generate new curricular impulses and synergies across disciplinary boundaries in the study of the environment.
Family Business Histories
This interdisciplinary project of NYUAD and the Tharawat Family Business Forum brings together scholars from the Humanities and Social Sciences at NYUAD to compile, document, and analyze the history of selected regional family businesses to better understand past challenges and decision-making, as well as commercial legacies.
Global Asia Initiative
An interdisciplinary network of faculty working on Asia in the broadest sense, where scholars discuss work, host talks, or collaborate on curricular development. GAI collaborates with NYU Shanghai’s newly founded Center for Global Asia and similar emerging initiatives at NYU New York.
The Rhythm Project
Studying musical rhythm, an innately human musical characteristic, from a broad perspective will shed light on the aspects of musical rhythm that have a universal character over those that are culture specific.
Research Kitchens
The NYUAD Research Kitchens are thematic hubs for building communities of researchers across disciplinary boundaries. They seek to provide spaces for new conversations, and to support exploratory, innovative research and creative collaborations.
Simplification of Arabic Masterpieces for Extensive Reading
The main objective of the project is to create a standard for the simplification of modern fiction in Arabic to school-age learners and to use this standard to simplify a number of Arabic fiction masterpieces.
Sounds of Sir Bani Yas Island
Professor Carlos Guedes's "Designing Sound for Scene and Screen" class traveled to Sir Bani Yas Island, home to the UAE's largest wildlife preserve. The reserve was founded in 1977 by HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Arts and Humanities Research in Review
Arts and Humanities Research in Review
Highlighting the scholarly endeavors and innovations by NYUAD Arts and Humanities division members in studying and advancing the human condition.
Research News
The Man Died
Directed by Awam Ampka
Yellow Bus
Directed by Wendy Bednarz
The Maqāmāt of Badīʿ al-Zamān al-Hamadhānī
Written by Bilal Orfali & Maurice Alex Pomerantz
10 Days in a Madhouse
Production directed by Joanna Settle
The New York Times Feature
Book Chapter
William Zimmerle, Liaqat Ali, Matthew O’Connor, and Muhammad Shiraz Ali's latest book chapter (Vol. 2, Chapter 9) from the Ra'eah رائحة : The Chemical-Digital Heritage Library of Arabian Incense, Ancient Aromatics, Perfumes & Fine Fragrances project
Shaikha Al Mazrou
Emirati artist and Professor Shaikha Al Mazrou joins forces with Jimmy Choo for new art project
Awards
Sojourners, Sultans, and Slaves: America and the Indian Ocean in the Age of Abolition and Empire by Awam Amkpa and Gunja Sengupta won the Bentley Book Prize 2024, Journal of Global Slavery (JGS).
Arts Professor of Theater and Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka received the Haydee Santamaria Medal at Casa de las Americas, awarded by President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel.
Professor James Montgomery was elected Fellow of the British Academy in July.
The Nineteenth Century Section of the Latin American Studies Association has awarded Associate Professor of History Martín Bowen an honorable mention for best book in the social sciences for The Age of Dissent. Revolution and the Power of Communication in Chile, 1780–1833.
Wole Soyinka was presented with the Loynaz International Prize from the president of UNEAC, Marta Bonet at the 63rd anniversary of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC).
2024-2025 Faculty Fellowship Awards William Zimmerle and Rakesh Behera - Creating a Digital Heritage Exhibition and Virtual Learning Center for the 3D Study of Arabian Rock Art, Inscriptions, and Cultural Semiotics in the UAE.
Scandar Copti won Best Screenplay Award for his feature-length film Happy Holidays (123 minutes) at the Venice Film Festival—Orizzonti Competition (2024).
Humanities Research Fellow Burak Sayim won the 2024-25 Toynbee Prize Foundation First Book Workshop Competition. His book project, The Making of Communism in the Middle East: Anti-colonial Revolutions, Global Networks, and Itinerant Militants, under contract with the University of California Press, examines the formative years of the communist movement in the Middle East in the context of a global wave of revolutionary upheaval.