At Expo 2025 Osaka, NYU Abu Dhabi faculty took the stage at the UAE Pavilion presenting a blend of science, technology, and the arts to champion a smarter, healthier, and more inclusive future. Through lectures, performances, and demonstrations, faculty members highlighted the University’s commitment to advancement in AI and health innovation.
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Fares Abu Dakka introduced audiences to Cognitive Robotics, demonstrating how intelligent systems can transform education, healthcare, and accessibility.
Using examples like an assistive platform to support students in handwriting rehabilitation to providing continuous healthcare support, Professor Dakka’s hands-on robotics showcase drew strong engagement from educators and technology professionals alike.
Bioengineering Postdoctoral Associate Wael Othman unveiled groundbreaking medical devices developed at NYUAD’s Center for Translational Medical Devices (CENTMED). The research center targets three of the world’s most pressing health challenges: metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological conditions.
From flexible endoscopic tools that aid in obesity treatment to AI powered wearable sensors for real-time cardiac monitoring, NYUAD is actively involved in translational health innovation through innovations and collaborations with international partners.
Bridging art and technology, Adjunct Professor of Practice Merritt Moore performed Dancing with Robots, pairing choreography with advanced robotics.
Through movement and multimedia, she explored how new technology impacts our creativity, and how the future of human potential can look like in collaboration with machines.
Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice of Interactive Media Domna Banakou presented her pioneering research on virtual reality as a tool to transform behavior and challenge implicit bias.
Her interactive demonstrations revealed how immersive experiences can foster inclusivity, shape equitable, and sustainable futures from using virtual reality in stroke patient rehabilitation to enhancing police support towards victims.
The University’s presence at this year’s Expo extended beyond faculty-led innovation to showcase the broader impact of our global community. The event also became a meaningful reunion for NYUAD’s Emirati alumnae. Mahra Al Dhaheri (NYUAD Class of 2024) was on-site as a youth ambassador at the UAE Pavilion, engaging with more than 10,000 visitors daily and sharing the story of the Emirates in Japan with insight and grace. She was joined by fellow Class of 2024 alumnae Roudhah Al Mazrouei and Shayma Al Harthi, who represented NYUAD and the UAE as global ambassadors through the Building Bridges: Voices of the Future initiative, fostering cultural exchange and celebrating the decades long partnership between UAE and Japan.
