When first year student Yinuo Li talks about chemistry, her eyes light up with the same spark she first saw in her classroom during a thermite reaction experiment. Born in Luoyang, a city in China known for its history and iconic peonies, Li grew up fascinated by how things work, with her earliest inspiration coming from Roald Dahl’s George’s Marvellous Medicine.
That childhood sense of wonder carried her into her studies, where she discovered the beauty of materials science. “I couldn’t imagine that a pinch of aluminum powder and some rust could emit such dazzling light and huge energy,” she recalls. Li hopes to major in chemistry at NYU Abu Dhabi, with a special interest in inorganic chemistry and its applications in daily life.
Li has lived in Abu Dhabi since the age of 10. Her attention was first drawn to NYUAD while attending the Abu Dhabi Young Musician finals in NYUAD’s Blue Hall. “I was attracted by the artistic atmosphere of the university, which made me decide that I want to study here,” she says. Her dream is to explore both chemistry and music in depth, while making lasting friendships along the way.
Outside the classroom, Li enjoys the UAE’s natural beauty, especially its deserts. “I highly recommend everyone visit the desert,” she says. “You can feel the sand between your toes. I swear the sand feels different in each emirate.”
Her playful side comes through in her love for Doraemon, an iconic Japanese cartoon character. “I hope I can be like him: never panic when encountering difficulties, always ready to take out new and interesting things to solve problems,” she says. She especially dreams of Doraemon’s time machine, imagining the possibility of exploring past and future worlds.
