The NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) Institute has announced a series of in-person public talks and a workshop for its May lineup, which will offer attendees insights into a diverse range of topics related to sustainability.
The lineup kicks off on May 1 with a talk titled COP28 and Beyond: NYUAD Research to Achieve Net Zero, which focuses on the role of research in promoting environmental sustainability, and how to meet the demands of a growing population for better living conditions while minimizing the impact on the environment. The talk is open to the public and attendees will hear from NYUAD professors and researchers about the current state and future direction of research in achieving net-zero emissions and promoting a sustainable future.
“The upcoming events in May are a significant contribution to the UAE's Year of Sustainability initiative and the country's preparations for COP28 UAE. These events showcase the UAE's commitment to promoting sustainable development and environmental conservation. They provide a platform for experts to share their insights and expertise on critical environmental challenges and sustainable solutions, including research, history, urban mobility, and marine conservation.”
The program also includes a talk titled The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in the Ottoman Period, which is part of the Environment and the Middle East series, and discusses the ramifications of one of the most drastic political transitions in the history of the longest rivers in West Asia, when the Ottoman Empire gained control of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers from mountain to sea.
The Way We Move: Can Information and Technology Change It? is a talk led by NYUAD professor Monica Menendez, which delves into the issue of urban mobility and the associated traffic congestion; a rising concern in cities worldwide. The talk explores whether it is possible to predict how congestion spreads in a city, to develop proactive mitigation strategies, and to alleviate congestion by promoting more sustainable transportation modes.
On May 10, NYUAD Associate Professor of Biology John Burt will share insights into marine turtle conservation in Abu Dhabi and their latest findings assessing climate change-associated impacts on marine turtles. Burt will run a workshop from May 9 to 11 (by invitation only) that seeks to strengthen regional collaboration and survey data interoperability. The workshop brings together regional reef specialists to exchange past survey data and establish a standardized reef monitoring and data archival approach to implement going forward.
NYUAD signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the incoming Presidency of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), aimed at impactful research, knowledge-sharing activities, public programming, and youth engagement relating to climate change. NYUAD also chairs the recently launched Universities Climate Network comprising UAE-based universities and higher education institutions to collaborate on public events and youth participation in the lead up to COP28. Through the work of its faculty, students, and staff, the University is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, offering the most innovative teaching and research on climate action.
