UAE Rain Enhancement Programme’s US$5 million grant awardees announced

Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, the awardees of the Third Cycle of the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science were announced and honoured at a ceremony held as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, ADSW 2018.

Several ministers and senior officials attended the ceremony including Ahmed Juma Al Za'abi, Deputy Minister for Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the National Center of Meteorology; Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry; Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State; Dr. Ahmad bin Abdullah Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills; Mariam Hareb Almheiri, Minister of State for Food Security; Faris Mohammed Ahmed Suhail Al Mazrouei, Adviser to the Ministry of Presidential Affairs; Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohamed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Health Department; Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of the Department of Energy, and Falah Al Ahbabi, Director-General of Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities, as well as a number of prominent scientists, researchers, and enthusiasts.

Three researchers from the USA, China and Russia, respectively were named as awardees of the US$5 million grant offered by the programme. Ahmed Juma Al Za'abi awarded the three researchers.

Reflecting on the impact of the programme, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said, "The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science demonstrates our leadership in strengthening global water security and devising the innovative solutions needed to aid people around the world at risk of water stress.

"Through this bold and ambitious initiative, we are also fulfilling the equally important goal of developing the capacities of the UAE’s knowledge economy while encouraging and supporting productive international research collaboration."

"It is imperative for all of us to devote our resources and employ creative thinking to secure sustainable supplies of clean water. As rapidly expanding populations place increasing pressure on limited water sources, the UAE is playing a dynamic and imaginative role in advancing the science and technology needed to ensure water for all in need."

In his key-note address during today’s ceremony, the Deputy Minister for Presidential Affairs stressed that the UAE is devoted in its efforts to find innovative and sustainable solutions to address the issue of water security in collaboration with top scientists, researchers and leading institutions in this vital domain. Moreover, the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science achieved tremendous successes in building bridges of collaboration with major research institutions, and attracting leading scientists to share their ideas, research, innovations and knowledge, allowing for new and viable solutions to the challenge of global water scarcity.

Al Za'abi added, "Within a short time, this pioneering initiative has demonstrated its significance in providing innovative solutions to address global water security issues. We hope that by combining our efforts, we will turn the outstanding ideas presented within this program from across the world into successful projects that benefit us all."

A testament to the programme’s outstanding success to date, 2017’s Third Cycle call for research proposals led to the submission of 201 pre-proposals involving the input of 710 scientists and researchers affiliated to 316 institutions spread across 68 countries.

The awardees of the Third Cycle were selected following international best practice through assessment by expert reviewers who evaluated all proposals, according to very strict criteria and complete confidentiality. At the Final Evaluation Meeting in October 2017, a 10-member committee, supported by 16 anonymous ad-hoc expert reviewers, selected this year’s final awardees based on confidential reports on each research proposal.