Abu Dhabi: A total of Dh3 million is being allocated for research projects by Abu Dhabi University (ADU), with the research including plans to create more sustainable and energy friendly buildings that draw energy from the sun.
The research projects come as part of a wider strategy by ADU, which is to establish itself as one of the region’s premier research-led universities, especially in the fields of sustainability and smart cities, which are also in line with Abu Dhabi’s 2020 and 2030 vision.
“At ADU we strongly believe in research as a way of attracting well-qualified faculty and at the same providing the infrastructure that is highly supportive of the economic development in the UAE and the region as a whole,” said Dr Nabeel Ebrahim, Chancellor of ADU.
Elaborating on the funded research projects, Dr Ebrahim explained that they are centered on future smart cities.
“There are three main areas we are concentrating on – sustainable built environments, sustainable and viable businesses, and smart services and cities,” he said.
“In terms of designing and developing new building structures, we have projects that are studying how to use the sun as a source of energy for these buildings, and so our researchers are creating devices that will draw on the sun’s energy for these purposes.
“These innovative methods will reduce the dependency on more costly and less environmentally clean energy resources, and it will encourage the use of more non traditional sources of energy,” he added.
Dr Ebrahim said that the research projects have already created opportunities for international partnerships with world-class universities from around the world.
“Our researchers publish their findings and work in many different international journals, which sometimes attract partnerships with other recognised and well established universities. So we manage to receive a lot of international recognition as a research-intensive university,” he said.
Dr Ebrahim also spoke on the positive significance of having an Arab university that supports world class research projects that can have a big impact on society.
“Most of the best universities in the world pay a lot of attention towards research projects because it is considered to be an investment for the future that usually has a very good return. So it is an advantage to have such a university in the Middle East especially with the many challenges that it is currently facing,” he said.
“If we want to solve the problems that are happening in the region there needs to be universities that are committed to the development and progress of the Middle East, and there also needs to be real projects that come up with relevant ideas and solutions for the community,” he added.
