Masdar Institute of Science of Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, on Monday welcomed 200 students from across the Arab world as part of its program to raise awareness on sustainability among tomorrow’s leaders.

The visit was arranged on the sidelines of the 31stInternational Arab Children Congress that opened on 13 November. The conference is being organized in Abu Dhabi for the first time, under the patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), President of the General Women’s Union, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood. The event is held in collaboration with the King Hussein National Center of Culture and Art and aims to encourage children to learn about different industries and global topics.Itwill conclude on 20 November.

The students in the 13-16 age group were received at the Masdar Institute by a team of select officials and students. The group arrived in four batches and toured parts of the sustainable campus such as the Courtyard and the Wind Tower. They also experienced a comfortable ride on the driverless and futuristic personalised rapid transit (PRTs) pod cars,before reaching the Knowledge Center for a presentation on ‘Sustainability and Renewable Energy’.

A demonstration of the electric vehicles (EVs) that are being piloted at Masdar City was part of the tour itinerary. Students learnt key features, as well as the relevance and usability in desert conditions of the EVs that form part of the sustainable transport system designed for Masdar City.

The presentation on renewable energy offered by Dr. Kenneth Volk, Out-reach Manager, and Sara Al Junaibi, Outreach Officer, provided the students with a better understanding of the clean technology industry and its benefits to the community. An ensuing quiz competition assessed the students’ extent of knowledge in non-renewable and clean energy industries.

The presentation also aimed to inspire the students to produce an artistic representation of what they learnt on sustainability in their lives. Masdar will select the most creative ones for display at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2012 that will be held from 16-19 January at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADENC). The students will be special invitees to the global forum that gathers royals, heads of states, government leaders and clean energy industry professionals in large numbers.

Dr. Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director of Public Affairs, Masdar Institute, said: “Masdar Institute aims to develop critical thinkers and leaders of the future through hosting them on various occasions. This is part of our endeavor to support capacity building as directed by the UAE’s leadership to develop a knowledge-based society. The International Arab Children Congress in Abu Dhabi is an event that gathers children from across the Arab world and provides us the right opportunity to bring them to our campus, educate them and mold them as innovators and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. We strongly believe the visit will offer the children an insight into the sustainable concepts that they can incorporate into their everyday lives.”

The students were briefed on the various categories of the US$4-million Zayed Future Energy Prize (ZFEP),the world’s largest clean energy competition, thathonours and rewards those who are tackling the energy crisis today, with the aim to educate and inspire future leaders and innovators. Earlier this year, the Zayed Future Energy Prize announced the addition of a Global High School Prize.

The Masdar Institute campus stands out as one of the prime examples of how cities in the future may pursue sustainability. From orientation of the buildings to features that facilitate natural lighting and cooler ground-level breeze, the sustainable elements that are incorporated into the architecture and design of the campus comprehensively reflect clean energy concept.

The centerpiece of Masdar City, one of the carbon-neutral and sustainable cities in the world, Masdar Institute provides graduate students an unparalleled opportunity in the entire spectrum of research, from theory to applied research to commercialization in a single location. With its best-in-class amenities for research and development in clean technologies, it aims to help drive economic diversification through human capital and technological innovation.
 

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