AUB President Fadlo R. Khuri Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences President Laurie L. Patton commented on the academy's newest class: 'These new members' accomplishments speak volumes about the human capacity for discovery, creativity, leadership, and persistence. They are a stellar testament to the power of knowledge to broaden our horizons and deepen our understanding.' She added, 'We invite every new member to celebrate their achievement and join the Academy in our work to promote the common good.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Bawaba
7 days ago
- Al Bawaba
Major Multi-University Study Demonstrates How Gas Turbine Power Plants Can Reduce CO₂ Emissions
In a ground-breaking study, six researchers from universities from five countries, including one from the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK), have demonstrated that through a hybrid plant design gas turbine power plants can significantly reduce CO₂ emissions, as well as trigger higher efficiency and lower turbine power plants are a cornerstone of global energy production, responsible for generating nearly half of the world's electricity; however, they have an adverse environmental impact, contributing 15% of all energy-related CO₂ emissions. In the new study, the researchers propose a hybrid plant design that delivers an 18% reduction in hourly operating costs and a 1.2-year payback, making retrofits to existing gas-turbine facilities financially compelling, as well as a 27% drop in CO₂ this system surpasses traditional waste heat recovery by utilizing a Rankine cycle for enhanced power generation. It leverages previously unexplored techniques for further efficiency gains by utilizing the remaining heat to power an absorption chiller and capturing condenser heat loss through a thermoelectric generator. This multi-stage heat recovery approach enables the system to deliver triple benefits, including electricity, cooling, and hydrogen production. Additionally, a portion of the generated electricity is employed for seawater desalination using a reverse osmosis (RO) David A. Schmidt, President of AURAK, said: 'It is a matter of great pride to see one of our researchers contributing to this important study that has the potential to help reduce global warming. It is an endorsement of the high level of research work being conducted at AURAK as part of our focus on pursuing research that leads to practical solutions. Such activity will serve to inspire our young graduates to develop actionable insights as they carry on their academic work.'Dr. Uday Kumar Nutakki, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Chief Sustainability Officer, at AURAK, said: 'The proposed hybrid gas turbine plant is not merely theoretical, it's actionable. Each subsystem was validated against industry benchmarks, with deviations of less than 1.5%, demonstrating model accuracy. By leveraging off-the-shelf technologies at realistic operating conditions, the design aligns with current manufacturing capabilities.'The interdisciplinary study was conducted by researchers working from their respective universities. Researchers from the Yantai Institute of Technology (China) led the AI-based multi-objective optimization using genetic algorithms and the LINMAP decision-making method. Dr. Uday Kumar, as co-author from AURAK designed and integrated the reverse-osmosis desalination subsystem. Tashkent State Pedagogical University (Uzbekistan) researcher handled the baseline gas-turbine and Rankine-cycle thermodynamic modelling. Research collaborator from King Saud University (Saudi Arabia) developed and economically evaluated the PEM-electrolyzer unit. And, researcher at the Islamic University of Najaf (Iraq) contributed design of the absorption-chiller and low-temperature tri-generation loop. Each team built and validated their module, then collaborated through shared repositories and regular virtual meetings to deliver a fully integrated thermodynamic-economic to Dr. Uday Kumar, the research consortium will continue to advance this breakthrough by collaboratively iterating on the integrated design, leveraging regular optimization cycles with genetic-algorithm and LINMAP methods, refining control strategies through AI-driven load and maintenance forecasting, and validating performance in a pilot-scale implementation. By maintaining a shared codebase for real-time integration and incorporating feedback from industry stakeholders, the team will ensure that each enhancement aligns with both commercial and environmental goals, progressing from recommendations in the study towards a field-ready research findings were published in Process Safety and Environmental Protection (IF: 7.8), Vol. 189 (2024), pp. 204–218. The manuscript was received in March 2024 and accepted in June 2024. Full citation: Li, Shuguang, Yuchi Leng, Tirumala Uday Nutakki, Sherzod Abdullaev, Yasser Fouad, and Merwa Alhadrawi. 'Intelligent Optimization of Eco-Friendly H₂/Freshwater Production and CO₂ Reduction Layout Integrating GT/Rankine Cycle/Absorption Chiller/TEG Unit/PEM Electrolyzer/RO Section.' Process Safety and Environmental Protection 189 (September 2024): 204–218.
Al Bawaba
16-07-2025
- Al Bawaba
BUiD organises 9th Doctoral Research Conference (BDRC)2025
The British University in Dubai (BUiD) organised the 9th Doctoral Research Conference (BDRC 2025), continuing its commitment to supporting doctoral research and fostering collaboration across BUiD Doctoral Research Conference 2025 was held in a hybrid format, welcoming participation from both in-person and virtual attendees. Open to BUiD students and those from partner universities, the conference provided an opportunity for doctoral students to present and publish their work, engage in scholarly dialogue, and receive feedback from academic peers and Khalid Al Marri, Dean of Research commented, 'The Doctoral Research Conference is more than just a platform for academic exchange—it's a celebration of innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the future of research. At BUiD, we are proud to support emerging scholars who are shaping knowledge and practice across diverse fields.'The Conference included several tracks such as Education, Business, Management & Law, Engineering, and IT. Featuring research in Artificial Intelligence, Civil and Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, Renewable Energy, Big Data, Robotics, Smart Infrastructure, Water & Sustainability, and BDRC 2025 emphasised interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, providing a platform to explore the latest research trends, practical challenges, and breakthrough solutions across sectors. Participants gained valuable insights from keynote speeches, academic talks, and opportunities to connect with fellow researchers and Conference reinforces BUiD's commitment to fostering a dynamic research culture that both contributes to academic advancement and tackles regional and global challenges. The Conference confirms BUiD's mission to build a strong research culture that helps grow knowledge locally and worldwide.
Al Bawaba
13-07-2025
- Al Bawaba
Markaz Sponsors Vertical Farming Facility at The English School to Empower Future Environmental Leaders
Kuwait Financial Centre 'Markaz' announces its sponsorship of an innovative educational initiative in partnership with The English School (TES), providing students with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities in sustainable agriculture and its applications through vertical farming inside the school. The sponsorship reflects the 'building human capacity' pillar of Markaz's corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy by equipping students with future-ready skills, fostering environmental responsibility and developing the knowledge and critical thinking skills needed to confront global challenges through localized initiative offers students the opportunity to explore vertical farming through a school-based facility designed for indoor sustainable agriculture. It introduces them to the types of crops that can be cultivated through these systems and explains how they can help address food security challenges. In doing so, the project also demonstrates the wider potential of vertical farming as a sustainable and cost-effective solution for future food the significance of the project, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Markaz, Ms. Sondos Saad, said: 'We are proud to partner with The English School on this impactful initiative, which introduces students to practical approaches to vertical farming. It reflects our firm belief that education rooted in real-world engagement is key to enabling the next generation of changemakers. By raising environmental awareness and promoting responsible resource use, this project encourages students to think innovatively about how local initiatives can drive global impact."Ms. Alison Peterson, TES Principal stated: "Thanks to the sponsorship of Markaz. Our fantastic vertical farming facility will be an integral part of the education process. This project reflects curiosity, responsibility, and a deeper understanding of how science, technology, and care for the planet all connect. In this space, our students won't just learn about photosynthesis from a textbook, they'll see it in action. In a world facing growing environmental challenges, vertical farming offers a glimpse into the future of agriculture, a future that TES students will help shape." Rooted in Markaz's ESG-driven approach to long-term value creation, this initiative demonstrates how the company translates its sustainability strategy into meaningful, community-based partnerships. It also reaffirms Markaz's commitment to advancing key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 4: Quality Education, Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and Goal 13: Climate Action, by embedding these global principles into innovative educational models. The collaborative effort builds on a broader portfolio of national partnerships and programs supported by Markaz. Notable among them are the 'Kuwait Commute' design competition, which aims to advance the development of public transport in Kuwait, and the UniCODE program in collaboration with 'Coded' Academy, which equips youth with foundational skills in programming and technology. Such pioneering initiatives reinforce Markaz's role in developing human capital and driving knowledge-based progress in Kuwait. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
