Abu Dhabi, 11 October, 2011: The Arab Youth Venture Foundation (AYVF) and NASA are delivering education programmes and internships to significantly benefit the future of the emirates’ power and water sectors for research and advanced technology development.
The NASA Ames Internship programme invites 20 UAE students annually to work alongside NASA scientists for two to 10 months. The internships are the first of their kind to include non-U.S. citizens.
Lisa LaBonte, CEO of AYVF, and founder of the progamme, said: “By immersing young talent into dynamic, multi-cultural teams and R&D environments, the UAE’s next generation is well positioned to excel in key economic sectors such as power and water.”
Michael Flynn, Principal Investigator at NASA Ames Research Centre in California, said: “NASA has been using education programmes as a catalyst for new ideas for decades, particularly in power and water projects, where our needs and terrestrial applications often intersect”.
Flynn will address the region’s leaders and decision makers at Power + Water Middle East Leaders’ Forum next week on 16 October at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), where he will outline NASA education programmes in advanced technology development.
“Through practical exposure to NASA’s innovative research methods and technologies, UAE talent can be developed into the next generation of leading experts in the field of power and water,” added Flynn.
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The Arab Youth Venture Foundation brought NASA to the Middle East officially in 2009 and secured Mubadala to support the NASA Ames Internship programme. The internships are the first of their kind to include non-U.S. citizens.
“Speaking at Power + Water Middle East Leaders’ Forum is a unique opportunity to interface with others in the power and water sector who I don’t normally get to work with,” continued Flynn, who has more than 23 years experience in the development of advanced water recycling and power technologies for NASA space flight applications.
“This kind of forum is important to ensure that NASA stays abreast of all the relevant developments in the field and that the community at large is aware of NASA programmes in this area and potential collaborations.”
Other speakers at Power + Water Middle East Leader’s Forum include Mohammad Bin Jarsh, Deputy Managing Director for the Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC), and Scott Minos, Senior Policy and Communications Specialist at the US Department of Energy, who will present a USA case study on developing a strategic energy profile that is sustainable, economical, and diverse.
Focusing on ‘Developing Sustainable Business Practices’, the Power + Water Middle East Leaders’ Forum is presented in partnership with Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) and runs alongside the three-day Power + Water Middle East exhibition, which takes place from 16 to 18 October at ADNEC.
Power + Water Middle East is the region’s showcase for power and water related products and services. For more information and to register online, visit www.powerandwaterme.com
Caption: Michael Flynn – Principal Investigator at NASA set to address the Power + Water Middle East Leader’s Forum about AYVF /NASA UAE education programmes