In a rapidly evolving world, the preservation of cultural heritage serves as a bridge between the past and the future. This talk explores the need for a dynamic interplay of adaptation and continuity within cultural practices and identities in the Gulf and Arab regions. The speaker will discuss how societies in this part of the world can navigate m…

After a brief introduction to rain formation and clouds, the talk explores climate engineering and the scientific challenges we are facing. The speaker will discuss the role of fluid turbulence in cloud formation and will present two experiments to illustrate these concepts.SpeakerEberhard Bodenschatz, Director, Max-Planck Institute for Dynamics an…

This presentation explores the Arabic Maqam system of melodic modes, a pillar of traditional Arabic music, focusing on its distinctive structures and sounds. Using examples and guided listening exercises, the session offers a clear and engaging starting point for understanding Arabic music's depth and complexity. By complementing the deep dive into…

This talk focuses on the escalating issue of carbon emissions, which exceed levels year after year. The rising CO2 concentration exacerbates various climatic challenges, affecting human well-being and ecosystems, particularly for the nearly one billion people facing hunger daily. The speaker will discuss global analyses of climate change's impact o…

In this talk, the speaker will explore the rapidly evolving landscape of wireless communication, a fundamental pillar of modern connectivity that drives everything from smartphones to smart cities. As we move from the era of 5G to the horizon of 6G, the speaker will discuss how the future of wireless communication is set to revolutionize our digita…

This talk explores the use of deep neural networks in advancing computational microscopy and biomedical diagnostics. It highlights innovative methods for generating histological stains digitally, providing a faster, more cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional techniques. The discussion will cover virtual staining te…

This impactful debut documentary from Arwa Damon, a multi-Emmy-award winning senior war correspondent, chronicles the journey of four young individuals, all survivors of the conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, and Afghanistan, as they embark on a week-long exhilarating expedition to conquer Mt. Kilimanjaro. United by their experiences and driven by a desi…

This talk explores the significance of communal efforts in capturing history by focusing on the concept of "community archives," that is, archives created by and for groups within a given community who seek to take a more active role in jointly preserving the documentation of their shared past. Through talks presented by two noted scholars in this …

Race and racism are often considered problems particular to the U.S., with little relevance elsewhere. When sociologists Ann Morning and Marcello Maneri interviewed young Italians, they found that mention of race regularly elicited the reaction, “Che brutta parola! What an ugly word!” as well as the insistence that it played no role in contemporary…

The panel explores the evolving identity of contemporary media and its pivotal role in shaping national identity; focusing on the historic contributions of women in journalism and the influence of editorial control on the intellectual landscape. Discussions will address the challenges and barriers to innovation, particularly those related to instit…

The vast oceans surrounding us are a remarkable source of sustenance, prosperity, and vitality. They regulate our climate, nourish us, and support numerous industries. Yet, the oceans face increasing pressures from climate change, overfishing and pollution. Now a new threat looms for the ocean. If allowed to go ahead, deep-sea mining will destroy t…

Even while the climate crisis deepens, the decarbonization of the global economy and the fourth industrial revolution have been subsumed by geopolitics that remain anchored in realist power struggles, now revolving around Sino-American hyper-competition. Access to indispensable minerals for a net zero future has become securitized undermining ties …

There is a common sentiment that working in the arts is exceptional. It’s not just a workplace, it’s a passion. But loving it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a job. In Theatre Work: Reimagining the Labor of Theatrical Production, Brídín Clements Cotton and Natalie Robin investigate the question of artmaking, specifically theatrical production, as…

Sport has the power to change lives by promoting values of health, education, and cooperation among people, neighborhoods, communities, cities, and nations. Programs like New York City FC's City In The Community and partnerships between the NBA, Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, and NYU Abu Dhabi are forging these relationships and achie…

This talk presents the design and development of a custom 3D printed haptic syringe interface aimed to augment a virtual reality local anesthesia simulation (VRLA) with realistic tactile feedback. The VRLA previously used an Oculus Quest 2 head mounted device (HMD) with out of the box hand controllers to immerse students in the simulation and compl…

Modern science has done amazing things: creating covid vaccines, sending humans to the moon, finding the ultimate nature of light. What makes it so powerful—and so different from the attempts to understand nature made by the philosophers and monks of old? Vaulting from Aristotle to gravitational waves, Michael Strevens argues that much of science’s…

Often, the United Arab Emirates is envisioned as a land of ultramodern skyscrapers or vast sand dunes. Yet, the Emirates are much more: a diverse tapestry of ecosystems that are home to a surprising array of life forms uniquely adapted to the Arabian environment. This talk explores the UAE's unique ecosystems, its terrestrial and marine biodiversit…

The Golden Harvest is a 6,000-year old love story in which the filmmaker tries to understand the profound, often troubled, relationship between olive trees and the people of the Mediterranean, including her own father. It is a complicated romance, sometimes funny, sometimes tragic, set in a region that includes some of the poorest and most conflict…

Cryptography is often regarded as a cornerstone of computer security. Yet, many public-key cryptographic algorithms show vulnerability to implementation errors or misinterpretations. This talk surveys 'weapons of math destruction' that have proven remarkably effective in identifying flawed cryptographic implementations in real-world scenarios. It a…

A conversation with filmmaker Shekhar Kapur about his journey through diverse film industries and film genres, across national boundaries. From Masoom (Innocence); India, 1983 to his most recent What's Love Got to Do with it? UK, 2022, from the fantasy film, Mr. India; India, 1987, to realism, Bandit Queen; India, 1994 and historical fiction, Eliza…

يتناول الحوار أهمية المواسم وتأثيرها على أساليب الحياة عبر استكشاف تقويم الدرور، التقويم الفلكي المستخدم في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة قديماً، وارتباطه بالبيئة الطبيعية والمواسم فيها. كما يستند المتحدثون إلى خبراتهم الواسعة في مختلف مجالات الحياة لمُناقشة تقويم الدّرور، ودوره في الحياة الاقتصادية والاجتماعية في دولة الإمارات. المتحدثون: محمد سعي…

Join us in celebrating International Women's Day 2024 with an inspiring event themed Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress. The program features a lineup of speakers who are at the forefront of women and youth empowerment across the globe and will discuss the interplay of education and diplomacy regionally and globally, with a focus on women in inno…

Obtaining accurate and current information from conflict zones has long posed numerous challenges for global media. The rise of generative AI and its use in targeted disinformation campaigns presents many new challenges that threaten to undermine the credibility of reporting and sway opinion. In this panel, four distinguished panelists will conside…

This talk highlights the advanced use of sensing systems that collect continuous data from wearable devices, such as location trackers and voice-activated recorders, to deepen our understanding of human behavior and development. The speaker will explain behavioral imaging, which involves creating a dynamic multimodal representation of behavioral da…

Kicking off a week-long New York City residency by Kuwaiti music ensemble Boom.Diwan, this panel explores the history and intercultural dynamics of musical cultures in the Arabian Gulf and Africa’s Swahili Coast. Based in mercantile trade and cultural exchange dating back many centuries, the music of the Gulf and Western Indian Ocean have developed…

This talk navigates the complex waters of ethical understanding, guided by insights from the author of The New York Times Sunday Magazine's The Ethicist column. Professor Appiah examines how social identities, including race, gender, sexuality, and religion, intersect with and inform our ethical choices, and describes our identities as a social pos…

The roles of mothers across the public/private divide have long been contested and negotiated. How have women leveraged their identities as mothers to assert change in the public sphere? Beyond their achievements, what are the costs borne from these sacrifices? How has motherhood been instrumentalized or weaponized, and whose motherhood counts and …

In this talk, Dr. Sarmast, Founder and Director of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM), shares the inspiring journey of ANIM—a remarkable institution that has overcome adversity to emerge as a national and global symbol of hope, resilience, and artistic freedom. The presentation explores how ANIM—known as Afghanistan’s happiest place…

In this talk, the speaker discusses the often overlooked significance of territory—the geographical domain of the modern state—in political theory, political science, international law, and international relations. While traditional discussions emphasize the rights and duties between states and citizens, the concept of territory remains underexplor…

Explore the captivating realm of Shehan Karunatilaka’s fiction, which masterfully intertwines the surreal and humorously dark. "The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida" is noted as “an afterlife noir” that reflects Sri Lanka’s tumultuous history through a unique lens. In this session, Shehan will share excerpts from his work and discuss his artistic craft…

In celebration of UAE National Day, this talk offers an overview of the origins and evolution of Emirati cuisine as an expression of Emirati culture and history. Emirati foodways have grown in tandem with the development of the region within the contexts of trade across the Arabian Peninsula and Indian Ocean regions. The rise of an Emirati cuisine …

Climate change is increasingly apparent to the general public through increasing heat waves, intense rainfall, flooding events, and sea level rise. However, while there have been great increases in climate model skill in the last decade across a swathe of important areas, there are still persistent biases and common assumptions that limit their uti…

Nearly 20 years ago Heather Raffo’s play, 9 Parts of Desire, premiered to widespread acclaim in London and Off-Broadway, later becoming a global theatrical phenomenon. Now, Raffo adapts her multi-award winning solo play about Iraqi women for the screen and for our current time. With a radical retelling, she brings these stories from Iraq to Michiga…

Black holes are one of the most interesting and confusing objects in the universe. Their inevitable possibility is predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity, and their existence is confirmed by numerous experimental observations. Thus, we have to contend with the reality of black holes and seek to understand their ins and outs. In this t…

Does the UAE have an art scene? A group of European curators concluded it did not, after they visited in search of contemporary art and artists in the 1990s. In fact, that decade was a vibrant period in the UAE, and a tightly-knit cluster of artists was experimenting with the outer limits of what art can be. At the heart of that group was Mohamed A…

Sherwood Rowland was a Nobel-winning climate scientist who asked, in 1986, in The New Yorker: “What’s the point of having developed a science well enough to make predictions—if, in the end, all we’re willing to do is stand around and wait for them to come true?” In 1979, scientists warned lawmakers to expect the climate shifts in “forty years.” And…

This panel focuses on the journeys of four outstanding theater professionals who found their voices at NYU Abu Dhabi and are making their way in the US as playwrights, screenwriters and actors—each unique, but having shared the experience of studying and exploring the arts in Abu Dhabi.Image credit: Rubén PolendoPanel MembersFatima Maan, Playwright…

What can young adult literature teach us about the problems confronting the world today? Can these books possibly help us find potential solutions to these problems, no matter how old we are? The panel explores these questions, discusses the importance of grownups reading YA, and offers suggestions about what to put on your YA reading list.Panel Me…

This talk explores morphogenesis, the fascinating process of form development in biology. It examines how complex 3D organisms evolve from a single fertilized egg, involving intricate cell divisions, movements, and shape changes. The focus is on the mechanical processes that influence cell and tissue transformation and their regulation across space…

This talk explores the unintended consequences of technology's pursuit of optimization, unveiling how it perpetuates discrimination, compromises privacy, displaces workers, and contaminates information flows. It examines the tension between corporate values driven by big tech and the ideals of a democratic society. The speaker will highlight the pe…

This talk discusses how it's common to embark on a challenging pursuit without knowing the likelihood of success. As we encounter hurdles and setbacks, we face a crucial decision: to give up or persevere. Optimism about our chances can prevent premature despair. The talk argues that "grit"—persisting in adversity—is rational only if it avoids unrea…

Faysal Tabbarah, the 2023 NPUAE Curator, leads a compelling exploration into the potential of arid environments at the National Pavilion UAE during the 18th International Architecture Exhibition. His work focuses on unveiling the hidden possibilities within arid landscapes, especially those in the UAE, such as desert plateaus, wadis, and coastal pl…

Addressing the urgency of climate change and the foundational role of international agreements like the Paris Agreement of 2015, countries are urged to adopt concrete domestic measures. Beyond the realms of international directives, the evolution of 'climate law' encompasses various sectors, including administrative, commercial, human rights, and m…

This talk explores the rise in greenhouse gas concentrations since 1992, leading to the 2023 declaration that "Climate breakdown has begun." Traditional approaches to address climate change have been ineffective. However, ancient insights from indigenous peoples and overlooked spiritual traditions offer fresh perspectives. With rights of nature now…

In this talk, the speaker will trace humanity's bond with water, from historical ties to future implications. Despite water's perceived abundance, most is inaccessible in oceans. Addressing these challenges intertwines with key sustainability objectives. In an era marked by climate change, how do we address water issues? The discussion will emphasi…

Explore the intriguing connections between the realms of physics, cosmology, and quantum physics with the music that defines an era. This talk examines the narrative of cosmic structure, interpreting it through the elements of jazz music, and unveiling the harmonious relationship between these diverse yet unified fields.SpeakersStephon Alexander, P…

Passport rankings demonstrate that access to visa-free travel is highly stratified globally. How do states ascend these ranks? This talk introduces the concept of mobility diplomacy and argues that neither wealth nor political stability are sufficient conditions for unlocking visa-free travel. To be successful, developing countries must persuade hi…

In this talk, the speaker will discuss the evolution and importance of advancing competencies in medicine and biotechnology tailored for the UAE's unique needs and aspirations. Through a deep exploration of innovative strategies and practices, the talk will shed light on how the future of healthcare and biotechnological research is being shaped in …

This talk explores the conventional representations of the Abbasid dynasty, highlighting its perceived trajectory from its rise in the mid-eighth century to its decline in the tenth century. The speaker examines historical and literary sources from the mid-tenth century, elucidating the role and influence of the Abbasid Caliph and Baghdad during a …

In the challenging climatic conditions of the Middle East, providing clean water has always been a significant concern. Yet, ancient cities like Abbasid Baghdad and Mamluk Cairo effectively supplied water to their populations. This talk explores these historical achievements, shedding light on the often misunderstood institutional strengths in the …