UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science to kick-off roadshow across UAE universities

ABU DHABI, 22nd February, 2016 (WAM) -- The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science, UAEREP, is set to launch a university roadshow starting tomorrow to tour select local universities across the UAE and drive awareness for the programme that seeks to promote the most advanced scientific ideas in the field of rain enhancement. As part of the roadshow, UAEREP delegates will interact with faculty members to introduce the programme and invite the universities’ participation in the second cycle that began in the third week of January following the announcement of the winners of the programme’s first cycle. The roadshow is in line with the programme’s efforts to attract local participation in its second cycle before closing the pre-proposal submission phase on March 17th, 2016. As part of the roadshow, Sufian Farrah, Meteorologist, Senior Forecaster and Cloud Seeding Expert at the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology, will conduct a presentation that highlights cloud-seeding operations in the UAE and the diverse sciences and technologies used in the rain enhancement field. He will also examine the potential of these technologies for the future. Alya Al Mazroui, Director of UAEREP, will provide faculty members and students with an overview of the programme, its goals, different phases and outcomes, as well as offer glimpses of the winning researchers and their projects from the inaugural cycle. In addition, a panel discussion will be held to answer any scientific or technical questions about the programme. Speaking on the roadshow initiative, Alya Al Mazroui said, "Our programme is keen to encourage local researchers and students to participate and contribute with their innovative ideas that can help develop rain enhancement operations." She added, "We look forward to a productive interaction with researchers and academicians working across scientific disciplines, chemistry, physics, geology, and engineering. We also hope to witness high quality local participation this year similar to the inaugural cycle. Quality submissions will certainly help enhance innovation and enrich the rain enhancement science in a way that can improve water security in arid and semi-arid regions globally." The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science was launched in early 2015 by the UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs. Managed by the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology, NCMS, the programme presents an annual grant of US$5 million to winners over a three-year period. Up to five research projects are selected to share the award’s amount through a rigorous, two-phase evaluation process. In its first cycle, the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science received 16 pre-proposals from UAE research teams, ranking the state second among countries with the maximum number of submissions. In addition, a research team from the UAE was among the three winners, with teams from Japan and Germany also qualifying for top honours. The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science aims, through continuing research efforts, to advance the science, technology and implementation of rain enhancement and encourage more investment in this field. This in turn will help develop strong international synergies that can further contribute to the advancement of the sciences and operations of rain enhancement and help identify viable and innovative solutions. The programme seeks to achieve these goals through a four-pronged approach: enhancing the level of research and innovation in the field, advancing scientific understanding of rainfall enhancement, advancing the technological and methodological state-of-the art in rainfall enhancement practice and operation, and enhancing and further developing capacity in the field, both locally and globally. – Emirates News Agency, WAM -http://www.wam.ae/en/news/general/1395291852543.html