HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), welcomed 15-year-old Alia Al Mansoori, UAE Genes in Space winner. The competition was held at the Global Space Congress, in Abu Dhabi, in February 2017. Her project included a study that might help protect astronauts from protein expression changes. Al Mansoori represents the vision of the wise leadership, headed by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The leadership’s vision aims to establish a culture of innovation, excellence, and knowledge in the next generation, especially in science, space, engineering and mathematics. The leadership also aims to achieve the national objectives of the transition towards a knowledge-based economy. This shows DEWA’s support for young Emiratis in science fields.
Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development & Excellence, Dr Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources, Marwan Bin Haidar, Executive Vice President of Innovation and the Future, and Khawla Al Mehairi, Executive Vice President of Strategy & Government Communications also attended the meeting.
Al Tayer welcomed Al Mansoori and expressed pride in her achievement at such a young age, as it confirms the UAE’s global success in establishing the foundations of scientific renaissance in space, engineering and mathematics in record time.
Al Tayer talked to Al Mansoori about her involvement in DEWA’s activities and initiatives. These include her being keynote speaker at the Youth Circle in the World Green Economy Summit (WGES) 2018, and taking part in Earth Hour 2018. It also includes her being the world’s first young scientist at the R&D (Research & Development) centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, on its inauguration. Al Mansoori will also be present at her own pavilion during Innovation week, which will be organised by DEWA in February 2018. She will also support and sponsor scientific research on the impact of climate change on genes.
“At DEWA, we pay great attention to our youth, and strive to instil a culture of innovation and creativity. As His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, once observed, “Our responsibility is to prepare generations for the future and our ambitions are to have scientists who contribute to the progress of mankind.” DEWA organises many activities and initiatives for the next generation to encourage scientific research and motivate them to learn about science and technology. This includes the basics of robotics and developing smart phone programmes and applications. This contributes to positioning Emirati students amongst the world’s most knowledgeable in science, mathematics, and reading. This will achieve the goals of the Dubai Plan 2021 to make Dubai a city of happy, creative and empowered people, and support the 10x initiative to make Dubai the city of the future,” said Al Tayer.
Al Mansoori thanked Al Tayer for his warm welcome. She also commended the unlimited support of the wise leadership and government officials for future generations to enable them to achieve their dreams and enhance the UAE’s global position in all fields.
Al Mansoori travelled to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and saw the launch of the Falcon 9 rocket, which carried her winning experiment. She also visited the Boeing workshops, where the next generation of spaceships are being built.