UAE Aims To Be Global Hub For Science, Knowledge, and Exploration

The UAE is a young country that has fast transitioned into a global hub for producing knowledge. With its ‘Shuttle of Hope’, the country has re-affirmed that nothing is impossible.

An interactive session titled ‘Above and Beyond Conventional Topics’ at the Public Diplomacy and Government Communication Forum, in Dubai on Sunday, highlighted the need for UAE to showcase its big projects to the world that can have a positive influence on mankind in the long-term.

Omran Sharaf, Director of the Programmes Management Department at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, said the West will come to the UAE to collaborate on scientific missions.

“If the nation was known for its tourism all these years, henceforth it will be famous for its leading scientific edge,” he said and added that the UAE aims to give the world new data, new scientific pathways and provide answers that scientists have failed to offer.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has recently approved the new integrated visa scheme, which will attract intellectuals to the country, he added.

Investment in Science

Sharaf said, the “goal of the UAE is not only to win a Nobel Prize for Science but to make the UAE a global hub for scientific minds”.

There are over 200 scientific institutions and thousands of gigabytes of information flowing in every day. UAE’s scientific projects will impact global economy, he added.

Today there are PhD programmes in universities here, while the nation is investing in building scientific infrastructure and enhancing competencies.

Media Role

Meanwhile, Sara Amiri, Chairperson of the UAE Council of Scientists, said it is important for the media to play a crucial role in educating the common people and youngsters about the scientific advancements.

Amiri urged print media to have a ‘Scientific Page’ and audio-visual channels to have 10 minutes devoted to science each day.

“Media should act as ‘Ambassadors of Knowledge’ while providing trustworthy information,” she said.

UAE scientists not only believe in discovering new planets but give utmost importance to holistic learning, which will have a long-term connect, the speakers opined.

The Forum

Organised by the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO), the forum looks at a range of communication issues that governments encounter in the light of recent political, social, environmental and security developments.

The event discusses communication success stories and learnings from major campaigns, crises and events. The Public Diplomacy and Government Communication Forum brings together ministers, senior government officials, academics and experts in the fields of communications and media from the region and across the world.

Informative sessions, covering a range of topics including crisis management, national campaigns, public engagement, social media and digital diplomacy, offer strategic yet practical content that addresses the major communication themes of today. The one-day event features an engaging mix of local, regional and international speakers.

Original published at: https://spacewatch.global/2017/03/uae-aims-global-hub-science-knowledge-exploration/