Latest news with #scientificcollaboration
The National
6 days ago
- Science
- The National
UAE and Finland to increase collaboration in polar research and meteorology
The UAE and Finland will be working together closely in polar research and meteorology following the signing of an agreement between the nations. Under the deal, the countries are set to increase collaboration in the fields of meteorology, polar research and the development of joint scientific projects, state news agency Wam reported on Tuesday. Dr Abdulla Al Mandous, president of the World Meteorological Organisation and director general of the National Centre of Meteorology, signed the agreement, along with Prof Petteri Taalas, director general of the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), to strengthen co-operation in meteorology and polar research. There will now be a concerted effort to solidify institutional collaboration between both sides in scientific and operational meteorological initiatives, with a focus on exchanging expertise and best practices, particularly in polar research, Wam said. It marks a significant step in strengthening the UAE's scientific and research capabilities in meteorology and polar studies, Dr Al Mandous said. "We remain committed to collaborating with international partners and exchanging knowledge and expertise, guided by the principles of equality and mutual benefit," he said. "This collaboration will contribute to a deeper understanding of climate change and support the development of innovative solutions to global environmental challenges. "Such efforts will open new avenues for researchers and scientists from both countries and reinforce the UAE's growing role as a key player in global polar research.' Dr Al Mandous also took part in discussions with Finnish partners, focusing on plans to establish Emirates Research Labs in polar regions, develop joint research infrastructure and facilitate the exchange of scientists and researchers between the two countries. The discussions also explored ways to support field research in polar environments and to launch projects aimed at understanding climate change and its effect on ecosystems and human societies. 'At FMI, we greatly value our partnership with the UAE, which has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting scientific research in climate and weather-related fields," said Prof Taalas. "This provides a practical framework for exchanging expertise and launching joint research projects, including polar studies and space weather services, which will enhance global forecasting capabilities and deepen our understanding of climate change. We look forward to a productive and impactful collaboration that benefits the international scientific community as a whole.'
South China Morning Post
02-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
XPrize founder Peter Diamandis projects hope for AI, biotech amid US-China tech war
Peter Diamandis, the entrepreneur behind the XPrize Foundation, has long championed a future of technological promise, building a career on innovation competitions meant to solve grand challenges. But in a recent conversation in Hong Kong, a subtle shift in tone emerged as he addressed the current complexities of global scientific collaboration, clouded by geopolitical tensions and the looming threat of technological decoupling. Advertisement 'One of the things that is important to realise is that human biology is conserved across 8 billion people, as is math and physics and chemistry,' he said. 'So a breakthrough by a brilliant entrepreneur or scientist in Beijing is fully usable and accessible by a brilliant scientist in Boston. That elevates humanity as a whole.' His cosmopolitan vision of scientific progress stands in contrast to the current political climate, in which the US, under the administration of President Donald Trump, has sought to curb international student visas and made drastic cuts to scientific funding and universities. 'There's a huge amount of concern,' Diamandis said, pointing specifically to the cuts at the National Institutes of Health. 'Unless it gets corrected and changed back, I think that the cuts being made … will have long-term implications to the speed of scientific discoveries.' Diamandis spoke with the Post on May 28 while visiting Hong Kong for the UBS Asian Investment Conference. He is perhaps best known for incentivising breakthroughs through his XPrize competitions, which served as an early catalyst for the private space flight industry that spawned companies such as Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. Discussing the more positive aspects of technological progress is clearly where he feels most comfortable. Advertisement 'Our brains are wired for fear and scarcity, and my job through my work is to help people see the world in a different fashion,' he said.
