NYUAD Institute
Episodes
Life’s 24 Hour Clock
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Part of "Luminaries of Science" series The talk describes how research using the fruit fly Drosophila revealed the make-up of the circadian clock. Th...
Theater, Politics and Pedagogy in a Global Context
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This conversation between Abhishek Majumdar and Ruben Polendo examines the making and teaching of theater in a global context. The talk centers around...
The Power of Us: How Shared Identities Shape Conflict and Cooperation
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to belong — and how does our sense of identity unite or divide us? Group cooperation is one of the most remarkable features of hum...
Apples at the Crossroads: Domestication, Genomics, and Climate Resilience
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This event is related to 19 Washington Square North's Faculty Fellows Program. The apple tree (Malus domestica) is one of the world’s most iconic f...
Who Has The Right to the City?
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Since the 2008-2009 financial crisis and the Occupy movements around the globe, artists have increasingly turned to new models of artistic production ...
Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, Lost and Found
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This presentation briefly recaps the emergence of the painting, the critical reception and ongoing controversy, and eventual purchase by Mohammed bin ...
When Cities Get Hotter: From New York to Abu Dhabi
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Cities like New York often feel hotter than their surroundings, especially on summer nights. This is the “urban heat island” effect, caused by the...
“Side Effects May Include…”: How We Can Make Medicine Better
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
All cutting-edge medical treatments come with side effects that can limit their benefit. In this talk, Prof. Ramadi explores how we can make medicine ...
Stem Cells: From Basic Science to Clinical Advances
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Stem cells hold promise for understanding human disease, screening for novel therapeutics, and regenerating damaged tissues. However, the mechanisms u...
Ibrahim Al Koni and the World of the Tuareg (Arabic)
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This talk features a conversation with Ibrahim al-Koni, a prominent contemporary author in Arabic literature. Raised as a Tuareg in the Libyan desert,...
Will the UAE Be the Capital of Arab Pop Culture Over the Next Decade?
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This talk discusses whether the UAE is on track to become the epicenter of Arab pop culture over the next decade or if its influence will remain tied ...
Cybersecurity & Ethics: Navigating Digital Dangers
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Explore the intersection of cybersecurity, technology ethics, and disinformation with leading experts. This panel examines the human-centered aspects ...
A Short Journey Into Prehistoric Arabia
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Explore the prehistoric landscapes of Arabia, tracing the movements of early humans who migrated from Africa over the past two million years. The talk...
Decoding Hindustani Music: Art and Science
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores the profound artistry and scientific intricacies of Indian art music, with a focus on the Hindustani repertoire. Dr. Kaustuv Kanti ...
Climate Justice and the Constitution: Reflections from the Global South
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Climate Crisis has created novel challenges for public policy in the Global South. Developing nations need to discover ways of continuing to grow ...
Creative Convergence: The Role of Artists in Expanding Scientific Inquiry and UAE’s Vision for Innovation
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This panel explores how integrating art, science and engineering fosters innovation, broadens perspectives, and drives societal contributions. In the ...
The Restless Universe: From the Big Bang to the Periodic Table
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores the Universe’s journey from its homogeneous beginnings after the Big Bang to the formation of stars from primordial hydrogen and ...
A Prophecy Continuous? Jewish and Muslim Views on Divine Revelation
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores the concept of prophecy and prophethood from a multi-faith perspective. Prophets existed before the Bible, as seen in ancient texts...
Soviet Power and the Politics of the East
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This talk examines Soviet power through a transregional and global lens, focusing on its cultural and political exchanges with the Middle East. Drawin...
Supporting Your Child’s Digital Play
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores how parents can support their young children's digital play, learning, and curiosity in today's digital world. The speaker will dis...
The Future of AI Ethics: A Cross-Disciplinary Discussion
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This panel discussion will consider how ethical decisions will be influenced in the future by the many applications of Artificial Intelligence. An eth...
Our Quest to Understand the Universe
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This talk will take students on a journey through humanity's ongoing quest to uncover the fundamental laws that shape our universe. The speaker will r...
Chaos, Black Holes, and Quantum Mechanics
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This talk will explore the role of chaos in nature, highlighting how even well-understood rules can make predicting the future challenging—weather f...
Legacy of Dedication: The Inaugural Dhikhr ذخر Award
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for the inaugural ذخر (Dhikhr) Award presentation, inspired by the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who said, "The boo...
The End of Global Population Growth: Boon or Doom?
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores the potential consequences of the end of global population growth, examining various scenarios for a world with no growth. With glo...
Environmental Toxins and Everyday Life
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores the role of environmental toxins in shaping health and well-being, examining their presence in everyday life and their impact on fe...
Can Justice Be Achieved in the Devastation of Modern Wars?
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have the great ambitions for the role of international criminal justice in the world been misplaced? Can international courts deliver meaningful justi...
Cricket in Pakistan: Nation, Identity, and Politics
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ali Khan, author of Cricket in Pakistan: Nation, Identity, and Politics, examines the profound connection between cricket and Pakistan's socio-politic...
Wisdom of the Swarm: Bugs, Bots and Beyond?
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Super-organisms, such as insect societies, solve complex problems collectively without centralized planning, achieving outcomes on scales far larger t...
AI for Social Good
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This talk showcases several groundbreaking AI projects that Dr. Ruopeng An's team has developed to address pressing societal challenges. These project...
Lost in the U.A.E.
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for a presentation on Lost in the U.A.E., a photographic project by Professor Mark Jenkinson. Professor Jenkinson traveled over 10,000 kilomet...
Running Out of Time
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores themes on creative and technical projects investigating time, memory, and cultural identity, using techniques from engineering, com...
Making Memories in The Brain
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our memories are not facts found on cards in a neural rolodex. They are recreations of reality. And, almost always, they are incredibly accurate and v...
Structured Luck: Downstream Effects of the U.S. Diversity Visa Program
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do immigration policies from economically advantaged countries affect people in less advantaged countries and the immigrants who come in with thes...
How Science Is Crafting Our Future Foods
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone eats. This simple fact makes food a fascinating topic of human creativity and scientific inquiry throughout the world. Culinary innovations a...
Resonating Worlds: Art, Science, and the Soundscapes of Discovery
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
By introducing artists to science and research institutions, sci-art collaborations are establishing new perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches...
De/Colonial Botany
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can we reimagine the complex relationships among nature, culture, and homeland through the lens of a decolonial botany? In this conversation, Robert Z...
Resilient Futures: Innovating Water and Environmental Security
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This talk will showcase how innovative solutions recognized by the Prize are successfully bridging economic growth, social equity, and environmental s...
Crafting Tomorrow: Riken Yamamoto’s Architectural Journey
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this talk, Riken Yamamoto, 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate, will explore the transformative power of architecture in shaping communities....
Music From Space: Where Science Meets Art
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores the intersection of science and art, transcending cultural barriers to bring people closer to the marvels of space. Dr. Leonardo Ba...
The Islamic Tradition of the Art-Mathematics Connection, Quantum Gravity
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There is a strong tradition in Islamic culture to intertwine art and mathematics. This talk is about how this tradition has influenced the speaker's w...
Rethinking Antibiotics
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The specter of widespread drug-resistant bacterial infections is a looming public health crisis and especially pronounced for so-called “Gram-negati...
Structured Luck: How U.S. Immigration Policy Affects Immigrants
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores the impact of immigration policies from economically advantaged countries on both the people in less advantaged nations, particular...
The Role of Science in the Islamic World
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This talk examines the role of science in the Islamic world, tracing how modern science has roots in Islamic civilization. It explores whether we have...
Globalization and Multinational Investment in an Institutionally Risky World
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dean Salomon will introduce the principal risks that multinational corporations (MNCs) face in the global marketplace. He will discuss the critical in...
Inside the Body’s Future: How Bio-NanoThings Will Change Disease Detection
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine a future where tiny devices inside your body can detect diseases and send the information directly to your doctor. This is the vision behind t...
Wisdom From the Ages: Ibn Khaldun and Lessons for a Poly-Crisis World
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores the enduring relevance of medieval Arab philosopher Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406), often regarded as the father of sociology and historio...
Ibrahim Al Koni and the World of the Tuareg (English)
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This talk features a conversation with Ibrahim al-Koni, a prominent contemporary author in Arabic literature. Raised as a Tuareg in the Libyan desert,...
Global Shifts: U.S. Elections and the Future of Power
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the U.S. elections draw near, this panel will examine how leadership changes could influence global power structures, with a particular focus on th...
Experiencing Maqam: An Introduction to Arabic Music
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This presentation explores the Arabic Maqam system of melodic modes, a pillar of traditional Arabic music, focusing on its distinctive structures and ...
Rain, Clouds, and Climate
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After a brief introduction to rain formation and clouds, the talk explores climate engineering and the scientific challenges we are facing. The speake...
Preserving the Past, Embracing Change, Honoring Traditions
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The Scary but Still Fixable Threat of Climate Change
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This talk focuses on the escalating issue of carbon emissions, which exceed levels year after year. The rising CO2 concentration exacerbates various c...
The Future of Wireless Communication
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this talk, the speaker will explore the rapidly evolving landscape of wireless communication, a fundamental pillar of modern connectivity that driv...
AI in Biomedical Imaging: Transforming Microscopy and Diagnostics
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores the use of deep neural networks in advancing computational microscopy and biomedical diagnostics. It highlights innovative methods ...
Through Arwa Damon's Lens: Seize the Summit
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This impactful debut documentary from Arwa Damon, a multi-Emmy-award winning senior war correspondent, chronicles the journey of four young individual...
Community Archives as a Model for Documenting the UAE's Recent Past
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores the significance of communal efforts in capturing history by focusing on the concept of "community archives," that is, archives cre...
'An Ugly Word': Race in Global Perspective
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Race and racism are often considered problems particular to the U.S., with little relevance elsewhere. When sociologists Ann Morning and Marcello Mane...
Media Dynamics: Identity, Challenges, and Future Vision
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The panel explores the evolving identity of contemporary media and its pivotal role in shaping national identity; focusing on the historic contributio...
The Ocean Hope Project: Protecting the Deep Sea
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The vast oceans surrounding us are a remarkable source of sustenance, prosperity, and vitality. They regulate our climate, nourish us, and support num...
On the Path to Net Zero: Critical Minerals, the Climate Crisis, and the Tech Imperium
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Even while the climate crisis deepens, the decarbonization of the global economy and the fourth industrial revolution have been subsumed by geopolitic...
Theatre Work: Reimagining the Labor of Theatrical Production
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Sports and Diplomacy in the UAE
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sport has the power to change lives by promoting values of health, education, and cooperation among people, neighborhoods, communities, cities, and na...
Haptic Feedback for Local Anesthesia Training
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This talk presents the design and development of a custom 3D printed haptic syringe interface aimed to augment a virtual reality local anesthesia simu...
The Highly Effective Irrationality of Science
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Modern science has done amazing things: creating covid vaccines, sending humans to the moon, finding the ultimate nature of light. What makes it so po...
A Natural History of the United Arab Emirates
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 tape...
The Golden Harvest
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Mathematical Cryptanalysis in the Real World
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cryptography is often regarded as a cornerstone of computer security. Yet, many public-key cryptographic algorithms show vulnerability to implementati...
Unfettered by Boundaries: Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with filmmaker Shekhar Kapur about his journey through diverse film industries and film genres, across national boundaries. From Masoom...
ثقافة الإمارات عبر تقويم الدرور: نظرة على أساليب الحياة في الماضي والحاضر
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
يتناول الحوار أهمية المواسم وتأثيرها على أساليب الحياة عبر استكشاف تقويم الدرور، ...
Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join us in celebrating International Women's Day 2024 with an inspiring event themed Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress. The program features a line...
Information and Disinformation in Global Conflict
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Obtaining accurate and current information from conflict zones has long posed numerous challenges for global media. The rise of generative AI and its ...
Sensing the Future: How Continuous Data Is Shaping Child Development Research
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This talk highlights the advanced use of sensing systems that collect continuous data from wearable devices, such as location trackers and voice-activ...
Boom.Diwan: Musical Cosmopolitanism from the Arabian Gulf to the Swahili Coast
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kicking off a week-long New York City residency by Kuwaiti music ensemble Boom.Diwan, this panel explores the history and intercultural dynamics of mu...
The Ethicist Speaks of Identity
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This talk navigates the complex waters of ethical understanding, guided by insights from the author of The New York Times Sunday Magazine's The Ethici...
What Is the Role of Motherhood in the Public Domain?
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The roles of mothers across the public/private divide have long been contested and negotiated. How have women leveraged their identities as mothers to...
Harmonizing Hope
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this talk, Dr. Sarmast, Founder and Director of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM), shares the inspiring journey of ANIM—a remark...
Territory and Self-Determination
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this talk, the speaker discusses the often overlooked significance of territory—the geographical domain of the modern state—in political theory...
Shehan Karunatilaka: Writing Across Borders
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Explore the captivating realm of Shehan Karunatilaka’s fiction, which masterfully intertwines the surreal and humorously dark. "The Seven Moons of M...
Sands, Seas, and Stars: Tracing Emirati History and Culture through Its Cuisine
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Can Our Understanding of Climate Keep Up With Observed Changes?
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change is increasingly apparent to the general public through increasing heat waves, intense rainfall, flooding events, and sea level rise. Ho...
Nine Parts: A One-Woman Film About the Lives and Loves of Iraqi Women
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 the...
Exposing the Secrets of Black Holes
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Black holes are one of the most interesting and confusing objects in the universe. Their inevitable possibility is predicted by Einstein’s theory of...
The Search for a Contemporary Art Scene in the UAE: From the Sand Palace to the Venice Biennale
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The Parrot and the Igloo: Sherwood Rowland’s Question
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
NYUAD Alumni: On Training and Becoming Professional Artists
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 U...
The Necessity of Young Adult Literature: A Conversation
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What can young adult literature teach us about the problems confronting the world today? Can these books possibly help us find potential solutions to ...
How Is Biological Form Encoded?
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores morphogenesis, the fascinating process of form development in biology. It examines how complex 3D organisms evolve from a single fe...
System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores the unintended consequences of technology's pursuit of optimization, unveiling how it perpetuates discrimination, compromises priva...
True Grit: Striving in the Face of Adversity
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Field Notes from Aridly Abundant Landscapes
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Faysal Tabbarah, the 2023 NPUAE Curator, leads a compelling exploration into the potential of arid environments at the National Pavilion UAE during th...
Climate Law and Net Zero: Challenges and Opportunities
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Addressing the urgency of climate change and the foundational role of international agreements like the Paris Agreement of 2015, countries are urged t...
Climate Change and the Rights of Nature
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores the rise in greenhouse gas concentrations since 1992, leading to the 2023 declaration that "Climate breakdown has begun." Tradition...
On Water: A Natural Perspective!
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this talk, the speaker will trace humanity's bond with water, from historical ties to future implications. Despite water's perceived abundance, mos...
The Jazz of the Cosmos
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Explore the intriguing connections between the realms of physics, cosmology, and quantum physics with the music that defines an era. This talk examine...
Mobility Diplomacy: How States Maximize Passport Power
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Passport rankings demonstrate that access to visa-free travel is highly stratified globally. How do states ascend these ranks? This talk introduces th...
Developing Competencies in Medicine and Biotechnology for the UAE
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this talk, the speaker will discuss the evolution and importance of advancing competencies in medicine and biotechnology tailored for the UAE's uni...
The Abbasid Caliph and His People: A View From the Centre
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores the conventional representations of the Abbasid dynasty, highlighting its perceived trajectory from its rise in the mid-eighth cent...
Source of Life: Water Management in the Premodern Middle East
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the challenging climatic conditions of the Middle East, providing clean water has always been a significant concern. Yet, ancient cities like Abbas...
Cooling the Arab Gulf: How Air-Conditioning Changed Everything
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the Arab Gulf, air-conditioning consumes about 60% of the domestic consumption of electricity. Yet, the ascendency of this technology is far from s...