UAE Research Program For Rain Enhancement Science Roadshow Expands Stakeholder Network In Hong Kong

A UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science team is exploring potential collaboration with leading scientists in Hong Kong as part of its ongoing global campaign to forge new stakeholder relationships to advance rain enhancement innovation.

The visit marks the opening of the Program’s China roadshow, which represents the latest stage in an ongoing global campaign to engage with international stakeholders and which builds on successful visits to the United States and Russia earlier this year. Following its visit to Hong Kong, the roadshow will continue its tour with further meetings and scientific demonstrations in Beijing.

Dr Abdulla Al Mandous, the Director of NCM, commented that: “In view of the vital need for new innovations to ensure global water security, the Program is committed to identifying and reaching out to as many international stakeholders involved in this field as possible. Our roadshow visit to Hong Kong will further strengthen our stakeholder networks and enable the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science to continue to lead efforts to devise the innovation and solutions needed to ensure sustainable sources of water for vulnerable populations around the world.”

The Program team’s agenda commenced on October 11 with meetings with senior academics and scientists at the Hong Kong Observatory and City University of Hong Kong, followed by further engagement and discussions with other noted experts the next day at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The leading institutions in Hong Kong receiving the roadshow team are world-renowned centers of expertise in a wide range of weather and environmental fields. They incorporate state-of-the-art facilities supporting advanced work in a wide range of fields including monitoring and forecasting weather, issuing weather warnings, assessing and monitoring radiation levels, energy and environmental-related phenomena, urban atmosphere monitoring, and heat island research.

Alya Al Mazroui, Director of the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to visit to leading researchers in Hong Kong to share our expertise and explore the potential for productive research collaboration across the full range of scientific fields related to rain enhancement. The expansion of our stakeholder network in Hong Kong testifies to the reputation of our Program as a globally-recognized hub of excellence for rain enhancement research.”

Launched by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs of the UAE, and managed by the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science is an internationally-recognized initiative leading efforts to advance innovation aimed at generating increased rainfall in arid areas. The Program is currently supporting 9 awardee projects developing a range of ambitious and creative ideas related to rain enhancement and weather phenomena.

Since its inception, the Program has built a global network with more than 1200 researchers from over 500 prestigious global institutions including the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the European Space Agency (ESA), and NASA. In addition, the Program has also built enduring links with leading scientific organizations in countries ranging from the United States to the UK and Germany in Europe and to China and Japan in East and South East Asia.