Masdar graphene study bags Abu Dhabi research prize

A graphene desalination membrane research project was among six proposals from Abu Dhabi’s sustainable technology-focused university, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, that each won a AED 2 million (US$ 500,000) Abu Dhabi Education Council Award for Research Excellence.

One of the winning projects – led by the Institute’s Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department’s, Professor Linda Zou – looked into advanced materials and clean water production the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported. Zou’s team has sought to develop a sustainable and low-cost method of making efficient desalination membranes from graphene.

Dr. Behjat Al Yousuf, Interim Provost, Masdar Institute, said, “Masdar Institute’s thriving culture for innovation continues to result in high-impact research that is relevant to the UAE’s greatest challenges. These awards from the Abu Dhabi Education Council are a recognition of this fact, and we hope that they will inspire additional innovations amongst our researchers in the future,” WAM reported.

A panel of external reviewers selected the Masdar Institute projects. Masdar Institute submitted 34 project proposals for the first cycle of the competition.

The Abu Dhabi Education Council said, “This is a major achievement for Masdar Institute, given the number of proposals received, the quality of the competition and the rigorous international peer review process to which the proposals were subjected.”

WAM reported Masdar Institute’s vice president for research, Dr Steve Griffiths, as saying: “Receiving six prestigious research awards reflects the significance and value of the [Masdar] institute’s research in areas of strategic importance to Abu Dhabi, including energy, water and environmentally advanced materials.”