UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science marks new milestones in third cycle

ABU DHABI, 6th April, 2017 (WAM) -- The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science today announced that it received 201 pre-proposals for the third cycle of its innovative programme. Reflecting the programme’s growing international reputation, the number of pre-proposals for the current cycle is more than double that received last year and exceeds submissions of the first two cycles combined, as it received 201 pre-proposals from 68 countries on five continents, drawing the participation of 710 researchers, affiliated to 316 institutions. Ahmed Juma Al Za'abi, Deputy Minister for Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology, NCMS, said, "This outstanding success testifies to the UAE leadership’s determination to encourage and support the innovation needed to combat water scarcity around the world." "In the space of only a few years, the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science has revitalised research in the important field of rain enhancement, while also driving the formation of new and productive international scientific networks. The overwhelming response to the programme’s call for pre-proposals proves that Abu Dhabi and the UAE are gaining global credibility as leaders in this field," Al Za'abi added. Also commenting on the milestone, Dr. Abdullah Al Mandoos, Director of NCMS, said, "We are immensely proud of the success achieved by the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science in encouraging the transformative and imaginative thinking needed to solve the water security challenge. Receiving more than 200 pre-proposal submissions for its third cycle, clearly demonstrates the high esteem the programme is held in among global scientific communities. We are confident this early success will lead to the launch of exciting new projects that complement the real progress we have already achieved to date." The high uptake for the programme’s third cycle also demonstrates the growing interest in innovation and knowledge-sharing in this scientific and technical field under the directives of the UAE’s visionary leadership.