NCM reviews 38 pre-proposals for 5th Cycle of UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement
ABU DHABI, 16th May, 2023 (WAM) -- The National Centre of Meteorology’s (NCM), through the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP), today advanced 38 research pre-proposals for review by the International Technical Committee as part of the programme’s 5th Cycle of research grants.
Since opening the 5th Cycle in January, UAEREP received 96 pre-proposals from over 400 researchers, scientists, and specialists in the field of weather modification affiliated with 216 research centres, universities and public and private institutions in 35 countries around the world.
Dr. Abdullah Al Mandous, Director-General of NCM and President of WMO Regional Association II (Asia), said, “Through UAEREP, we continue to add more momentum to trending international discussions related to water security and sustainability, with cloud-seeding growing as a sustainable source of water. We are confident that the UAEREP 5th Cycle’s International Technical Review Committee will be selecting the most deserving and innovative research projects that will further enhance the developments we have achieved so far in the field of rain enhancement as the UAE continues to support international initiatives to mitigate the impacts of climate change both locally and globally.”
Speaking at the review meeting at NCM’s Abu Dhabi headquarters, Alya Al Mazrouei, Director of the UAEREP, stated, “In UAEREP’s Fifth Cycle, we look forward to welcoming innovative proposals that can significantly contribute to the advancement of rain enhancement science and technology. To date, we have had 11 successfully awarded proposals that have contributed significantly to the UAE’s strategies to ensure water security and drive sustainability. I wish all those who have submitted the best of luck throughout the review process, and we are confident this Cycle will produce excellent results.”
Building on the success the program has had over its first four cycles, the 5th Cycle is primarily focused on the topics of Enhancing Cloud Formation and Rain Enhancement. These research areas have gained increasing interest from the scientific community and shown promising results, leading UAEREP to support innovative proposals in these areas.
Commenting on the goals of the review meeting, International Technical Committee Chair Dr. Deon Terblanche, Expert Consultant on Weather and Climate Science at World Bank, noted, “We welcome all members of the international scientific community who are participating in the 5th Cycle of the UAEREP. Through these collective efforts, we hope to discover new breakthroughs in the areas of Enhancing Cloud Formation and Rain Enhancement. Let us continue to innovate and collaborate using weather and climate science to build a more sustainable and resilient world.”
Over the next months, the committee comprised of global experts and specialists in weather modification, ensemble modeling, cloud and aerosol microphysics, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence, will shortlist the pre-proposals based on three criteria, specifically: Research excellence, impact and quality; Experience and/or expertise of the proposers, and potential for success; The potential to enhance or transform the UAE weather modification research community and industry.
By end of this month, researchers whose pre-proposals are shortlisted by the committee will be asked to submit final, full proposals, which are due in August, with the ultimate winners to be selected and announced in January 2024.
Launched by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Presidential Court, and managed by the National Centre of Meteorology, the UAEREP is a pioneering research initiative that supports the vital water sector, one of the seven sectors identified by the UAE National Innovation Strategy.
Through its innovative initiatives and unique approaches, the UAEREP has placed the UAE at the forefront of research and development in rain enhancement, leading to the investment of significant resources in this field and achieving significant results to date. The programme offers grants of up to US$1.5 Million each, distributed over three years with a maximum annual funding cap of US$550,000.