ABU DHABI // Weather towers could automatically credit farmers' mobile phones as a cheap and quick form of insurance in times of drought. And small villages in isolated rural areas could one day be connected to a solar-panelled microgrid.
These are a snapshot of the ideas researchers discussed at a conference yesterday at the New York University Abu Dhabi's (NYUAD) new centre for technology and economic development.
The centre is among the first projects to benefit from a US$20 million (Dh73m) NYUAD research grant to fund science and humanities research, and is unique because it is based in Abu Dhabi, and is not an extension of a New York-based project.
"The point is to make an impact here and to help establish Abu Dhabi as a leader in the top research," said Dr Yaw Nyarko, the director of the centre.
"The focus is on poorer countries, but we are hoping that the research will even have an impact on richer countries and that the lessons learnt will be transferred here in the UAE in some way."
As the number of mobile phone users climbs in underdeveloped parts of the world, researchers at the new centre are considering the ways texting and phone credits could be used for commerce in rural markets.
The conference panel included experts from the Masdar Institute and the International Institute of Information Technology in Bangalore, who discussed projects currently being pilot-tested in Africa and Asia.
Dr Nyarko and others are examining the practice of transferring credits, or mobile minutes, as a method of payment.
Mobile phones could also be useful for "telemedicine" to consult with doctors or detect fake drugs.
"In cases where fake drugs to treat malaria contain chalk, that could be ingested and kill someone," Dr Nyarko said.
"By taking a picture of a bar code or the pill itself, we may be able to detect fakes and save lives."
econroy@thenational.ae
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How Alia's experiment will help humans get to Mars
Alia’s winning experiment examined how genes might change under the stresses caused by being in space, such as cosmic radiation and microgravity.
Her samples were placed in a machine on board the International Space Station. called a miniPCR thermal cycler, which can copy DNA multiple times.
After the samples were examined on return to Earth, scientists were able to successfully detect changes caused by being in space in the way DNA transmits instructions through proteins and other molecules in living organisms.
Although Alia’s samples were taken from nematode worms, the results have much bigger long term applications, especially for human space flight and long term missions, such as to Mars.
It also means that the first DNA experiments using human genomes can now be carried out on the ISS.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
Biog:
Age: 34
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite sport: anything extreme
Favourite person: Muhammad Ali
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
Villains
Queens of the Stone Age
Matador
Abu Dhabi card
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,400m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 2,200m
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
The National selections:
5pm: Valcartier
5.30pm: AF Taraha
6pm: Dhafra
6.30pm: Maqam
7pm: AF Mekhbat
7.30pm: Ezz Al Rawasi
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