Student numbers in business, engineering and media courses are high, while the number of people studying medicine and science is much lower. Getty Images
Student numbers in business, engineering and media courses are high, while the number of people studying medicine and science is much lower. Getty Images

Science will yield solutions for world’s problems



The challenges of today will be met by the scientists of tomorrow. Water scarcity, climate change, food security and renewable energy all require technical expertise and scientific knowledge to find innovative solutions. In the UAE, as in many parts of the world, these issues are critical to securing the future of the country and its population. Yet worryingly, less than 1 per cent of university students in Dubai are taking science-based subjects. According to Dubai Statistics Centre, nearly half of all students are focusing on business administration instead.

There are several reasons for this. In “one of the most entrepreneurial cities in the world", as university vice chancellor John Evans says, a business degree might seem more useful to those dreaming of launching a start-up, running a business, or going into a public sector or administrative role. And there is a certain fear factor that can accompany the sciences, because students either feel intimidated by them or cannot see the immediate pay-off for their careers. There is also the fact students graduating today can only guess at what job prospects an automated future might hold for them, or what subjects might best equip them for it.

But science, as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, once said, is the basis of development and prosperity. Rather than importing talent, nurturing a love of science in UAE students from a young age is vital to developing the kind of skills necessary for a transition away from oil dependence into a knowledge economy. Steps are already underway to do so. Al Jalila Foundation in Dubai offers fellowships and seed grants to scientists both within the UAE and overseas, to work on innovations to help the nation and grow the city's reputation as an epicentre of scientific research. Abu Dhabi's annual science festival similarly aims to enliven young minds.

One encouraging figure was the 16 per cent of students pursuing engineering degrees, which will set them in good stead as the UAE participates in the global space race. These small steps must be built upon to encourage more students to take up a broad range of sciences and to inspire them to dedicate themselves to searching for new answers to the world’s most pressing issues. The nation’s future depends on it.

Brief scores:

Juventus 3

Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'

Frosinone 0

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How green is the expo nursery?

Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery

An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo

Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery

Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape

The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides

All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality

Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country

Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow

Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site

Green waste is recycled as compost

Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs

Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers

About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer

Main themes of expo is  ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.

Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months

Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

'Saand Ki Aankh'

Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

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88 Video's most popular rentals

Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.  

Sholay: a 1975 Indian action-adventure film. It follows the adventures of two criminals hired by police to catch a vagabond. The film was panned on release but is now considered a classic.

Lucifer: is a 2019 Malayalam-language action film. It dives into the gritty world of Kerala’s politics and has become one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.

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Company profile

Name: Dukkantek 

Started: January 2021 

Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani 

Based: UAE 

Number of employees: 140 

Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service) 

Investment: $5.2 million 

Funding stage: Seed round 

Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office  

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre, six-cylinder

Transmission: six-speed manual

Power: 395bhp

Torque: 420Nm

Price: from Dh321,200

On sale: now

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5