NYUAD Institute

The African continent consists of 54 countries. This conversation among African theater practitioners and scholars, necessarily diverse by expertise, engages a range of questions to understand better the term theater(s), the evolution of theaters among African countries, and this contemporary moment in Africa’s theaters. Who is making theater today in Africa—who’s writing, who’s producing, who att...

Part of "Luminaries of Science" series The talk describes how research using the fruit fly Drosophila revealed the make-up of the circadian clock. The first clock gene to be detected in any organism, named “period”, was physically isolated by Young in 1984 and screens in his laboratory subsequently identified five additional genes that are each essential for production of circadian rhythms. Intera...

This conversation between Abhishek Majumdar and Ruben Polendo examines the making and teaching of theater in a global context. The talk centers around two of Majumdar's recently published books, “Theatre across borders” and “Collected Plays" by Bloomsbury International. Both Ruben Polendo and Majumdar have spent several years, training and working in global contexts and this dialogue is about thei...

What does it mean to belong — and how does our sense of identity unite or divide us? Group cooperation is one of the most remarkable features of human nature, enabling people to build teams, communities, and nations. Yet the same psychological forces that bind us together can also drive conflict and polarization. In this talk, I explain how our social identities — the groups we feel part of — shap...

This event is related to 19 Washington Square North's Faculty Fellows Program. The apple tree (Malus domestica) is one of the world’s most iconic fruit crops, with profound cultural, economic, and ecological significance. Yet many questions remain about its origins, its domestication history, and its ability to withstand the challenges of climate change. Recent advances in population genomics have...

Since the 2008-2009 financial crisis and the Occupy movements around the globe, artists have increasingly turned to new models of artistic production and community engagement, expanding their work beyond the walls of theaters and museums and into situated social and ecological practices. Katia Arfara’s new book, Curating the Commons. Socially Engaged Public Art, offers an in-depth study on perform...

This presentation briefly recaps the emergence of the painting, the critical reception and ongoing controversy, and eventual purchase by Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. The history and condition, the restoration, the materials and techniques of the painting in comparison with other works by the artist are discussed. An evaluation of the work’s place and importance in Leonard...

Cities like New York often feel hotter than their surroundings, especially on summer nights. This is the “urban heat island” effect, caused by the replacement of natural land covers with heat-absorbing materials, reduced vegetation and evapotranspiration, urban geometry that traps heat, and waste heat from human activities. Around the world, UHIs affect energy use, air quality, and public health....

All cutting-edge medical treatments come with side effects that can limit their benefit. In this talk, Prof. Ramadi explores how we can make medicine better—by moving beyond today’s one-size-fits-all approaches toward smarter, personalized interventions. With breakthroughs in nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and advanced therapeutics, we are rethinking how medicine can not only treat disea...

Stem cells hold promise for understanding human disease, screening for novel therapeutics, and regenerating damaged tissues. However, the mechanisms underlying how these cells form and are activated are still being uncovered, and the development of stem cell-derived tissues for drug screening and transplantation is a work in progress. This conversation with leaders in the field explores the fundam...

This talk features a conversation with Ibrahim al-Koni, a prominent contemporary author in Arabic literature. Raised as a Tuareg in the Libyan desert, al-Koni's storytelling is informed by his educational background and extensive travels. His extensive body of work, encompassing over a hundred books, examines the history of the Mediterranean region and the desert. The discussion will focus on al-K...

This talk discusses whether the UAE is on track to become the epicenter of Arab pop culture over the next decade or if its influence will remain tied to amplifying trends from elsewhere. While the country has established itself as a global business and finance hub, can it also position itself as a leading exporter of Arab creativity, shaping regional and global cultural currents? The panelists wil...

Explore the intersection of cybersecurity, technology ethics, and disinformation with leading experts. This panel examines the human-centered aspects of cybertechnology, the global threats posed by state actors, and the ethical dilemmas at the forefront of our digital age. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion that uncovers the challenges and solutions in protecting our digital future. Speake...

Explore the prehistoric landscapes of Arabia, tracing the movements of early humans who migrated from Africa over the past two million years. The talk examines how these groups adapted to diverse environments, from lush greenery to areas inhabited by now-extinct animals. It highlights their use of stone tools, local flora, and fauna for survival, and how water served as a crucial lifeline. The spe...

This talk explores the profound artistry and scientific intricacies of Indian art music, with a focus on the Hindustani repertoire. Dr. Kaustuv Kanti Ganguli delves into the psychoacoustic and emotional dimensions of ragas, illustrating how pitch, timbre, and rhythm evoke deep responses. Bridging tradition with technology, he demonstrates the role of objective thinking in understanding melodic nua...

The Climate Crisis has created novel challenges for public policy in the Global South. Developing nations need to discover ways of continuing to grow without undermining the goals of the Paris Agreement, transitioning to green energy at the same time as addressing deep problems of economic growth and social inequality. They also need to mitigate some of the effects of extreme weather events, such...

This panel explores how integrating art, science and engineering fosters innovation, broadens perspectives, and drives societal contributions. In the UAE’s cultural and scientific landscape, interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial to engage the public, inspire creativity, and support the nation’s long-term goals in education and research. Panelists Iyad Rahwan, Director of the Max Planck Instit...

This talk explores the Universe’s journey from its homogeneous beginnings after the Big Bang to the formation of stars from primordial hydrogen and helium. Through nuclear fusion, stars produced light elements, and their dramatic deaths as supernovae forged elements up to iron. The Zwicky Transient Facility, a cutting-edge 2-telescope project, systematically studies the dynamic Universe. The speak...

This talk explores the concept of prophecy and prophethood from a multi-faith perspective. Prophets existed before the Bible, as seen in ancient texts describing the Mesopotamian nabū, muhhum, and assinnu. Biblical prophets came in many forms—true and false, charismatic and solitary, loyal to kings or opposing them. The debate over prophecy persisted for millennia: Jews saw it as ending with the H...

This talk examines Soviet power through a transregional and global lens, focusing on its cultural and political exchanges with the Middle East. Drawing from a recently published book, The Eastern International: Arabs, Central Asians, and Jews in the Soviet Union's Anticolonial Empire, it traces how the Soviet concept of the “East” shaped both domestic policy and international influence, from the e...

This talk explores how parents can support their young children's digital play, learning, and curiosity in today's digital world. The speaker will discuss practical strategies for keeping children safe online while fostering meaningful engagement with their digital interactions. Learn how children navigate their digital landscapes and discover effective approaches for parental involvement in their...

This panel discussion will consider how ethical decisions will be influenced in the future by the many applications of Artificial Intelligence. An ethicist and philosopher, an engineer who will design intelligent robots, and a computer scientist whose goal will be to make "responsible AI" synonymous with "AI" will each present a view of future AI ethics and then discuss how their views will diverg...

This talk will take students on a journey through humanity's ongoing quest to uncover the fundamental laws that shape our universe. The speaker will reflect on the progress made so far and highlight the challenges that lie ahead. Students will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions and engage in discussions, making this an exciting learning experience for young minds eager to explore the my...

This talk will explore the role of chaos in nature, highlighting how even well-understood rules can make predicting the future challenging—weather forecasting being a prime example. The speaker will discuss recent discoveries showing that chaos is central to the behavior of black holes, some of the most mysterious objects in the universe. These developments provide fresh insights into the ongoing...

Join us for the inaugural ذخر (Dhikhr) Award presentation, inspired by the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who said, "The book is the vessel of knowledge, civilization, culture, learning, literature, and the arts. Nations are not measured by their material wealth alone, but by their civilizational authenticity." The word Dhikhr means "valuable asset" in Arabic, symbolizing th...