Three sisters, from different academic disciplines at the UAE University, won the Chancellor’s Innovation Award 2023, within the activities of the Innovation Month organized by the university in the presence of H.E. Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Advisor to H.H. the President of the UAE - Chancellor of the UAE University.

The team consisted of three sisters, Aisha Al-Esayi from the College of Engineering - majoring in chemical engineering and having a master’s degree in engineering management, Sarah Al-Esayi from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Al-Yazia Al-Esayi from the Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering.

The winning of the three sisters emphasizes the importance of creativity and innovation as well as sustainability in the country and society. The innovative and creative family represents a positive indicator and is consistent with the UAE Government innovation national strategy to enhance the UAE position and keep pace with the civilizational development.

The wining project of the three sisters is about the simulation of chemical and optical processes in the atmosphere using Artificial Intelligence to understand the extent of the chemicals impact on the development of genetic diseases. The project, which integrates health and engineering sciences, has concluded that the spread of some genetic diseases might result from chemical reactions, especially in professional and industrial gatherings, due to interactions between industrial materials that affect the atmosphere, human nucleic acids, and the impacts of such reactions on the environment and society.  In addition, it is necessary to find preventive solutions for any adverse effects to reduce the genetic diseases.

The student, Aisha Al-Esayi, the team leader, said that the team developed the project idea through the integration of their different academic disciplines, involving health and engineering sciences, with the aim of investigating the challenges that affect the environment and society. The project, at the same time support the decision-makers to take appropriate measures.

She added: "The idea of the research evolved based on the university's announcement and invitation to participate in the Chancellor’s Innovation Award. The award provides an opportunity for students, faculty members, and employees to participate with creative and innovative ideas and projects that serve the country and the society. We discussed the idea within our family including our mother, a teacher in the field of education who encouraged us to do so. We conducted online scientific research, to search for information and ideas that would help us in conducting the project. Then, we communicated with the UAE university which provided us with the needed support. Three models were chosen to study in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah. Indeed, we received support from all the involved parties. The ideas were put into practice. Each of us, according to her academic discipline, conducted research and collected ideas. We decided to choose the impact of environmental factors from industrial and chemical emissions and interactions in the atmosphere, especially carbon emission, and its impact on the health of individuals. The results and studies were compared with the results of such factors in other countries. The preliminary results revealed the extent of the impact of these factors on DNA.

She added: "A scientific simulation was conducted using artificial intelligence to assess the impacts on medical factors and the health of individuals. The research indicated the high prevalence of autism as one of the negative effects, especially in genetic diseases through the high proportion of nitrogen and carbon in atmosphere, and the extent of effects on the workers in industrial areas.