Zaki Nusseibeh: The achievement of Dr. Basam emphasizes the university's pioneering role in supporting scientific research and developing its academic curricula 

H.E. Zaki Nusseibeh, the Cultural Advisor to the UAE President and the Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University, congratulated Dr. Basam Saeed Mohammed Dahy, a postdoctoral fellow at UAEU, on receiving the Association of Arab Universities Award for outperforming other university students in the Arab World.

On this occasion, H.E. Zaki Nusseibeh said, "UAE University is proud of the excellence of one of its postgraduate students for receiving the Association of Arab Universities Award for the best doctoral dissertation for the year 2022 in the field of basic and applied sciences, under the supervision of Prof. Salem Issa, Department of Geosciences at the university."

His Excellency added, “Dr. Basam’s completion of his Ph.D. dissertation at the UAE University in the Ecology and Environmental Sciences Program from the College of Science confirms the leading position of the university and its integrated strategy in supporting scientific research, that is based on the latest technological levels globally. It also confirms the development of the university academic curricula provided to the students under the supervision and leadership of specialized teaching professionals to motivate them to develop and continuously learn to be always at the forefront."

For his part, Prof. Salem Issa, Associate Professor in the Department of Geosciences and the Supervisor of Basam Saeed, said, "The topic of Basam's doctoral dissertation was one of the principal topics in the field of space technologies applications dealing with the pressing environmental issues that affect people's lives in the Gulf countries in particular, and other Arab countries in general. This study was concerned with assessing and calculating the date palm’s ability to sequester the carbon from the atmosphere in its trunks as well as the soils under-beneath with high accuracy, using satellite images and geospatial technologies supporting it. Accordingly, having such studies will absolutely open the way for using these technologies in the future to improve the environment and manage natural resources in a sustainable manner. In fact, this is what we are doing now in our research projects in the laboratories of the United Arab Emirates University.”

Dr. Basam Saeed Dahy dedicated his achievement to H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, May God protect him, expressing his thanks to the UAE and its honorable leaders for their continuous support for all the residents.

Dahy added, "I also dedicate this achievement to H.E. Zaki Nusseibeh, the Cultural Adviser to the President of the UAE and the Chancellor of UAE University. Receiving this award affirms the excellence of the university's advanced educational curricula, and is a testament to the country's investment in the field of higher education, scientific research, and environmental work. I hope this dissertation would support the UAE's efforts in mitigating the effects of climate change and reducing the carbon footprint by expanding the cultivation of date palms and other arid-land plants."

It is worth mentioning that the award winners were honored during the General Conference of the Association of Arab Universities in its 55^th session, which was held in the Universities of Monastir and Sousse- Tunisia from 18-20 March 2023.