Wearing a robotic sixth finger alters brain connectivity and cognitive load during daily tasks, providing insights into designing better assistive technologies for stroke rehabilitation

Jade Sterling
Science Writer

The post The Cognitive Cost of an Extra Finger: How the Brain Adapts to Robotic Limbs appeared first on Khalifa University.

UAE Leads AI Innovation in Telecom with Launch of Region’s First Arabic AI for Customer Experience Transformation

Clarence Michael
English Editor – Specialist

The post Khalifa University, du, Nokia, Microsoft, and ITU Unite to Deliver ‘TelecomGPT-Arabic’ appeared first on Khalifa University.

Software Enables Hands-on Learning, Modeling Well Performance, and Simulating Reservoir Behavior, Preparing Students for Industry Challenges

Clarence Michael
English Editor – Specialist

The post Khalifa University Renews Software License for Suite of Advanced Engineering Tools Designed for Energy Industry appeared first on Khalifa University.

Under the patronage of��, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs, the inaugural����will take place from 10-15 November 2025.

Organised by the��, the event demonstrates Abu Dhabi’s continued commitment to shaping the future of autonomous mobility, while reaffirming its status as a leading global hub for the development and deployment of smart systems and advanced mobility technologies.

In line with the emirate’s strategic vision to shape an integrated innovation-driven ecosystem, Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week will convene key industry stakeholders to explore the latest technology and innovations that will drive competitiveness, enhance efficiency and promote sustainable solutions that further elevate quality of life for the community.

SASC, the organising entity of Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week, plays a pivotal role in developing this ecosystem, setting the strategic direction, shaping policies and regulations, and fostering collaboration across the sector. SASC is also instrumental in driving investment, supporting sustainability, enabling infrastructure development, and fostering innovation across land, sea and air environments.

Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week will highlight the latest technologies and global advancements in the field, attracting key decision-makers, experts and researchers, as well as industry leaders to explore opportunities for collaboration and highlight the emirate’s readiness to adopt and integrate autonomous systems within its broader development framework.

Featuring a week-long programme of events, Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week will commence on 10 November with the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit, which will set the tone for strategic dialogue, innovation and global collaboration.

The one-day summit will provide a platform to discover the latest advancements in sustainable smart and autonomous mobility, translate ideas into action and shape the policies, projects and opportunities that will define the future of the sector.

The summit will be followed by the����exhibition from 10-12 November, showcasing smart and autonomous mobility solutions across land, sea, air and robotics.

RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2025 will also run throughout the week, from 10-15 November. Organised by��Khalifa University��and held for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa region, teams from around the globe will convene in Abu Dhabi to compete in AI-driven autonomous robotics challenges.

The week will conclude with the second edition of the��, highlighting the future of the smart mobility sector.

Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week 2025 serves as a leading platform to showcase the future of autonomous technologies in the emirate. The event provides an opportunity to establish strategic partnerships that enhance global competitiveness and reinforces Abu Dhabi’s leadership in the development of smart and autonomous systems.

By redefining the concept of mobility and encouraging the adoption of autonomous solutions across vital sectors, the emirate continues to lead the innovation ecosystem, integrating principles of efficiency, safety and sustainability in the deployment of smart and autonomous systems across land, sea and air.

Abu Dhabi holds a prominent position in smart mobility and autonomous systems technologies, driven by strong government support, world-class infrastructure, and a flexible regulatory and legislative framework that enables rapid advancement and adoption of innovative solutions. This future-ready approach enhances national technological competitiveness, accelerates the transformation of research and development ecosystems in future technologies, and drives the emirate’s vision for a knowledge- and innovation-based economy.

The post Under the patronage of Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Smart and Autonomous Systems Council organises inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week in November 2025 appeared first on Khalifa University.

Researchers at Khalifa University have developed a smart wearable material that changes color in response to heat and ultraviolet light, offering an alternative to bulky electronics in environmental modelling

Wearable sensors are becoming essential tools for monitoring personal exposure to environmental hazards. A team of researchers from Khalifa University has developed a novel wearable material that senses temperature and ultraviolet radiation using color-changing hydrogels enhanced with artificial intelligence. The device, manufactured through advanced 4D printing, is built from a hydrogel composite that mimics the strength of plastic and shifts color in response to environmental conditions.��

 

Mohamed Elnemr, Ragi Adham Elkaffas, Rami Elkaffas, Dr. Yarjan Abdul Samad, Muhammed Hisham, Prof. Baker Mohammad and Prof. Haider Butt comprised the team from Khalifa University, working with Yasmin Halawani from the University of Dubai. They published their results in .��

 

The new material offers strength similar to nylon and its durability means it functions reliably in everyday settings as part of rings, wristbands, or glasses. The key innovation lies in embedding thermochromic and photochromic powders into hydrogels. Thermochromic dyes change color with temperature, while photochromic dyes respond to UV light. These changes are interpreted by an artificial intelligence model trained to classify temperature ranges based on the color spectrum. In testing, it reached 98.75 percent classification accuracy.��

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“Our goal was to create a material that communicates environmental risks in real time, without needing electronics. By combining color-shifting chemistry with AI, we’re turning simple materials into smart sensors.”

— Haider Butt, Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering

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In practical use, the wearable changes color visibly as temperature rises or UV exposure intensifies, serving as a real-time alert for environmental risks. Under high midday UV exposure, for example, the material turns dark blue. Under weaker sunlight or artificial light, there’s barely any change in color. This specificity makes the system useful as a quick, low-tech check on UV levels, which is ideal for outdoor workers or anyone concerned about sun exposure.��

 

The team’s wearable works without batteries, circuits, or screens. It’s entirely passive and self-contained, and a concentration of just 2.5 percent of the chromic powders was enough to deliver visible changes without weakening the material, so the sensors are robust and inexpensive too. There are limits, of course. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can degrade the dyes over time, much like how transition lenses slowly lose effectiveness. But in most practical scenarios, the material would only need to last for a day or two, making it perfect for semi-disposable applications.��

 

The research team sees this as a first step. Future versions could link with smartphone apps, expanding functionality while keeping the hardware minimal. For now, it’s a promising proof of concept, paving the way for low-cost, battery-free environmental monitoring.

 

Jade Sterling
Science Writer

The post Smart Wearables Take on Heat and UV with AI and 4D-Printed Hydrogels appeared first on Khalifa University.

A team from Khalifa University has created a novel electrochemical immunosensor that simultaneously detects monkeypox. Its selectivity, low detection limits, and field-ready design make it a promising tool for decentralized monkeypox diagnosis

Mpox (monkeypox) is a viral infection closely related to smallpox that has seen multiple international outbreaks since 2022. Current gold-standard diagnostic tools like PCR are accurate but require centralized lab infrastructure, while rapid tests often lack the precision necessary to confidently identify cases, especially during the early stages of infection.��

In response to the urgent need for better mpox diagnostics, researchers at Khalifa University have developed a novel electrochemical biosensor capable of detecting two key antigens simultaneously. The sensor achieves high sensitivity and specificity, outperforming many existing diagnostic technologies. Most importantly, it can be used out in the field.��

Pandiaraj Kanagavalli, Ragi Adham Elkaffas and Dr. Shimaa Eissa published their results in . Their system measures changes in electrochemical current caused by antigen binding, enabling accurate readings within just 30 minutes.��

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“We can detect monkeypox in a fast, reliable, and low-cost way by targeting two viral proteins. Our biosensor will be especially useful in settings where traditional lab tests are not accessible.”

— Shimaa Eissa, Assistant Professor, Khalifa University

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Mpox early symptoms resemble those of other respiratory viruses, including fever, fatigue, and headache, which can complicate early diagnosis. The KU team’s new biosensor addresses these limitations. By immobilizing antibodies for the M1R and A29 proteins — two key mpox antigens — onto an engineered reduced graphene oxide/metal organic framework nanocomposite surface, the researchers created a diagnostic platform that is both portable and robust. It demonstrates strong selectivity with no cross-reactivity to proteins from other viruses like influenza or SARS Cov-2. Plus, its low cost means it could be deployed in point-of-care settings, particularly in regions with limited access to laboratory resources.��

This study is the first to develop a biosensor capable of detecting the M1R protein and the first to combine M1R and A29 detection on a single platform. By targeting two antigens, the device reduces the likelihood of false negatives, a critical advantage for outbreak control and early diagnosis.

Jade Sterling
Science Writer

The post A New Tool for Mpox Diagnosis: Rapid, Sensitive, and Ready for the Field appeared first on Khalifa University.

Teams of students showcased their fully functional prototypes — cars capable of autonomous line following, obstacle detection, and Bluetooth-enabled control – during the project demonstration on the final day of Khalifa University’s Ektashif Summer 2025, in which the Computer and Information Engineering (CIE) Department hosted the Coding Track.

Students later received certificates of completion at a closing ceremony organized by the Outreach Department. The dynamic two-week engagement program from 14 – 24 July was designed to immerse high school students in STEM fields through hands-on learning, real-world projects, and university-style experiences.

A total of 61 talented students from grades 10, 11, and 12 participated in three parallel tracks – Coding in Arduino, Telecommunications and Artificial Intelligence, and Earth Science. The CIE-led Coding Track introduced participants to an interesting world of embedded systems and microcontroller programming, equipping them with essential technical skills while fostering teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving.

Delivered by Dr. Baker Mohammad (Chair, CIE), Engineer Suma Rao, and Engineer Ahmed Ali, the nine-day Coding Track took students from the fundamentals of Arduino programming to the assembly and control of their own Smart Line-Following Cars. Each day built on the previous, covering topics such as:

• Arduino IDE and basic programming
• Sensor interfacing with Arduino
• Serial communication and real-world applications
• Motor control using Arduino
• Bluetooth interface with Arduino
• Final system integration and debugging

Beyond the technical training, the Coding Track emphasized critical thinking, leadership, and collaboration — skills essential for future success in engineering and technology. By providing early exposure to university-level labs, expert mentorship, and applied engineering challenges, the CIE Department reaffirmed its commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators.

The post CIE Department Inspires Young Innovators through Coding Track at Ektashif Summer 2025 appeared first on Khalifa University.

‘Innovate for Impact’ Award Recognizes Pioneering Efforts by Khalifa University’s ENGEOS Lab in Applying AI to Cultural Heritage Preservation

An AI-related technology developed by a Khalifa University team led by Assistant Professor Dr. Diana Francis, Head of��Environmental and Geophysical Sciences (ENGEOS) Lab, has brought honor for Dubai Culture and Arts Authority by winning the ‘Innovate for Impact’ award at the Artificial Intelligence for the Public Good Summit in Geneva.

The award was presented in the ‘Smart Home/Cities’ category at the Summit, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations’ specialized agency for digital technologies. The award recognizes pioneering efforts in applying AI to cultural heritage preservation and archeology.

Dr. Diana Francis said: “We are delighted that a technology combining satellite data and machine learning developed by our team of researchers at Khalifa University’s ENGEOS Lab has won such a prestigious award from ITU, a United Nations agency. This award recognizes the novelty and impact of the AI-remote sensing applications to archaeology activities which we have been developing at Khalifa University since 2020.”

The technology developed at Khalifa University has also been applied to other archeological sites in the UAE. In collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the Khalifa University researchers helped investigate sites of archeological importance in Al Ain to identify the presence of ancient Aflaj Systems and the Um an-Nar tombs.

Dr. Francis’ project applied machine learning algorithms to high-resolution satellite imagery, and advanced image processing techniques to detect and map concealed archaeological features with remarkable accuracy. This groundbreaking approach by the ENGEOS Lab holds other far-reaching implications, particularly in addressing the challenges of remote sensing in desert environments like the UAE, where classic satellite imagery can be compromised by the fact that archaeological sites get buried under the sand with time.

Clarence Michael

English Editor – Specialist

The post Khalifa University’s AI Technology Brings Honor for Dubai Culture at Artificial Intelligence for Public Good Summit in Geneva appeared first on Khalifa University.

Participants Gain Exposure in Coding, Telecom, and AI including Networks, and Earth Science – Led by Khalifa University Faculty

A total of 61 high school students from grades 10, 11, and 12 successfully concluded their two-week in-person Ektashif Summer 2025, a dynamic engagement program that offers exposure to STEM-related majors along with a real-world laboratory experience and research, at Khalifa University.

The program from 14 – 24 July 2025 at the Khalifa University Main Campus was led by faculty experts who�� covered three distinct tracks – coding in Arduino, telecom and artificial intelligence including networks, as well as earth science. Students were selected through a competitive process and will receive certificates of completion during the program’s closing ceremony.��

The ‘Earth Science’ track was covered by Dr. Aisha Alsuwaidi, Dr. Mohammed Ramy, Dr. Diana Francis, Dr. Ricardo Morais Fonseca, Dr. Sonia Alexandra Santos Assuncao, Dr. Mohammed Ali, Dr. Moamen Mohammed and Dr. Mohammad Alsuwaidi.

The ‘Coding’ track was delivered by Dr. Baker Mohammad, Chair, Computer & Communication Engineering, along with Engineer Suma Rao, and Engineer Ahmed Ali. The ‘AI and Telcom’ track�� was offered by Dr.��Merouane Debbah, Director, 6G Research Center, and Dr.��Brahim Mefgouda, along with Engineer Anis Bara, and Engineer Salma Cheour.

The Camp�� was an immersive youth engagement program designed to inspire high school students through hands-on experiences in science, technology, and innovation. The name Ektashif, meaning “to explore” in Arabic, captures the spirit of the program; aiming to ignite curiosity, foster critical thinking, and develop future leaders in STEM fields. Participants explored cutting-edge topics through technical workshops, real-world projects, and university-style learning environments.

This year’s program introduced students to key areas such as artificial intelligence, coding, telecommunications, and earth sciences; delivered by expert faculty and researchers from Khalifa University’s world-class facilities.

Ektashif Camp continues to reflect Khalifa University’s commitment to empowering youth with future-forward skills, inspiring innovation, and fostering academic excellence.

Combining technical workshops, hands-on projects, personal development sessions, and university-style learning environments Ektashif provides participants an early glimpse of campus life and the options available for exploring in science and technology.��

Clarence Michael
English Editor – Specialist

The post 61 High School Students from Grades 10-12 Conclude Two-Week Ektashif Summer 2025 Program appeared first on Khalifa University.

A new technique can strengthen machine learning models against poisoning attacks and outperforms existing defenses

Learn how to protect ML from Tampered Data – Tune in now!

As machine learning systems become integral to industries from healthcare to cybersecurity, their vulnerability to training-time attacks has become a growing concern. One of the most insidious forms of these attacks is called poisoning and occurs when an attacker subtly modifies the training data to degrade model performance. One common trick is to flip the labels of data points — telling the system that spam is not spam, for example — so it learns the wrong patterns.��

A team of researchers from Khalifa University and the University of Milan has developed a new defense strategy to fight this. Instead of training one big model, they split the work among several smaller models, called an ensemble. But rather than splitting the data randomly, each data point is assessed individually for its susceptibility to attack and then routed appropriately.��

Prof. Ernesto Damiani and Dr. Chan Yeob Yeun, from Khalifa University’s Center for Cyber-Physical Systems (C2PS), with Nicola Bena, Claudio Ardagna and Marco Anisetti from Milan University, published their system in .��

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“Machine learning models can be tricked by poisoned data. Our method checks which data points might be poisoned and reroutes them to protect the system. It’s a simple idea that makes machine learning much more secure.”

— Prof. Ernesto Damiani, Khalifa University.

 

The system uses three signals to spot suspicious data: how close the data is to the decision boundary, whether it looks different from its neighbors, and how far it is from typical examples of its class. If a data point looks risky, the system can either spread it thinly across models or send it all to one model to contain the damage.��

 

Tests showed this method made machine learning models more resistant to attacks, especially when more of the data was poisoned. On certain datasets, it outperformed older methods that rely purely on random distribution. However, it worked best when the suspicious data was spread out evenly — in some cases where bad data clustered together, the method had limits. However, the technique runs quickly, and doesn’t require removing any data outright, which makes it practical for real-world use.��

 

Plus, their approach is efficient and scalable. Even as dataset sizes increased, processing times grew linearly, and the method remained faster than many existing filtering techniques.��

 

As adversarial machine learning threats evolve, the study demonstrates that proactive, risk-aware training processes can offer a powerful defense — shifting the paradigm from random redundancy to intelligent resilience.��

 

Jade Sterling
Science Writer

The post A Smarter Way to Protect Machine Learning from Tampered Data appeared first on Khalifa University.

Graduates Equipped to Leverage Scientific and Technical Advancements through Enhanced Skills in Service Quality, Efficiency, and Agility

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Khalifa University of Science and Technology today announced the launch of an interdisciplinary MSc program in Health Systems Management from Fall 2025, to help recent graduates and professionals gain essential technical and managerial skills for achieving higher levels of responsibility in public and private sector healthcare organizations.

The program offers in-depth expertise in systems thinking, data analytics, optimization, operational excellence, and digital health. It focuses on designing and managing modern, complex health systems, using systems approaches and management science principles. Students of this program will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to leverage scientific and technical advancements in healthcare with enhanced service quality, efficiency, and agility.

Professor Bayan Sharif, Provost, Khalifa University, said: “The MSc in Health Systems Management at Khalifa University is designed to support professionals at hospitals, government health departments, and clinics, while helping them to develop and oversee the policies and procedures that ensure smooth operations and quality of care. Our faculty experts train the students and help them achieve higher levels of proficiency in these areas. Graduates of this program will be equipped to effectively coordinate systems and policies, playing a role that goes far beyond basic administration, positively influencing patient care quality and the overall performance of health systems.”

The MSc in Health Systems Management program includes a diverse range of elective courses, delving into crucial aspects such as informatics, performance, quality, analytics, optimization, policy, and economics. It equips students with planning, organizing, and monitoring of care programs and services across an entire ecosystem. Within health systems, these professionals support communities by ensuring the efficient use of budgets, available resources, and investments in programs and services.

Graduates of this program will seek positions as senior business analyst, senior improvement consultant, health systems manager, and executive director for program management. From such positions they can ensure that factors such as staffing, budgets, records management, training and advancement, and available care services are managed in accordance with both the needs of patients and in line with an institution’s financial resources.

For students of this program, Khalifa University’s collaboration with various prestigious healthcare organizations and ministries in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and worldwide opens doors for internships and potential job placements.

Click here to read more about the new program.

Clarence Michael
English Editor – Specialist����

The post Khalifa University Launches Interdisciplinary MSc Program in Health Systems Management from Fall 2025 appeared first on Khalifa University.

The future of biofuel catalysis lies in precision-engineered single-atom alloys that efficiently convert bio-oil into hydrogen��

Learn How to convert bio-oil into hydrogen – Tune in now!

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Hydrogen is poised to play a central role in the shift to a low-carbon future, especially when produced cleanly from renewable resources. While most hydrogen today is made from natural gas, bio-oil offers a sustainable, carbon-neutral alternative. The challenge is finding efficient, affordable, and durable catalysts that can convert bio-oil into hydrogen without fouling or degrading.����

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Researchers at Khalifa University, including Prof. Lourdes Vega, Prof. Kyriaki Polychronopoulou, Dr. Seba AlAreeqi and Dr. Daniel Bahamon, collaborated with researchers from Johns Hopkins University, using advanced computational modeling to design such catalysts from the atom up. By simulating the behavior of nickel-based single-atom alloys (SAAs), the team identified a suite of bimetallic and trimetallic catalysts that could overcome longstanding issues in hydrogen production, including carbon buildup, instability, and low selectivity. They published their results in ����

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Nickel is already widely used in hydrogen reforming due to its activity and low cost but it suffers from key limitations: it tends to form carbon deposits (known as coking) and it degrades over time. Noble metals like palladium and platinum perform better but are prohibitively expensive.����

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SAAs – where individual atoms of one metal are dispersed in a host metal matrix – offer a way to combine the affordability of base metals like nickel with the performance of more active elements. The challenge is finding stable combinations that avoid clustering and retain activity under high temperatures.����

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““By designing catalysts atom by atom, we’ve identified nickel-based alloys that offer a practical path to producing hydrogen from bio-oil – combining affordability, performance, and long-term stability.”

— Professor Lourdes Vega, Khalifa University.

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The research team used computational design tools to cut through the complexity, screening 26 potential dopant metals to find combinations that met the requirements. Of the bimetallic candidates that passed the initial screening, copper-nickel emerged as a particularly promising catalyst, showing strong hydrogen production and low coking tendencies. To further improve performance, the team also explored trimetallic systems, adding a third metal to harness synergistic interactions between co-dopants, leading to catalysts with finely tuned surface energies, hydrogen binding, and coke resistance.����

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By using a computational approach, the researchers were able to bypass the slow, costly process of trial-and-error catalyst synthesis. They were also able to include economic criteria to prioritize scalable solutions. With real-world testing, the more promising candidates could become critical components of next-generation hydrogen infrastructure, transforming waste-derived bio-oil into a clean energy source.����

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Jade Sterling
Science Writer

The post Designing Smart Catalysts to Unlock Green Hydrogen from Bio-Oil appeared first on Khalifa University.