Khalifa University Organizes Three High-Level Higher Education Workshops
Khalifa University of Science and Technology organized three high-level higher education workshops and presented some of the key research initiatives at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference COP30 Brasil Amazonia in Bel茅m, Brazil, reiterating its status as one of the prominent global leaders in climate action initiatives.
His Excellency Professor Ebrahim Al Hajri, President, Khalifa University said: 鈥淜halifa University is proud to present some of its research initiatives at COP30 Brasil Amazonia, emphasizing the country鈥檚 leadership in climate action and the need to preserve the polar regions from climate change impact. We also believe universities play a critical role in strengthening global academic networks for climate action. By connecting institutions across regions and disciplines, we will be able to accelerate innovation, share knowledge equitably, and turn research into real-world solutions that benefit all communities.鈥�
Chairing the UAE Universities Climate Network, Khalifa University co-organized a COP30 workshop, 鈥楿niversities as Climate Catalysts: Harnessing Academic Network to Accelerate Adaptation and Innovations鈥�, at the Global Alliance of Universities in Climate (GAUC) pavilion joining with University of Birmingham in Dubai. Representing Khalifa University was Dr. Samuel Mao, Co-chair of UAE Universities Climate Network; Director, ASPIRE Research Institute for Sustainability, and Professor of Practice, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. Other panelists included Dr. Stephen Davison, Co-convener of Global Climate Networks and Deputy Director of Cambridge Zero at Cambridge University, UK, and Dr. Thaisa Michelan, Professor of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal do Para in Brazil.
Panelists agreed that strong university networks accelerate knowledge-sharing, foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, and scale innovations into real-world solutions. They also pointed out that such networks connect institutions globally, bridge income and regional gaps, and build career pipelines in sustainability. Panelists also agreed that they influence climate policy, promote evidence-based decisions, and amplify impact by pooling resources, funding, and best practices for greater efficiency.
During the COP30 Brasil Amazonia, Dr. Samuel, with Dr. Aisha Al Suwaidi, an advisory committee member of the Emirates Polar Program and Associate Professor, Earth Science, and Mohammad Al Hamadi, a Khalifa University graduate student who is the first Emirati to complete a polar ocean expedition, interacted with climate and sustainability representatives of several Brazilian and international universities, as well as leaders of multiple higher education climate networks around the world.
Khalifa University鈥檚 sustainability initiatives, as well as its leadership in the UAE Universities Climate Network were highlighted by Dr. Samuel at a symposium titled, 鈥楢cademia Connected Through Climate Action鈥�, organized by a COP30 Brasil Amazonia host university in Belem, Brazil. The symposium attendees agreed that collaborating with universities of the Brazilian Amazon is essential as higher education institutions are uniquely positioned at the intersection of environmental science, social development, and global climate action, while their expertise provides multidisciplinary insights.
Dr. Samuel also served as an advisor to the Amazon Association for COP30 and participated in a special session 鈥楢n Insider鈥檚 Blueprint鈥�,听honoring Emanuela Evangelista, Italian biologist and a renowned advocate for rainforest conservation. Evangelista鈥檚 efforts have safeguarded 600,000 hectares of Amazon forest for sustainable use by indigenous communities, earning her Italy鈥檚 Order of Merit in 2020.
Dr. Samuel Mao highlighted the Polar Research Center鈥檚 activities, at a workshop titled, 鈥極cean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate: The Role of Higher Education Institutions鈥� organized by Khalifa University in collaboration with New York University Abu Dhabi.
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Panelists included Khalifa University鈥檚 Dr. Aisha Al Suwaidi, an advisory committee member of the Emirates Polar Program and Associate Professor, Earth Science, and Mohammad Al Hamadi, a Khalifa University graduate student who is the first Emirati to complete a polar ocean expedition this year.
Earlier, Khalifa University organized a high-level workshop for the international higher education community in collaboration with GAUC during which Dr. Samuel Mao illustrated Khalifa University鈥檚 leadership in every aspect of climate action.
