NYUAD’s centre on climate and environment renamed Mubadala ACCESS Centre

ABU DHABI / WAM

NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has received a commitment from Mubadala to sponsor its Arabian Centre for Climate and Environmental Sciences (ACCESS). As part of the strategic partnership, the centre has officially been renamed the Mubadala ACCESS Centre.
The Mubadala ACCESS Centre is a leading research centre on the climate and environment of the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf region. It will support keeping scientific research on local and regional climate change and the environment at pace with the rapid development of the societies and economies that dwell in the region.
“Mubadala’s commitment to creating long-lasting partnerships is an unwavering part of our DNA. As we continue to forge strategic partnerships, sponsoring the ACCESS Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi is a testament to our ongoing support to advancing environmental sciences. Collaborations like these are an important part of our mission and vision to drive positive change, fostering innovation and knowledge exchange for a sustainable future,” commented Mansour Al Ketbi, Deputy Chief Corporate and Human Capital Officer at Mubadala.
NYUAD Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann said, “We are immensely grateful for the support of Mubadala, which has long been a great partner for NYUAD, to advance the research carried out by this critical centre. Mubadala’s generous sponsorship significantly contributes to the UAE’s position as a leader in sustainable development by fostering the work of world-class environmental scientists based in the country.”
“The Mubadala ACCESS Centre’s team of researchers will continue their invaluable work on climate change and environmental science of the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula, and contribute relevant expertise to the country’s response to the climate crisis.”
The Centre is led by an executive leadership team that includes NYUAD Associate Professor of Mathematics Francesco Paparella, NYUAD Associate Professor of Biology and marine biologist John Burt, and NYUAD Associate Professor of Biology and Global Network Associate Professor of Biology Shady Amin. The team manages a wider group of researchers across various environmental disciplines and climate sciences, spanning oceanography, marine biology, and microbial ecology.
The Mubadala ACCESS Centre collaborates with UAE government agencies and public stakeholders to productively support understanding causes and consequences of climate change specific to the region both ahead of and after the UAE’s hosting of COP28. Its scientists are part of the Climate Change Research Network instituted by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
Along with basic scientific research, the Mubadala ACCESS Centre team builds observational and modelling capacity in the marine and atmospheric sector in the region. It also integrates the multidisciplinary competencies present within NYUAD and NYU’s Global Network with a view to correlating ongoing environmental research with the rapid development of regional societies and economies.
While the centre’s research is locally focused, it contributes to the understanding of wider ecological trends and the implementation of climate-related strategies on regional and global scales.