NYUAD Institute

What does it mean to document the natural history of a rapidly changing nation?

This open-access volume, A Natural History of the Emirates, edited by John Burt, brings together over 20 leading experts to present a comprehensive and up-to-date account of the UAE’s ecosystems and biodiversity.

From desert landscapes to marine environments, the collection examines how natural systems are shaped by and respond to human development, offering important insights into environmental change in the region.

🔗 Learn more about this publication:
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-37397-8 -1-0

What did “1968” mean beyond Europe and North America?

This collection, which grew out of the "Revisiting 1968 and the Global Sixties" conference at the NYU Abu Dhabi Institute, brings together scholars from across the globe to rethink the Sixties as a worldwide moment of protest, transformation, and nation-building.

Edited by Chen Jian, Martin Klimke, Masha Kirasirova, Mary Nolan, Marilyn Young, and Joanna Waley-Cohen, the volume reflects the kind of global, interdisciplinary work that continues to shape conversations at the NYUAD Institute.

🔗 Learn more about this publication:
https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Handbook-of-the-Global-Sixties-Between-Protest-and-Nation-Building/Jian-Klimke-Kirasirova-Nolan-Young-Waley-Cohen/p/book/9781138557321

#1968

How do we live and work with intention in an increasingly complex world?

In this conversation, Suzy Welch introduces the Becoming You methodology, reflecting on how core values and self-awareness shape meaningful careers and personal clarity. In conversation with Professor Rob Solmon, the discussion considers leadership, decision-making, and what it means to craft an authentic life.

🔗 RSVP:
https://nyuad.my.salesforce-sites.com/Events/NYUEventRegistration?event=9LbK6NdlI0zQe27zdjJHdQ_3D_3D

Suzy Welch, New York Times Best-Selling Author; Professor of Management Practice, NYU Stern

In conversation with
Robert Salomon, Dean, Stern at NYU Abu Dhabi; Professor of International Management, NYU Stern School of Business; NEC Faculty Fellow, NYU Stern School of Business

In collaboration with
Stern at NYUAD

For nearly two million years, humans lived as mobile hunter-gatherers. In a relatively short span of time, agriculture, cities, and states transformed how societies functioned.

This talk traces the shift from the Stone Age to early civilizations, examining why this transformation began in the Middle East and how it reshaped human life. It also asks a fundamental question that still resonates today. Did the rise of civilization improve human well-being?

🔗 RSVP:
https://nyuad.my.salesforce-sites.com/Events/NYUEventRegistration?event=Y9q7eRuSCOtlUcKtang_2BdA_3D_3D

Robert Allen, Global Distinguished Professor of Economic History, NYUAD

Women continue to make major contributions to cognition and neuroscience, yet remain underrepresented in senior and leadership roles.

This roundtable brings together scholars from around the world to reflect on progress in the field, examine ongoing challenges, and consider how neuroscience can better support diverse talent and perspectives through research insights and personal experiences.

🔗 RSVP:
https://bit.ly/4rpm4Ew

Yanchao Bi, Professor, School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University
Ida Gobbini, Professor of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna
Angelika Lingnau, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Regensburg
Liuba Papeo, Research Director, CNRS; Director, Cognitive Neuropsychology and Development Team, Institute of Cognitive Sciences Marc Jeannerod; Marie Curie Fellow
Meera AlKaabi, Acting President, Executive Director of Academic Affairs, National Academy for Childhood Development; Associate Professor of Linguistics, UAEU

Moderated by
Claudine Habak, Associate Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE)

How does the meaning of an artwork change as it moves from museums and galleries into public space and digital circulation? Drawing on more than fifteen years of artistic practice, Professor Bahia Shehab reflects on audience engagement across institutions, streets, and social media, and considers how artworks travel and remain relevant across different geographies.

🔗 RSVP:
https://nyuad.my.salesforce-sites.com/Events/NYUEventRegistration?event=O0Otl410swk_2BtOe34z4Plg_3D_3D

Bahia Shehab, Professor of Design and Director of TypeLab at AUC

Why does access to safe water remain uneven despite proven solutions? This talk explores financial innovation and cross-sector partnerships as pathways to expanding water access, drawing on the work of Water.org and the global conversation leading up to the 2026 UN Water Conference.

🔗 RSVP:
https://nyuad.my.salesforce-sites.com/Events/NYUEventRegistration?event=6xyi3EsiN1ySTnkHSZkl9w_3D_3D

Gary White, Co-founder and CEO, Water.org

Moderated by
Gareth Wynn, Chief Communications Officer, TAQA

Ultrahigh energy cosmic rays are among the most powerful particles ever observed, yet their origin remains unknown. In this lecture, Professor Glennys Farrar presents a bold new theory linking these particles to neutron star mergers that create black holes and forge precious elements. The talk connects cosmic rays, gravitational waves, and the extreme physics shaping our Universe.

🔗 RSVP:
https://nyuad.my.salesforce-sites.com/Events/NYUEventRegistration?event=p6djsn3inez3rtSEnCvcMQ_3D_3D

Glennys Farrar, Professor Of Physics; Silver Professor, NYU

Some music challenges even the most experienced performers when it comes to memory. In this lecture-recital, pianist and researcher Laura Rozada introduces Conceptual Simplification, a new method for understanding and memorising complex post-tonal piano works. Drawing on ideas from mathematics and computer science, this talk offers a fresh way of thinking about musical structure, memory, and performance. Live piano performances will accompany the lecture.

🔗 RSVP:
https://nyuad.my.salesforce-sites.com/Events/NYUEventRegistration?event=A1mojrHRcea8K79TbSluZA_3D_3D

Laura Rozada, Pianist, Mathematician and Researcher. Associate Professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia Visiting Professor at the Catalonia College of Music

The NYU Abu Dhabi Institute would like to acknowledge the late David Heard CBE, who was recognized as an honoree during the 12th edition of the Abu Dhabi Awards, recently held at Qasr Al Hosn and conferred by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.

David Heard made landmark contributions to the study of the history of Abu Dhabi and the wider region. His meticulous historical research and publications remain foundational references for scholars, residents, and all those interested in the heritage of the Emirates.

His wife, Dr. Frauke Heard-Bey, also a previous recipient of the Abu Dhabi Award, has long been recognized as one of the leading historians of the UAE and a central figure in documenting the emergence of the modern state, and together their scholarship has profoundly enriched the nation’s historical record.

In recognition of this shared legacy, David Heard and Frauke Heard-Bey were honored as the inaugural NYUAD Institute Dhikhr Award winners in 2025 for their lasting contributions to UAE heritage.

The archive of materials that David Heard and Frauke Heard-Bey generously bequeathed to New York University will continue to serve as an invaluable resource for future generations of researchers, ensuring that their lifelong dedication to documenting the region’s history endures as a lasting legacy.

الراحل دافيد هيرد - The Late David Heard ارتبط اسم الراحل دافيد هيرد بالتاريخ الحديث لدولة الإمارات.كان له دور أساسي في المراحل الأولى من تطوير قطاع النفط. وإضافة إلى دوره في قطاع النفط، وثق دافيد م...

Our upcoming talk will look at how digital twins are reshaping approaches to heart health. By integrating clinical data with physics-based simulations, researchers are creating virtual models that reflect a patient’s heart in real time. This work will show how these tools may help clinicians assess risk earlier and guide more precise treatment plans.

🔗 RSVP:
https://nyuad.my.salesforce-sites.com/Events/NYUEventRegistration?event=TtFk2iKjPJjMICMUoXt76Q_3D_3D

Natalia Trayanova, Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Our upcoming event examines the Indian Ocean as both a crossroads shaped by trade and a living environment shaped by mounting ecological pressures. This talk offers a meaningful look at how these perspectives influence contemporary conversations about oceans and climate.

🔗 RSVP:
https://nyuad.my.salesforce-sites.com/Events/NYUEventRegistration?event=jReVzJNHAxIKkFzS_2FPFIGg_3D_3D

Nancy Um, Associate Director for Research and Knowledge Creation, Getty Research Institute