• Mariet Westermann was appointed vice chancellor of New York University Abu Dhabi in August, 2019. All pictures by Satish Kumar / The National
    Mariet Westermann was appointed vice chancellor of New York University Abu Dhabi in August, 2019. All pictures by Satish Kumar / The National
  • Mariet Westermann, vice chancellor of NYU Abu Dhabi said the onset of the pandemic brought the best out of universities
    Mariet Westermann, vice chancellor of NYU Abu Dhabi said the onset of the pandemic brought the best out of universities
  • Mariet Westermann said NYUAD staff conducted key work during 2020
    Mariet Westermann said NYUAD staff conducted key work during 2020
  • Mariet Westermann is calling for Emiratis to be support on a career path in academia
    Mariet Westermann is calling for Emiratis to be support on a career path in academia

Covid-19 fight a 'victory for university research', NYU Abu Dhabi vice chancellor says


Anam Rizvi
  • English
  • Arabic

The vice chancellor of one of the UAE's leading universities said the Covid-19 pandemic brought to light the crucial research work of academic institutes across the world.

Dr Mariet Westermann started her role at New York University Abu Dhabi in August, 2019, little knowing how significant the year to come would be.

As the virus swept from country to country, and the death toll rose week by week, universities came to the fore to help shape the solutions to an unprecedented global health crisis.

Dr Westermann said NYUAD itself played its part in devising ways to combat Covid-19.

In November 2020, researchers at the university developed a test that could detect the coronavirus  in asymptomatic patients and those in the early stages of infection.

Coronavirus in the UAE:

  • A medical worker puts away a Covid-19 swab test at one of the Mussaffah testing facilities. Victor Besa / The National
    A medical worker puts away a Covid-19 swab test at one of the Mussaffah testing facilities. Victor Besa / The National
  • An Abu Dhabi resident goes for a jog along the Corniche in the capital as the government eases movement restrictions. Victor Besa / The National
    An Abu Dhabi resident goes for a jog along the Corniche in the capital as the government eases movement restrictions. Victor Besa / The National
  • Abu Dhabi residents wear mandatory masks as they walk in the city. Victor Besa / The National
    Abu Dhabi residents wear mandatory masks as they walk in the city. Victor Besa / The National
  • Safety instructions are on display outside Al Awir fruit and vegetable market in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Safety instructions are on display outside Al Awir fruit and vegetable market in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A person wearing protective face mask and covering his face with laptop bag on a hot day in Bur Dubai area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    A person wearing protective face mask and covering his face with laptop bag on a hot day in Bur Dubai area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Indian citizens queue to check in at the Dubai International Airport before leaving the UAE on a flight back to their home country on May 7. Inbound flights for UAE residents have also begun operating from select cities. Karim Sahim / AFP
    Indian citizens queue to check in at the Dubai International Airport before leaving the UAE on a flight back to their home country on May 7. Inbound flights for UAE residents have also begun operating from select cities. Karim Sahim / AFP
  • Passengers from an Emirates flight from London queue before being checked by health workers at Dubai International Airport on May 8. Karim Sahib / AFP
    Passengers from an Emirates flight from London queue before being checked by health workers at Dubai International Airport on May 8. Karim Sahib / AFP
  • Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi has reopened to the public but with safety measures in place to protect shoppers and staff from contracting Covid-19. Victor Besa / The National
    Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi has reopened to the public but with safety measures in place to protect shoppers and staff from contracting Covid-19. Victor Besa / The National
  • Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi has reopened to the public from 12pm to 9pm. Measures remain in place to keep shoppers and staff safe. Victor Besa / The National
    Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi has reopened to the public from 12pm to 9pm. Measures remain in place to keep shoppers and staff safe. Victor Besa / The National
  • Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi will be open from midday to 9pm. Supermarkets and pharmacies will be open from 9am to midnight. Victor Besa / The National
    Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi will be open from midday to 9pm. Supermarkets and pharmacies will be open from 9am to midnight. Victor Besa / The National
  • Workers pass by Al Mina vegetables and fruits market in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Workers pass by Al Mina vegetables and fruits market in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • A security guard is given a free Covid-19 test at one of the Mussaffah testing centres. Victor Besa / The National
    A security guard is given a free Covid-19 test at one of the Mussaffah testing centres. Victor Besa / The National
  • Workers line up to receive a coronavirus test at the Mussaffah industrial area in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Workers line up to receive a coronavirus test at the Mussaffah industrial area in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

“The year 2020, will go down as one of the great victories for university research," she said.

“I know this is hard to imagine. When you see that the world developed these vaccines so quickly, that was partly because the pharmaceutical companies stepped in.

"But all of those technologies for developing vaccines had first been developed out of university research that took decades before they ever knew it was going to be used for Covid-19.

“In our own university, we pivoted immediately, our researchers initiated unique projects to tackle the pandemic, contribute to beating it, and better understanding its impact.”

University flourishes despite pandemic

The pandemic threw up stern challenges alongside research opportunities, with university heads concerned about the impact of travel bans on international recruitments.

But, last year, 490 students from 82 countries enrolled at NYUAD, up from 429 students in 2019 and 380 students in 2018.

The university has sought to ensure it is accessible to all by offering merit-based support to students.

In July, New York University Abu Dhabi awarded 10 grants for research with the potential to mitigate the effect of Covid-19.

The Covid-19 Facilitator Research Grants were awarded to faculty in the disciplines of engineering, science and social sciences.

Two grants were awarded in biomedical engineering.

Dr Westermann said the impact of the pandemic would be long-lasting.

“We need to understand what has social distancing for so long, being out of school for so long, done for so many children?” she said.

Dr Westermann said a professor at NYUAD had worked with peers across the world to study the pandemic's psychological and social impacts.

A robotics professor at the university developed a grocery delivery drone for packages of about 10 kilograms for people who were in quarantine.

“We had researchers design prototypes, and fabricate reusable masks, a useful thing because there's a lot of environmental waste around masks," she said.

Dr Westermann said another area that concerned her was recruiting students during a pandemic.

"I was worried about what the effect of the pandemic would be on our recruitment of students around the world, as our students come from more than 115 countries," she said.

“But, our success was phenomenal.

“This was the largest class we have ever admitted. So that was a great success.”

About 20 per cent of the students in the 2020 cohort were Emirati.

Dr Westermann said the only difference last year was that not as many students were able to visit the campus.

She said one of the biggest challenges faced by universities during the past year was continuity of academics and research.

“This pandemic has been incredibly challenging for most universities, because we have so many wonderful young people who need to be together and work with their professors to develop research," she said.

A need to harness home-grown talent

Dr Westermann said universities in the UAE needed to focus on encouraging Emiratis to pursue PhDs in the country or abroad.

Having home-grown talent would mean universities in the Emirates would not have to rely on an influx of international professors.

“It would be wonderful if in the future, there will be more Emirati professors in front of the classroom, and also more Emiratis conducting research in the leading labs in the UAE," she said.

She gave the example, of the UAE's Mars mission in which many Emiratis were involved.

Dr Westermann said universities could build on these opportunities to encourage more Emiratis to seek doctorates and engage in advanced research and teaching careers.

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Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do

Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.

“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”

Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.

Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.

“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”

For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.

“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”

 

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Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

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