Emirati university students can now be part of Mars mission

Students will also get to work in space centres abroad, including in the US and France.

Emirati university students can now apply to work with the team at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), including on its ongoing Mars programme.
The opportunity was launched under the MBRSC's Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programme, which will take place next summer. Students will also get to work in space centres abroad, including in the US and France.
Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, director-general of the MBRSC, said: "The launch of the fourth cycle of the REU programme came after the huge success of the last three cycles, as we witnessed students' passion to participate in space research and their desire to take part in the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) - Hope Probe and future space projects."
The MBRSC is encouraging students majoring in science and engineering fields to apply for the REU and join in the research on Mars, learn about climate change and how to analyse data in order to produce scientific results - all while working with the experts.
The centre has ambitious plans when it comes to the Red Planet, including launching an unmanned spacecraft in 2020 to orbit Mars. The spacecraft, called Hope, will study the atmospheric conditions of the Red Planet. It is expected to enter the planet's orbit in 2021.
The data gathered from Hope will be available for use for space agencies around the world. The MBRSC is also working on building the Mars Scientific City, which will be open to researchers globally. For a long-term goal, it plans on building an entire city on Mars by 2117.
"The programme also supports the objectives of UAE Centennial 2071, which focuses on development in innovation, space, engineering and medicine, in addition to the UAE National Innovation, to develop the space sector as one of the new sectors in the national economy. We believe that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow who will continue the UAE's process of development in scientific research, and implement the ambitious strategic plans of the UAE in space exploration," Al Shaibani added.
Omran Sharaf, the project manager of the EMM - Hope Probe, said students will be given guidance to complete their research, which in the end will be presented at conferences, exhibitions and forums or published on international scientific journals specialising in space science.
Sharaf said: "The REU's fourth cycle is being organised for the fourth year as part of strategic agreements that the MBRSC has formed with global academic and research institutes in France and the United States. Over the past three years, the programme has proven its success in preparing highly qualified Emirati youth to participate in the MBRSC's EMM - Hope Probe and other space projects."
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE