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EIAST Participates as Strategic Partner for World Space Risk Forum 2014

Event represents opportunity to showcase UAE’s space program to global space leaders
  
UAE, May 13, 2014 – The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) has announced its participation as Strategic Partner for the World Space Risk Forum 2014, which will take place from May 13 to 15, 2014 at Raffles Dubai, UAE. The globally established biennial event, which brings together leading professionals representing all aspects of the aerospace industry, will provide international exposure to the UAE’s space program. The World Space Risk Forum 2014 is a perfect platform for the UAE to build up its profile in the global space industry. The event will be vital in highlighting the country’s space program to an audience representing international space communities and foreign governments.

Omran Sharaf, Director of Image Processing and Analysis Department, EIAST gave a welcome message during the event’s opening ceremony. Moreover, Adnan Al Rais, Head of Office of Products Utilization, EIAST will lead the Focus Group Panel, under the theme ‘Growing Up in Space,’ which takes place on Day 2 of the conference (Wednesday, May 14, 2014) at the World Space Risk Forum 2014. The conference will provide a series of unique insights about successful entry of companies, namely: EIAST, Es’hailSat and SSTL, into the commercial space market, focusing on each company’s approach and lesson learned. The panel also discussed how these companies continue to remain competitive in the increasingly crowded commercial space industry.
The delegates visited the EIAST headquarters, where they were briefed about EIAST projects, including DubaiSat1, recently launched DubaiSat2, and KhalifaSat – 100 per cent Emirati satellite to be launched in 2017. The group also toured the facility, which will offer tremendous prospects to EIAST to build up its clients and suppliers list, including space insurance companies.
Omran Sharaf, Director of Image Processing and Analysis Department, EIAST during the forum.

H.E. Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General of the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology, said: “Undoubtedly, the World Space Risk Forum is one of the biggest events in the space calendar, which will also be a perfect occasion for EIAST to showcase its facilities as well as technical capabilities in the aerospace industry to the global space experts. The event is perfectly timed as we have recently launched our DubaSat2 and are progressing ahead with the work on KhalifaSat and will leverage the presence of leaders from aerospace sector to strengthen the UAE’s leading position in the space industry. Moreover, our participation in the Focus Group Panel will enable us to enlighten the EIAST’s success model to the forum delegates. Lastly, as the Strategic Partners, we extend our complete support to the World Space Risk Forum for a successful event.”

Laurent Lemaire, organiser of The World Space Risk Forum and Managing Director of DIFC-based Elseco, the largest space underwriting entity worldwide, commented: “We are excited to welcome leaders from the global space industry to Dubai to experience the most important space risk forum in the world. They will find a region that is experiencing significant investment in high technology operations, such as those found at EIAST, our local strategic partner for the World Space Risk Forum. Such investment will make Dubai and the UAE a major player in the future. It is appropriate then that The World Space Risk Forum remains firmly embedded here and continues to grow in importance and significance as the surrounding regional space industry does the same. We thank EIAST for opening its doors to our delegates.”
The World Space Risk Forum brings together 500 top space executives from more than 30 countries. It will address a wide range of issues faced by space ventures, including technical, financial, business, environmental, economic, and regulatory as well as related to software and production. The forum will provide an excellent opportunity for all service providers, insurers, government representatives, brokers, financiers, attorneys and academics to gather and discuss ways of making space a safer place to visit, explore, live and do business. For more information, log on to: http://worldspaceriskforum.com/2014/.
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For more information, please visit EIAST website: www.eiast.ae
You can also follow EIAST on:
Twitter: @EIAST
Facebook: Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST)
YouTube: Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST)
For latest news and developments on Khalifa Sat, please follow us on
Instagram:@KhalifaSat_Project
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EIAST Launches ‘Super Resolution Tool’ that Enhances Resolution & Clarity of Satellite Images

Developer Eng. Saeed Al Mansoori achieves major technological and scientific innovation
   
UAE, May 11, 2014 – The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) revealed that ‘EIAST Super Resolution Tool’  developed by Saeed Al Mansoori, an Emirati engineer involved in EAIST’s center of application and analysis development project, has boosted and enhanced the resolution of satellite images – including those taken by DubaiSat-2 – by 0.75 meters. The innovative tool significantly improves the image details by increasing the number of pixels when zoomed in. This subsequently enhances the degree of contrast and highlights the edges and borders that represent infrastructures, roads, and buildings, among others.

Commenting on the new achievement, H.E. Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General, EIAST, said: “The ‘Super Resolution Tool’ provides a strategic dimension to EIAST’s numerous achievements which will further bolster the institute’s future successes in the fields of scientific research and technological innovation. This also falls in line with the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. We commend Eng. Saeed Al Mansoori for observing the highest level of professionalism and excellence while creating the tool. His success proves that EIAST’s efforts to train Emiratis are now bearing fruit. We show that we are capable of achieving a comprehensive scientific innovation, which is one of the basic pillars of the future.”
Eng. Saeed AL-Mansoori, Associate Image Processing Engineer in the Applications Development and Analysis Center at EIAST

For his part, Al Mansoori said his success was made possible because of the strong support received from the leadership to promote space industry in the emirate. He praised EIAST for encouraging technological creativity and scientific innovation among citizens as key to propelling Dubai into one of the most developed nations in the world.

He added: “The development of the new tool was in response to the growing need of improving the quality of satellite images. Usually, these images have fixed resolutions, and it would be difficult to upgrade these once the satellites have already been launched into the outer space. The ‘Super Resolution Tool’ has saved us from the efforts of designing new complex parts just to improve the quality of the captured images. It has also reduced the costs of satellite production. Moreover, the tool is flexibility as it could also be modified to fit other applications such as radars, surveillance cameras, and various medical fields.”
EIAST was established by the Dubai Government in 2006 to encourage scientific innovation and technological progress in Dubai and in the UAE. It also aims to develop the scientific skills and knowledge of Emiratis. It is mainly involved in outer space research and development; satellite manufacturing and systems development; space imaging; and ground station services and support for other satellites.
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For more information, please visit EIAST website: www.eiast.ae
You can also follow EIAST on:
Twitter: @EIAST
Facebook: Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST)
YouTube: Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST)
For latest news and developments on Khalifa Sat, please follow us on
Instagram:@KhalifaSat_Project
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British Council to Host English Language Training (ELT) Tour Featuring 12 UK Universities on May 8 in Dubai

Globally, one in seven is said to be learning English, and around 750 million people use it regularly
Dubai, UAE, 6th May 2014 – The British Council, the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, estimates that globally one in seven peopleis learning English and around 750 million people use it regularly.

These estimates were releasedduring the British Council’s announcement of its English Language Training (ELT) tour which will be held in Park Regis Hotel in Dubai on Thursday May 8. The tour will feature more than 12 UK universities targeting schools and individual candidates.
Marc Jessel, British Council Country Director, said: “Dedicated sessions for schools will take place from 10am to 12 noon and an open session will be held from 5pm to 9pm. The main objective of the tour is to raisethe proficiency of English language among those who need it in their liveson the strength of it being the global language of business, diplomacy, communications, transport, science and IT, among other sectors.”
He added: “We are glad that most of the decision making organisations here value the role ofthe Englishlanguage and facilitate the process of learningit,as they are aware of the connection between studying English and building a skilled workforce.”
Mr. Jessel commented: “Against this background, it is not surprising thatpeople are searching forsuitable English language teachinginstitutions, either for themselves or  their children. We believe this tour will go a long way in addressing their requirements.”
The British Council recommends that learners choose a course conducted by an organisationthat is accredited, in order to ensure highest standards and maximum efficacy of the learning process.
Heexplained: “The aim of this tour is to develop the level in English among people. We offer a variety of courses offline and online. The tour will allow our students explore the exciting learning opportunities British Council offers to improve English Language skills.”
Some of the participants in the tour include University of Leeds, Cavendish School of English, Cambridge Regional College, Kingston College, University of Worcester Language Centre, Alpha Omega College, Harrow College, The University of Sheffield, Guildford College of Further & Higher Education, York Associates, Capital School of English (Bournemouth) and English UK.
“Enhancing English language skills allows our students to tap greater opportunities in life professionally and personally,”Mr. Jessel added.
The British Council contributes to the economic development of businesses in the region through English.As a world authority in the English language,the British Council works across a wide range of English teaching and assessment services, as well as with ministries of education to improve the English language teaching in education institutions around the world.
“The ELT tour demonstrates the British Council’s commitment to supportingthe journey of learning of English in the UAE. We expect a good response to the tour and look forward to fruitful interaction with learners and representatives from learning institutions, and this will contribute to the betterment of learning of English in the UAE,” Mr. Jessel said.