World's first graduate university focused on future energy appoints board of trustees

The private, independent institute will be the Middle East's first graduate education and research university focused on developing the next generation of solutions to the world's growing dependence on fossil fuels. MIST will also have 12 additional board members and HRH the Prince of Wales will serve as a Patron of MIST.

MIST lies at the core of Masdar's effort to develop the scientific and human resources required for the new clean technology sector to thrive. As such, it has established a Board of internationally respected academics and leaders from civil society and government to guide the development of the Institute.

To demonstrate his support of Masdar's commitment to developing future energy solutions, HRH Prince Charles has accepted an invitation to serve as the Patron of MIST. He will support Masdar's education and research activities for the next five years.

The Prince's leadership in environmental issues, sustainable design and urban planning is recognized around the world. In 2007, he received the 10th Annual Global Environment Citizen award from Harvard Medical School's Centre for Health and the Global Environment for his international efforts to improve energy efficiency.

MIST board of trustees will provide guidance to MIST through its development stage and help determine the direction of the research and studies to be undertaken at the university.

The board will have eight other representatives from Abu Dhabi and the UAE, including:

HH Sheikh Diab bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority
HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates
HE Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education
HE Mohammed Ahmed Al Bawardi, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council
HE Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO of Mubadala
HE Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Masdar Chairman
HE Abdulla Nasser Al Suwaidi, Deputy CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
HE Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Masdar CEO

Four international trustees have also been appointed:

Sir Richard Sykes, Rector of Imperial College in London; former chairman and CEO of pharmaceuticals manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline
Dr. William A. Wulf, distinguished professor at the University of Virginia; former president of the US National Academy of Engineering
Dr. Adnan Badran, President of Petra University; former prime minister and education minister of Jordan and Deputy Director General of UNESCO
Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, Director of the Technology Development Program at MIT

MIST was created by official decree from HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, on September 18, 2007, and it has been certified by the Abu Dhabi Education Council.

Developed in cooperation with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), MIST will be an independent, not-for-profit, research driven, graduate institution focused on science and technology, to meet the exceptional and progressive goal of transforming Abu Dhabi's economy from one based primarily on petroleum to one focused on sustainable technology and renewable energy.

MIT is working with MIST in several integral areas:
Recruitment of faculty members
Development of graduate degree programs
Joint collaborative research
Outreach that encourages industrial participation in research and development activities of the Institute
Support for capacity-building at the Institute in terms of organization and administrative structure

'MIST will be the heart of the Masdar Initiative, feeding talent and innovative solutions to our other programs. The sustainable technologies that come out of MIST will change the way we meet the world's energy demand,' said Masdar CEO Dr. Sultan Al Jaber.

'MIST will be an essential driver to our goal of expanding sustainable human capacity building and will be just one way Abu Dhabi will become the global knowledge hub for innovation in future energy.'

MIST is the first phase of development within Masdar City, the world's first zero-carbon, zero-waste, car-free city, powered entirely by renewable energy. The MIST buildings will receive power from rooftop photovoltaics as well as from remote solar energy arrays and windmills.

They will also be designed using wind towers, which will cool outside air before delivering it to residential units and the facilities inside. A green finger running through the campus will also facilitate capturing hot wind from the ocean and the cold wind from the land to help control building temperatures.

Beginning in September 2009, MIST will offer full-time, two-year master of science programs, requiring prescribed coursework and a research based thesis, in engineering systems and management, information technology, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering and water and environment.

MIST will begin offering PhD degrees in 2011. There are currently 14 MIST faculty members at MIT, and 100 students expected in the 2009 entering class.

'MIST is an exciting project that will shape the future of research in sustainable and renewable energies. We are proud to have assembled a dynamic and talented Board of Trustees of international caliber to oversee its growth,' said MIST President Dr. Russel C. Jones.