(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science has selected 15 international research teams to participate in a competition meant for taking the rain enhancement projects to the next level.
The 15 teams have been invited to prepare proposals detailing their research plans on 'making' rain, as well as the budget required for their proposals.
According to the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS), which manages the rain enhancement programme, among the shortlisted proposals for the competition are projects offering creative ideas on cloud forecasting and modification, modelling and the use of advanced cloud seeding agents.
"We are delighted to have been able to produce a shortlist packed with potentially innovative ideas in the field of rain enhancement," said Dr Abdullah Ahmed Al Mandoos, executive director of NCMS.
The selected pre-proposals were drawn from 78 submissions, representing 325 scientists and researchers affiliated to 151 organisations drawn from 34 countries around the world. The final proposals were expected to get ready by September this year, an expert committee of international specialists will meet in Abu Dhabi in November to review them and decide on the winners of the competition.
The recommendations of the committee will take into account input from approximately 50 ad hoc reviewers covering a wide spectrum of expertise within the field reviewers.
Up to five projects will be selected as winners in January next year for the S$5 million grant that will be awarded over a three-year period.
Launched by Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, the programme is designed to help arid and semi-arid regions overcome water scarcity challenges by using technology to stimulate rainfall.
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