US National Science Foundation awards grant to AUS

The American University of Sharjah has been awarded a grant by the US National Science Foundation for a workshop on power electronics. This workshop will bring international experts from universities around the US, Europe and the Gulf region to the UAE to discuss recent developments in power electronics and motor drive systems.

During the workshop, participants will also develop a comprehensive electrical engineering curriculum for both undergraduate and graduate students.

“We are very proud of the AUS School of Engineering for developing this workshop idea and for attracting this grant. We are happy that the research and teaching of our faculty is being recognized internationally,” said Chancellor Winfred Thompson. According to Dr. Judith Killen, AUS Director of Research, “The NSF is the most prestigious peerreviewed funder of research and education proposals in the United States. US universities submit more than 40,000 proposals each year but only a few and the very best projects are funded.”

Dr. Rached Dhaouadi, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at AUS, is organizing the workshop. “This is the first workshop of its kind to be held in the Gulf region and invitations will be sent to about 100 universities. We believe the workshop will assist all universities in the Gulf to ensure engineering programs continue to address the needs of UAE industries for highly trained and advanced power electronics engineers.” The workshop is a collaboration between the University of Central Florida and AUS, and it is scheduled for September, 2005 at the AUS campus.