His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has appointed AUS alumna Sarah Al Amiri as the Chairperson of the UAE Council of Scientists. Al Amiri is the Emirates Mars Mission Science Team Leader at the Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC).

The 29-year-old Al Amiri holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in computer engineering from the AUS College of Engineering.

As Emirates Mars Mission Science Team Leader, Al Amiri has worked on building technical and operational efficiencies for the Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). Previously, she was director for the Department of Research and Development at the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST). She began her career at EIAST, where she worked as programs engineer on Dubai Sat 1 and Dubai Sat 2.

The new council, which was unveiled during the structural changes in the federal government by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad at the World Government Summit on Monday, February 8, will include a selected group of scientists, researchers and specialists.

The council will launch development programs in order to create generations of scientists, researchers and specialists. It also aims to regularly review national policy for science, technology and innovation in the UAE, and provide decision-makers with advice based on scientific knowledge.

Speaking to the media, Al Amiri stated, "When it comes to science and technology, the UAE leadership understands that we need to move towards a knowledge-based economy and one of the foundations of this economy is science and technology, which we need to build upon and the government sector is one of the cornerstones of that economy. The other cornerstones are the private and academic sectors. This brings different sectors to the table. This is a new era for the UAE. We're always at the cutting edge of change in the region and that's what we hope to see moving forward."