His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, delivered an inspiring opening address on the first day of the 15th International Workshop on Advanced Materials (IWAM), where he talked about his passion for scientific discovery and how advanced materials will play a key role in the pursuit of innovation that spurs humanity onto finding solutions to the world’s greatest challenges.

Later, HH Sheikh Saud participated in an intimate fireside discussion with Prof. Sir Anthony Cheetham, Chairman of Ras Al Khaimah Center for Advanced Materials (RAKCAM), where they talked about the inspiration behind the establishment of RAKCAM and IWAM; innovation in Ras Al Khaimah; and the Emirate’s growing reputation as a destination for hosting major conferences and events.

HH Sheikh Saud said: “The International Workshop on Advanced Materials serves as a testament to Ras Al Khaimah’s commitment to scientific progress and innovation. To ensure the advancement of our Emirate, we must push for ‘Innovation with purpose’, by which I mean that innovation must have an end goal – it must have a focus on practical solutions that help to improve humanity.

Ras Al Khaimah is an Emirate that blends tradition with modernity, a place where history and the future intersect. It is our duty to ensure that the legacy we leave behind is one of innovation, sustainability and positive impact on the world.”

IWAM, in its 15th year in Ras Al Khaimah, is bringing together prominent scientists from internationally acclaimed educational institutions for three days of lectures, discussions and poster sessions on how advanced materials are helping shape the future.

Advanced materials scientists, including a Nobel Prize winner, from institutions such as the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford in the UK, the University of New South Wales in Australia, and the Max Planck Institute in Germany, are present for the event, which is taking place at Ras Al Khaimah’s Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island, until February 21.

IWAM has grown considerably in recent years, with organizers of RAKCAM receiving almost 450 submissions to present at this year’s event, which is bringing together more than 200 scientists, professors, researchers and students. The event has also been growing in popularity in the UAE, with over 100 local attendees registered this year, mainly from universities across the country.

Advanced Materials include metals, ceramics and polymers that are either new or enhanced beyond their original state, and they can be found in mobile phones, other electronics, composites and coatings, energy systems, membranes and sensors, among other materials. These materials have the potential to revolutionize many industries, such as aerospace, transport, construction and healthcare. New materials can also help lower carbon footprints and energy demand.