The UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP), managed by the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), has selected three projects for its sixth cycle of research grants, awarding each recipient up to $1.5 million over three years, with annual funding capped at $550,000.
This cycle’s awardees include Dr. Dixon Michael, principal radar meteorologist and software engineer at Echo Science Works in the United States; Prof. Linda Zou, an adjunct professor at Victoria University in Australia; and Dr. Oliver Branch, a senior scientist at the University of Hohenheim in Germany. Their proposals span radar- and AI-enabled evaluation of cloud seeding outcomes, AI-optimized ice-nucleating seeding materials, and rainfall enhancement through land-cover and land-form modification.
Dr. Michael’s project, “Advancing Cloud Seeding Science with Dual-Polarization Radar Signatures and AI,” aims to improve how cloud seeding impacts are evaluated by moving beyond conventional reflectivity-based storm tracking. The effort will upgrade the LROSE/TITAN system to better capture microphysical pathways and assess seeding impacts using transparent methods that explicitly account for uncertainty, while also expanding NCM’s ability to operate and maintain the upgraded capabilities over time.
Prof. Zou’s project, “AI-assisted Development and Optimization of Glaciogenic Cloud Seeding Materials,” focuses on developing advanced nanocomposite ice-nucleating materials and applying AI-driven analytics to optimize their performance. The work will use measurements from a Portable Ice Nucleation Experiment (PINE) cloud chamber, which is expected to be deployed at NCM during the final phase of the project.
Dr. Branch’s “Rainfall Enhancement through Modification of Land Cover and Land Form (RAINLAND)” will use a combined theoretical, observational, and simulation approach to examine how changes in land cover and topography can initiate moist convection. The research seeks to identify promising land-form designs and locations that could increase rainfall potential in the UAE.
UAEREP leadership said the newly funded projects reflect the program’s focus on scientific rigor paired with practical application, with the broader goal of supporting water security and climate resilience through applied research and international collaboration.
KEY QUOTES:
“Under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, UAEREP continues to strengthen its position as a global platform for scientific collaboration and applied innovation. NCM plays a central role in enabling this work through advanced infrastructure and operational expertise that translate research into real-world impact. This reflects the UAE’s approach of investing in practical and sustainable innovation.”
Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, President, World Meteorological Organization; Director General, National Center of Meteorology
“The awardees’ proposals demonstrate high standards of scientific innovation and practical application. Through UAEREP’s technical resources and global collaborations, these projects will deliver science-based solutions that contribute to water security and climate resilience.”
Alya Al Mazrouei, Director, UAEREP; Director, Research and Weather Enhancement Department, NCM
