The UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) announced the launch of its fourth cycle at the fifth International Rain Enhancement Forum (IREF), convened virtually under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. Submissions are open to innovative project proposals from across the globe.

The program offers a grant of up to US$1.5 million, distributed over three years with a maximum annual amount of $550,000 for each winning research proposal in the rain enhancement field. Over its past three cycles, the program has provided grants to nine ground-breaking projects that covered different fields related to rain enhancement and weather modification research.

Interested academic institutions, research centers and other relevant organizations can submit their pre-proposals from 24 January to 18 March, 2021, via https://apply.uaerep.ae covering the following targeted research areas: Weather modeling and forecasting using artificial intelligence and ensemble modelling, evaluation of rain enhancement efficacy through the utilization of cloud chamber and randomized inputs in statistical methods, innovations in rain enhancement systems through the integration of new measurement and numerical tools, and leveraging innovative rain enhancement models, among others. Moreover, the program will continue to support the areas targeted in the previous cycles to allow awardees to achieve their research objectives.

Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, Director of the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) and President of the Regional Association II (Asia), said: “IREF is convened this year amid the unprecedented disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially to water security, as the demand for water has witnessed a steady increase since the pandemic started. As nearly half of the world's population is facing an acute shortage of freshwater, the UAE aims to assist international efforts to reduce water scarcity through its continued support for promising research projects in rain enhancement.”

In her address to the Forum, Alya Al Mazroui, Director of UAEREP, said: “In continuation of the program’s tireless efforts to support the advancement of rain enhancement research, we have launched its fourth cycle and started receiving innovative project proposals from leading scientists and research institutions from across the globe. We look forward to selecting groundbreaking ideas and solutions that serve the targeted research areas with the help of top international experts and scientists.”