Winners of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award Announced in Dubai
National Geographic Channel, scientist Hiroshi Ishiguro and media personality Ahmed Alshugairi share US$ 1 million award
National Geographic Channel; Hiroshi Ishiguro, Professor of the Department of Innovation Systems in the Graduate School of Engineering Science at Osaka University; and Ahmed Alshugairi, presenter of ‘Khawatir’ television programme, have been adjudged as winners of the US$ 1 million Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award.
The winners were announced at the opening of the second Knowledge Summit 2015 in Dubai attended by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF) and other dignitaries including Gordon Brown, former British Prime Minister.
Gary E. Knell, President and CEO of National Geographic, received US$500,000 at the ceremony while the others received US$250,000 each.
In a video address, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon called for investments in knowledge and empowerment to overcome the region’s challenges, and praised the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in this regard. “Successive Arab human development reports warn that the region needs more knowledge, women empowerment and that several countries suffer from the effects of extremism, but these challenges can be overcome by empowering young people with new opportunities,” he said.
Organised by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF), the three-day Summit focuses on the theme, ‘The Way to Innovation.’ HE Jamal bin Huwaireb, Managing Director of MBRF, said: “The Knowledge Summit is a unique opportunity to achieve innovative solutions to overcome the region’s challenges including the urgent need to secure jobs and decent livelihood for millions of young people. The Summit brings together innovators and experts to create ideas to strengthen the value of knowledge in Arab societies.”
He said the initiatives associated with this Summit, such as the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award, the Arab Knowledge Index and the Arab Knowledge Portal will add momentum to developing knowledge.
Dr. Sima Bahouth, UN Assistant Secretary-General, and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States in the UNDP, said: “The Arab Knowledge Index and associated ‘Knowledge for All’ electronic platform underline the link between knowledge, innovation and sustainable development. This is highlighted through the three Arab Knowledge Reports that we have produced with MBRF. I express my great appreciation to HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his continuous support for development and knowledge efforts in the Arab region and the world.”
The results of Arab Knowledge Index, which monitors the status of knowledge in the Arab world, will be released at the Summit. Education is one of the key pillars of the Summit this year in addition to Information Technology, Scientific Research and Innovation in Media and Film Industry.
Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.
Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992 at the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).
Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.
Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.
His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.
Hanania is the US Special Correspondent for the Arab News Newspaper, covering Middle East and Arab American issues. He writes for the Southwest News newspaper group writing on mainstream American issues.
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