NYUAD Institute

Nearly 20 years ago Heather Raffo’s play, 9 Parts of Desire, premiered to widespread acclaim in London and Off-Broadway, later becoming a global theatrical phenomenon. Now, Raffo adapts her multi-award winning solo play about Iraqi women for the screen and for our current time. With a radical retelling, she brings these stories from Iraq to Michigan, offering a celebration of the Iraqi female experience and an explicit warning—the divisions Iraq endured are not unique, Iraq is a bellwether for America now. Directed by Mike Mosallam Produced by Nilou Safinya In collaboration with People's Light Theater and Detroit Public Theater Image credit: Skylar Landsee Speaker Heather Raffo, Actor and Playwright In conversation with Catherine Coray, Arts Professor, NYU Tisch School of the Arts Nilou Safinya, Producer, "Nine Parts"; Founding Board President, Noor Theatre Company

Black holes are one of the most interesting and confusing objects in the universe. Their inevitable possibility is predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity, and their existence is confirmed by numerous experimental observations. Thus, we have to contend with the reality of black holes and seek to understand their ins and outs. In this talk, we journey from the knowns of black holes as one-way streets into an unavoidable end and venture into the unknowns which suggest that the inside of a black hole is secretly on the outside. Speaker Ahmed Almheiri, Assistant Professor of Physics, NYUAD

Does the UAE have an art scene? A group of European curators concluded it did not, after they visited in search of contemporary art and artists in the 1990s. In fact, that decade was a vibrant period in the UAE, and a tightly-knit cluster of artists was experimenting with the outer limits of what art can be. At the heart of that group was Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim. Maya Allison curated his solo exhibition at the Venice Biennale in 2022, and in this presentation, she traces why the UAE’s art history evaded the radar of those curators in the 1990s, while giving rise to Ibrahim’s locally rooted, cosmopolitan art practice, and ultimately, the vibrant, fast-changing art scene readily apparent today. She also touches on the problem of “outsider” and “self-taught” categories beyond European-American contexts. Speaker Maya Allison, Executive Director, The Art Gallery at NYU Abu Dhabi, NYUAD In conversation with Mayssam Latif, Cultural Affairs Advisor, UAE Consulate General in New York

Sherwood Rowland was a Nobel-winning climate scientist who asked, in 1986, in The New Yorker: “What’s the point of having developed a science well enough to make predictions—if, in the end, all we’re willing to do is stand around and wait for them to come true?” In 1979, scientists warned lawmakers to expect the climate shifts in “forty years.” And in 1956, scientist and scholar Roger Revelle warned Time readers: “In fifty years or so, this process [carbon dioxide warming] may have a violent effect on the Earth’s climate.” Why were our warnings so good, and our response so poor? And how can we make up for lost time? Speaker David Lipsky, Author, "The Parrot and the Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial" (W. W. Norton & Company, 2023); Artist-in-Residence, Creative Writing Program, NYU

This panel focuses on the journeys of four outstanding theater professionals who found their voices at NYU Abu Dhabi and are making their way in the US as playwrights, screenwriters and actors—each unique, but having shared the experience of studying and exploring the arts in Abu Dhabi. Image credit: Rubén Polendo Panel Members Fatima Maan, Playwright, NYUAD ’18 Adam El Sayigh, Playwright, Screenwriter and Dramaturg, NYUAD ‘18 Arianna Gayle Stucki, Actor and Playwright, NYUAD ‘18 Attilio Rigotti, Theater Maker, Game Designer, Teacher, NYUAD ‘14 Moderated by Rubén Polendo, Associate Dean for the Institute of Performing Arts, NYU Tisch School of the Arts; Founding Theater Program Head, NYUAD

What can young adult literature teach us about the problems confronting the world today? Can these books possibly help us find potential solutions to these problems, no matter how old we are? The panel explores these questions, discusses the importance of grownups reading YA, and offers suggestions about what to put on your YA reading list. Panel Members Nur'aishah Shafiq, NYUAD Alumnus 2022, NYU Liberal Studies Zoe Patterson, NYUAD Alumnus 2020, NYU Liberal Studies Deborah Williams, Author, "The Necessity of Young Adult Fiction" (Oxford University Press, 2023); Clinical Professor, NYU Liberal Studies

This talk explores morphogenesis, the fascinating process of form development in biology. It examines how complex 3D organisms evolve from a single fertilized egg, involving intricate cell divisions, movements, and shape changes. The focus is on the mechanical processes that influence cell and tissue transformation and their regulation across space and time. The discussion integrates genetics, mechanics, and geometry to understand how these factors encode cell behaviors essential for development. Drawing insights from living embryos and physical models, the talk offers a compelling perspective on the natural choreography of life's formation. Speakers Thomas Lecuit, Collège de France, Paris and IBDM-Turing Center for Living Systems, Aix Marseille University

This talk explores the unintended consequences of technology's pursuit of optimization, unveiling how it perpetuates discrimination, compromises privacy, displaces workers, and contaminates information flows. It examines the tension between corporate values driven by big tech and the ideals of a democratic society. The speaker will highlight the pervasive issue where meaningful aspects of life remain unmeasured by tech optimizers, whose large-scale disruptions inadvertently dictate societal norms. The speaker will also share insights and actionable solutions to equip individuals with the knowledge to steer technology towards a tool for empowerment rather than a controlling force. Speakers Jeremy Weinstein, Professor of Political Science, Fisher Family Director of Stanford Global Studies, Stanford University

This talk discusses how it's common to embark on a challenging pursuit without knowing the likelihood of success. As we encounter hurdles and setbacks, we face a crucial decision: to give up or persevere. Optimism about our chances can prevent premature despair. The talk argues that "grit"—persisting in adversity—is rational only if it avoids unrealistic optimism. Rational striving requires close attention to our abilities and strengths and assessing whether our circumstances will likely support our success. We present a model of striving that seeks to encapsulate the multifaceted nature of this essential capacity of agents. Speakers Jennifer Morton, Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of Pennsylvania Sarah Paul, Professor of Philosophy, NYUAD

Faysal Tabbarah, the 2023 NPUAE Curator, leads a compelling exploration into the potential of arid environments at the National Pavilion UAE during the 18th International Architecture Exhibition. His work focuses on unveiling the hidden possibilities within arid landscapes, especially those in the UAE, such as desert plateaus, wadis, and coastal plains. This talk highlights innovative architectural designs tailored for arid climates, challenging traditional perceptions and exploring these environments as spaces rich in opportunity. The aim is to shift the narrative around aridity, presenting these regions as fertile grounds for architectural innovation and abundance. This event is part of NYUAD Art Gallery's new series titled 'Curators Talk' Speakers Faysal Tabbarah, Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Architecture, American University of Sharjah; Curator, National Pavilion UAE, 2023