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Cleaning up our space

As the race to explore space intensifies, so does the problem of space junk. With millions of pieces of debris orbiting the Earth, scientists are sounding the alarm that the issue poses a serious threat to future space missions.

Earth’s low orbit, 2,000 kilometers or less from the Earth’s surface, is home to the vast majority of space debris. The debris consists of defunct satellites, upper launch stages, fragments from explosions and pieces left over when countries shoot missiles to take down their own satellites. Many pieces of debris are larger than tennis balls, and most no longer serve any functional purpose. Basically, there’s a lot of garbage flying around up there.

And this garbage is flying at astounding speeds.

Imagine you’re driving home from work, traveling 80 kilometers per hour when a small stone flies up, striking your windshield. It makes a loud noise, and later you notice a crack in the windshield. The velocity of both objects — the car and the rock — determines the level of damage.

Now imagine you’re traveling at over 25,000 kilometers per hour, and so is the stone. At this speed, collision with a stone would be catastrophic, but even something tiny can cause serious damage.

European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peak in 2016 noticed a crack in the observation window of the International Space Station. In a press release, Peak described a photo he took of the crack: “I am often asked if the International Space Station is hit by space debris. Yes — this is the chip in one of our cupola windows, glad it is quadruple glazed!”

The damage was caused by a rogue fleck of paint.

There are about 27,000 pieces of debris larger than 10 centimeters being monitored by the U.S. Department of Defense. More than 100 million smaller pieces fly around untracked. Any impact with other spacecraft, satellites or space stations could be devastating and in turn cause more debris, and so on and so on.

IMAGE: NASA, ESA, Shutterstock

The chain reaction, theoretical at this point, is known as Kessler syndrome. Astrophysicist and one-time NASA scientist Donald J. Kessler proposed that at some point there will be so much debris in Earth’s low orbit that it will continue to crash and create more debris, eventually becoming autonomous and unstoppable and making future space travel impossible.

Though Kessler syndrome is an extreme example, it’s not impossible. Moog Professor of Innovation and SUNY Distinguished Professor at the University at Buffalo, John Crassidis, says he believes we will reach this point in this generation.

“I really think that we’ll be in trouble in 50 years or less if we keep putting objects up in space like we are doing now,” he tells KUST Review.

Though 50 years isn’t far off, more imminent risks exist to satellites and other spacecraft in Earth’s low orbit.

Crassidis, who works with NASA and the U.S. Air Force to monitor space debris, says the biggest risk is to humans — specifically to those doing extravehicular activities. “Debris is moving at 17,000 miles per hour. That can go right through a spacesuit, even a very tiny piece of debris,” he says.

CAPTION: Japanese company Astroscale is hoping to inspire a movement of space cleanup IMAGE: NASA

Other risks exist for active satellites in Earth’s low orbit. This may not sound concerning but these satellites allow Earth dwellers to make calls on their iPhones, watch videos on TikTok, participate in Zoom meetings and make millions as YouTubers. So, if these satellites are knocked out by debris traveling over 25,000 kilometers per hour, Gen X, millennials, and well, pretty much everyone, could be in for a trip — not to space — but back in time.

Among other concerns are for the 10 individuals living on active space stations. There are two inhabited space stations in Earth’s low orbit — the International Space Station and China’s Tiangong space station. Space stations are protected by their outer shields from debris up to 1.5 centimeters in diameter, but other than that, it’s either evacuate or duck. Thus far, both have proved successful solutions.

Russia in 2021 launched a rocket at one of its own satellites as a test, creating more than 3,500 pieces of debris and putting those living on the International Space Station at risk. The astronauts were forced to move into their spaceship capsules docked on the station should they need to make a quick get-away. And in October 2022, the International Space Station had to be raised by 0.2 miles to avoid more fragments resulting from this test.

This evasive maneuver — with a price tag of about U.S.$1 million — was effective, but even a collision with a piece of debris between 1 and 10 centimeters in diameter could cause damage costing up to U.S.$2 million to fix. Crassidis says this is only one of more than 20 maneuvers the space station has performed to avoid large pieces of debris.

Though moving the space station is currently a feasible — albeit expensive — solution, experts are concerned that with the increasing volume of debris each year, a safe space environment will cease to exist.

And researchers have discovered that collisions aren’t the only environmental risk factor.

A 2023 study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found metallic particles consistent with materials used to build spacecraft within the world’s stratosphere. This is caused when defunct satellites and rocket bits vaporize as they re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere.

BUT WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

While the United Nations holds guidelines for space-debris mitigation, there is no legislation in place to hold space explorers responsible for their mess. So, it’s basically down to innovation and doing the right thing.

“We can’t even get countries to follow United Nations Guideline Number 4: Avoid intentional destruction and other harmful activities. Our leaders need to start talking with each other. That’s the first step, but not all countries are doing that. We (the Americans), the Europeans and other countries do follow many of the guidelines,” Crassidis says.

CAPTION: Debris orbiting the Earth poses a risk to satellites, astronauts and future space missions IMAGE: Shutterstock

So, while some governments are doing what they can to clean up their mess, start-up businesses are popping up to pick up the pieces. Take Japanese company Astroscale, for example.

Astroscale offers space-debris removal as a service. Space programs or private companies world-wide can hire it to collect debris and drag it into Earth’s atmosphere to burn up. Astroscale plans its first official removal mission to take place in 2025. The company is hoping to inspire a global movement of debris removal.

In the meantime, the European Space Agency has partnered with start-up Clearspace to launch a claw that will grab hold of space junk and pull it back into the atmosphere to burn up. The claw is expected to remove its first piece of debris in 2025.

But that may cause problems, too. The 2023 NOAA study found that the offset contributes to ozone depletion.

Until these projects become regular practice, Crassidis’ research focuses mainly on prevention by “trying to determine the characteristics of debris from unresolved images. These updated models can be used to better predict where the debris is in space, thereby helping to better determine the probability of collision with functioning satellites,” he says.

Crassidis and his colleagues are also working on a plan to recycle space debris but, “This technology is 15 to 20 years away from being practical.”

Crassidis says that one day there will be a practical and affordable solution to space debris.

“What is today’s science fiction is tomorrow’s reality. The best thing we can do is follow the U.N. guidelines, slow the growth of the debris, and then have technology catch up to clean it up,” he tells KUST Review.

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4 women to watch

Five centuries after the start of the scientific revolution, men still dominate STEM fields. But women’s contributions to science have gained ground, a 2022 study suggests.

In honor of International Women’s Day, we celebrate a few of Khalifa University’s many outstanding women who are helping to break barriers.

ANNA MARIA PAPPA

“Women should always remember that there are numerous examples of highly successful women who have excelled despite challenges, serving as leaders in their respective fields. Importantly, many have successfully balanced their careers and family life,” says Anna Maria Pappa, assistant professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering & Biotechnology.

Pappa, who has a Ph.D. from École des Mines de Saint-Étienne in France, leads the on-chip/biosensors group focused on developing cutting-edge technologies for next-generation miniaturized sensors with applications in health care and environmental science.

Pappa credits her decision to leave her home in Greece to study abroad with being a risk-taker.

CAPTION: Anna Maria Pappa

Her reward: meeting and working with people from all over the world. “Creativity thrives in diverse environments, ultimately leading to progress,” she says.

During her time at Cambridge University, she served as a science ambassador, visiting schools to embolden girls to chase STEM careers. She believes that “the dominance of males in key senior positions contributes to a lack of female role models and a scarcity of a female mindset.”

CAPTION: Anna Maria Pappa labwork

Pappa’s advice to young women is to remain open, never underestimate their abilities and don’t be deterred by stereotypes. She also credits her success with surrounding herself with a strong support system of successful women and men.

Pappa is on the editorial board of several journals and has received multiple awards for her research, including the L’Oréal-UNESCO Women in Science Award. She is listed among the MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 and has won several awards in entrepreneurship and innovation.

ELENA FANTINO

“Diversification is a protection against ignorance,” Warren Buffett once advised. While he was talking about investing, this advice is applicable across any industry — science included. And Elena Fantino agrees.

Fantino, an associate professor in aerospace engineering who holds an M.Sc in astronomy and a Ph.D. in space sciences and technologies, credits her new ideas these days to her unusual and diversified career path.

CAPTION: Elena Fantino

“My journey as a scientist has passed through different fields, disciplines and experiences. I started as an astrophysicist with a passion for celestial mechanics, then I became a space engineer. I worked in space-mission development. For some time, I worked as a software engineer in the private sector. Eventually, I returned to academia and specialized in satellite dynamics,” she says.

Fantino believes that education is at the base of inclusion and there is much work required to equalize the gender gap in STEM.

The solution, she says, is a shift in societal mindset, and that comes from hard work with campaigns, programs and incentives for girls and women. And these require dedicated action.

She also believes that Khalifa University is on the right track, but there’s always more that can be done.

“Khalifa University with its large female-to-male student ratio is leading this transformation, and we must be very proud of it. However, we need to hire more women faculty and researchers not only for their contribution to science and engineering, but also to inspire and encourage the younger generations through their example,” she tells KUST Review. “From my experience as an educator, I can say that female students are strongly inspired by women faculty and researchers. I can sense this in my lectures. Our girls see us as examples to follow because we reached where many of them would like to be. We show them that everything is possible despite the challenges.”

CAPTION: Trajectory looping around Enceladus, the moon of Saturn that became popular after the detection of vapor plumes emanating from its pole. This trajectory enables extended observations of the surface including the polar regions IMAGE: Elena Fantino

Fantino says her career path was inspired by one of her own teachers, and though she encountered gender bias, she credits maturity and experience with overcoming challenges.

Role models are also key to successful women in STEM, but not just to even out the numbers.

“For sure, we need to see more women in senior management roles, and not just as a means to ensure inclusion and fight gender inequalities. We need them because of the different perspectives and unique ideas that women can bring to those jobs,” she says.

Fantino specializes in space-mission analysis, space geodesy, space astrometry, celestial mechanics and astrodynamics and has participated in several mission projects. She has advised more than 40 graduate students and is a member of both the Astrodynamics Technical Committee of the International Astronautical Federation and the Space Dynamics Group of the Technical University of Madrid.

At Khalifa University, she leads the astrodynamics research group and participates in the activities of the Space Technology and Innovation Center.

LOURDES VEGA

When Lourdes Vega, director of the Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and Hydrogen at Khalifa University, spoke at EXPO 2020 to a group of secondary students, she asked them for the names of five male scientists. The answers came easily. But when she asked them to name five female scientists, the only name put forward was Marie Curie.

Curie, arguably the most famous female scientist of all time known for her work on the properties of radium as therapeutics and winner of two Nobel Prizes (physics and chemistry), is not a surprising answer. What is surprising is that she was the only answer.

Vega says she has had many experiences in her career in which being a minority stood out, but she also believes that doing what you love is the key to a rewarding life. And these choices should be made inherently. “Our girls and young women need to know that (a career choice) is a natural choice, depending on their curiosity and interests, and that they have an important voice. A scientific career is not easy, but it is very rewarding.”

Though science is highly competitive, Vega says most of her successes were when working in a team environment, and she says this is something women bring to STEM — a different perspective and collaboration.

CAPTION: Lourdes Vega receiving the Mohammed Bin Rashid Medal of Scientific Distinguishment for her contributions in clean energy and sustainable products IMAGE: MBR Academy of Scientists

Not everyone has the privilege of going to work every day to do what they love. But Vega knew from a very early age that science was her path.
And her path began in Seville, Spain, studying physics.

In a program with only 10 percent women, Vega says it didn’t take long before the fact that she was a woman was no longer an issue. Her capabilities spoke for themselves. She ultimately acquired a Ph.D. in physics and 30 years of experience in research, teaching, innovation and strategy in chemical engineering and materials science on three continents.

She has published over 230 papers in top journals, has 10 commercialized products, and six patents. She is known for applying fundamental science to the living world focused on clean energy and sustainable products, carbon capture and utilization, sustainable fuels, sustainable cooling systems and water treatment.

Vega has been recognized globally. She was selected in 2024 as one of the 60 impactful women in the Middle East driving sustainability and one of the top 100 Women Leaders in Spain. In 2020 she was awarded the Mohammed Bin Rashid Medal of Scientific Distinguishment for her clean-energy contributions. And this is only a handful of honors.

CAPTION: Lourdes Vega with postdoctoral students at Khalifa University IMAGE: Khalifa University

Representation matters, and for Vega, that means taking any opportunity to inspire and mentor young women. “I try to engage at all levels, first with the people next to me — undergraduate and graduate students — (and) with those collaborating with me — graduate students, postdocs, faculty and colleagues,” she says. Vega also worked in the UAE with the Spanish embassy and the Association of Scientists and Researchers on Women Have the Formula, highlighting the role of women in science.

To young women considering a career in STEM, Vega says, “believe in yourselves. Difficulties should not stop you from pursuing your dreams of being scientists. Even though there are difficulties there are always opportunities ahead and people willing to help and support. Work hard and be resilient. Science is not an easy profession but we can contribute to improving the quality of life of our people and also leave a better planet.”

HESSA EBRAHIM ALI MEJLAD ALFALAHI

“I believe that in our region (the Middle East), female scientists in STEM play an instrumental role in driving the innovation and science advancement, and I am optimistic that the future will be even brighter,” says Hessa Alfalahi, biomedical engineer, researcher and Ph.D. candidate at Khalifa University.

Alfalahi’s plan to contribute to that brighter future? She’s hoping to gear her research toward those who struggle with neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Early diagnosis and intervention are imperative with neuropsychiatric disorders to improve quality of life and manage complicated symptoms, but many diagnoses, like Parkinson’s, typically come after years of neurodegeneration. Alfalahi wants to get in front of it before it gets to this stage. Her research could also prove valuable for conditions like depression, which, according to the World Health Organization, affects 280 million people globally.

CAPTION: Hessa Alfalahi

She plans to use AI technology and smartphones.

“I aim to leverage AI algorithms for the detection of depression in the wild using smartphone typing data, i.e., the finger kinematics during typing captured as a series of timestamps of key presses and key releases,” she says.

Typing behavior might help detect psychomotor impairment and diagnose depression passively at an early stage, she adds.

She won the L’Oréal UNESCO Women in Science award for her work in 2022.

Alfalahi says taking an active role in science is the key to “mitigating evolving challenges in quality of life and the sustainable development of society.”

Alfalahi shares her research by publishing papers and participating in high-ranking international conferences. But she says she really enjoys interacting with the younger students at Khalifa University, sharing her experiences as she transitioned from student to researcher.

Alfalahi says she is grateful for the inclusive research environment at Khalifa University and hopes to share her vision with the women of the Middle East.

“The time is ripe now to take part in accelerating the research production and innovative solutions in all the scientific disciplines,” she tells KUST Review.

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Cool it, sunshine

The cause of climate change is a hot topic. From carbon output to single-use plastic waste to energy consumption, the list goes on. But in the UAE, where temperatures hit 50 degrees in summer, the sun’s heat and subsequent cooling requirements are an environmental conundrum. Now technology is helping the country harvest its more than 4,400 hours of annual sunlight to tip the scales in favor of the planet.

Global heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) giant GREE, known in the market for its investments in research and development, announced at the COP28 in Dubai the launch of its solar-powered technology in the UAE through its business partner, NIA. The technology is variant refrigerator flow (VRF), and it is quick, responsive and adaptable. It also uses less energy than conventional air-conditioners.

“NIA is engaging key decision-makers that enable sustainable change for the communities in the UAE by promoting solar-powered air-conditioning adoption,” says Imad Hseino, NIA’s head of HVAC solutions.

GREE, headquartered in China and founded in 1991, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of HVAC solutions.

The system won multiple awards, including the British RAC Cooling Industry Award, the International Quality Innovation Award, the GENEVE International Invention Gold Medal and the China Patent Gold Award.

The units look like traditional systems, but inside is a whole host of carbon-reducing goodness.

CAPTION: Imad Hseino, head of HVAC solutions-NIA IMAGE: NIA

The units harness and use direct solar power without the use of a solar inverter, eliminating the typical 15 to 22 percent loss of energy that occurs during the transmission process.

Typically, energy from solar panels goes through an inverter and a transformer that outputs it as air-conditioning. But GREE’s technology can accept DC energy directly from the solar panels at 99 percent power efficiency.

That’s a big number, but what does it mean?

Whenever there is an inversion process, a certain amount of energy is lost in the form of heat. Since no inverter is required, the GREE solar VRF operates at a maximum, the company says. With minimal environmental impact.

VRF, an extremely conducive and multifaceted form of cooling technology, allows for variance of the flow of cool air to individual spaces. Eliminating the need for an inverter reduces materials (and therefore cost), ensuring higher efficiency and fulfilling its purpose with zero-carbon output, zero electricity bills and zero wasted energy.

That’s a lot of zeros in a region where 80 to 85 percent of an average building’s energy usage goes to cooling.

And the designs are suited for both residential or commercial settings, with simple and cost-saving installation of up to 20 percent compared with other solutions. Units can be installed on a rooftop or ground floor.

Garden-variety VRF systems require not only an inverter but a human to manage them. GREE’s product, however, uses AI to do the work.

“It (the system) incorporates advanced monitoring and control technologies, including the GREE Energy Information Management System for real-time energy-flow monitoring and a self-developed AI algorithm for maximizing efficiency,” Hseino tells KUST Review.

Concerned about the monitoring of energy flow? Just check your phone.

Launching new technology in a new region often comes with challenges, and the UAE is no exception.

DEWA, the Dubai Energy and Water Authority, put the solar VRF through rigorous approval processes, particularly in the inverter category.

IMAGE: NIA

“This involved the submission of comprehensive test certificates that demonstrated the system’s performance and safety compliance,” Hseino tells KUST Review. “The primary challenges were to meet the high sustainability standard of the related authorities and obtain the necessary approvals from regulatory authorities.” Now DEWA hosts the product on its website.

It all sounds positive, but what happens when the sun is gone for the day but it’s still too hot to turn the air-conditioning off?

The system has a hybrid connection. During sunlight hours, it’s feeding off the solar energy.

But once the sun sinks, the connection automatically shifts to the power grid.

If you prefer to continue solar-energy use during sundown hours, however, GREE also offers varying capacities of storage solutions to box up that energy and store if for a rainy day. This means flexibility to maintain sustainable cooling 24 hours a day.

And as the planet heats up, cooling has become a necessity. In the UAE and all over the world.

The United Nations Cool Coalition addresses the provision of sustainable but necessary cooling and met in Denmark in 2019 to discuss environmental protection amid mounting heat.

Rachel Kyte, chief executive officer of Sustainable Energy for All, says in a United Nations Environmental Programme press release, “In a warming world, cooling is a necessity, not a luxury. … Hundreds of millions of people at risk today from extreme heat need protection and we must protect them in a way that also protects the planet from increased carbon emissions.”

The UAE has set itself an aligned, aggressive goal to reach net zero emissions by 2050 in its Clean Energy Strategy 2050.

The GREE Solar VRF system is estimated to save 11,130 kilograms of CO2 annually, in a typical house.

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Closing the loop with textiles

Kris Barber, owner of Dubai company DGrade, has been working in textiles most of his career, but it was his love of surfing that fueled a desire to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. He just never guessed he’d end up wearing it.

Barber, a U.K. native, over time noticed an increase in plastic waste in the oceans. This is why he decided to make a shift from full-time textile production to sustainable textiles.

“When I came across the technology to convert plastic bottles into clothing, I began to see that recycling could be a significant way to decrease plastic pollution and also provide a sustainable solution for textile production,” he tells KUST Review. He also began organizing beach clean-ups and recycling drives to get his community involved.

CAPTION: Kris Barber IMAGE: DGrade CEO

It was in 2010 when Barber moved with his wife to Dubai and discovered there were no options for sustainably made clothing that he started DGrade.

“When I came across the technology to convert plastic bottles into clothing, I began to see that recycling could be a significant way to decrease plastic pollution and also provide a sustainable solution for textile production,” he tells KUST Review.

He also began organizing beach clean-ups and recycling drives to get his community involved.

“At that time there was very little interest in recycling and sustainability in general, but I knew the market would shift,” he says. “I saw there was a gap in the market for sustainable clothing supply and a necessity for plastic recycling programs.”

DGrade, an eco-clothing company based in Dubai, developed its trademarked Greenspun yarn, in which plastic water bottles are converted into polyester yarn. The plastic flakes are used to create yarn and ultimately fabrics. The Greenspun yarn produces 55 percent fewer carbon emissions, uses 50 percent less energy and 20 percent less water and doesn’t require any oil compared with making conventional polyester yarn.

CAPTION: DGrade recycling factory IMAGE: DGrade

“We can produce more than 200 types of fabric including jersey, quick-dry, twill and denim to make customized clothing and accessories for our (business-to-business) customers.

We manage this production process through our supply-chain partners,” Barber tells KUST Review.

While many other companies around the world are creating fabric out of plastic and those fabrics are being used by household brands such as Nike and Patagonia to create product, DGrade offers full-service partnerships to its business-to-business clients. This means DGrade does it all — from placing the bins to collecting plastic to producing specific clothing items for businesses and then offering advice on possible next phases for the items — thereby assisting its clients with closed-loop recycling.
Closed-loop recycling is the process of collecting goods and reprocessing or recycling them into new, usable products.

Once the clothing is no longer wearable, DGrade encourages its partners to take advantage of clothing charity bins placed around the city. The discarded clothing is passed on to communities, or if not in good enough condition to be re-worn, is shredded and used as filling for pillows and mattresses or made into carpets.

One of DGrade’s partners is YAS Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. DGrade collects used water bottles from the venue and events and recycles them at the DGrade Recycling Factory. DGrade also supplies uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles for the Yas Marina Circuit team. This helps the track lower its carbon footprint. DGrade also has a stand set up in the sustainability area during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix where it can educate the public about closed-loop recycling.

“Through this partnership, Yas Marina Circuit can demonstrate that they divert more than 50,000 plastic bottles from landfill during the Formula 1 event, saving energy, water and carbon emissions,” he says. Every Greenspun T-shirt created saves 25 plastic bottles from landfills, he says.

Though DGrade participates in initiatives like the Yas Marina’s, there is still a lot to be done to reduce plastic waste. In the UAE alone, 4 billion plastic water bottles are manufactured annually, and less than 8 percent are recycled — that means 320 million water bottles end up in landfills every year. Of these, the DGrade Recycling Factory managed to repurpose 60 million in the first six months of 2022. This is due in part because of its Simply Bottles program.

Simply Bottles works with schools and communities to ensure waste made with Type 1 plastic — typically used for water, juice or food containers — is recycled. Participants can choose their level of involvement ranging from collecting plastic to learning about the impact of plastic waste on the environment. More than 250 schools across the UAE participate in the program. Simply Bottles also works with universities, events, hotels and corporations — like Yas Marina Circuit.

CAPTION: Used bottles are collected, washed and shredded; the plastic flakes are heated and turned into polyester fibers; the fiber is spun into yarn; and finally the yarn is spun to make clothing and accessories IMAGE: Shutterstock

“We believe that DGrade can and will play a significant role in helping the UAE government reach their waste and recycling goals for 2030 by facilitating collection and raising awareness of plastic recycling and a closed loop through our Simply Bottles program,” Barber says.

DGrade has been recognized by the Gulf region on numerous occasions. Awards include Best Sustainability Education or Awareness Program (the Gulf Sustainability Awards); silver in Sustainable Project of the Year (Prime Awards Middle East and Africa); and Most Innovative Technology Product for its Greenspun Yarn (International Business Magazine).

What’s next for DGrade?

After providing official uniforms for the UAE hosted COP28 in November 2023, it plans to assist companies with green initiatives. This includes working with them to recycle plastic bottles, delivering employee education and engaging activities to their teams through its Simply Bottles program, as well as supplying sustainably made uniforms

“DGrade is committed to combating pollution by providing sustainable solutions for plastic and textiles. We do our utmost to contribute to a sustainable future every day through our actions and business model. However we also believe that collaboration and commitment from businesses, government and communities is essential to ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come,” Barber says.

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Dubai film festival celebrates AI

One of the longest strikes in Hollywood history ended recently with a victory for writers and actors who won protections against job-threatening uses of artificial intelligence in the filmmaking process. But Expo City Dubai is embracing the creative potential of the tool with its inaugural Artificial Intelligence Film Festival.

“Through the AI film festival, we are exploring the relationship between creativity and technology, between human ingenuity and artificial intelligence. We recognize that AI plays a role in supporting the understanding, emotional depth and imagination that artists exclusively possess,” says Magd Zoroob, senior vice president of Future Technologies, Expo City Dubai.

“AI opens the door to enthusiasts who may have previously found the industry inaccessible by giving them the tools to supplement and enhance their creativity,” Zoroob adds.

The film festival jury reviewed entries from around the world and narrowed the list to 10 finalists. Members of the public are invited to weigh in on the shortlisted films for a People’s Choice award.

In addition to showcasing finished films, the festival also hosts workshops for aspiring filmmakers as well as discussions about ethical uses of the technology, Zoroob says.

“We are looking for creators who strike a balance and use AI tools to enhance their creativity, bringing it to life in new and exciting ways, while also respecting copyright laws and regulations,” he adds.

Finalists are:

“Buyer Beware” by Christian Fleischer (Germany): In a last-ditch attempt to save his career, a dodgy salesman tries to sell the Earth to aliens, but they refuse his offer, triggering an eruptive event to save humanity.
“The Enfilade of Worlds” by Artem Golenkov (UAE): An exploration of the lives of those who have traveled between worlds – eternal wanderers who have witnessed wonders but lost their homes and identities along the way.
“The Final Ascent” by Emad Khalid (Pakistan): After surviving an avalanche, a lone mountaineer hears a mysterious voice guiding him to the summit.
“My Word” by Carme Puche Moré (Spain): Who defines who we are? What happens when images betray our words? How do we survive in a world that constantly misunderstands us? Follow in the steps of a woman on a journey to define herself.
“One More Pumpkin” by Hansl von Kwon (Republic of Korea): An elderly couple farming pumpkins in a rural Korean village are rumoured to have lived more than 200 years. Once the messengers of death hear about this, they visit the couple to investigate.
“Oracle” by Thibaud and Claire Zamora (France): Dive into the adventures of the Oracle’s guardians as we follow three inseparable friends on their perilous journey, where each step unveils a secret world with challenges to overcome.
“PLSTC” by Laen Sanches (Netherlands): Welcome to the world of PLSTC, an undersea dystopia that submerges you in the disturbing reality of plastic pollution in our oceans. The film confronts the devastating consequences of our habits on marine life.
“The Sad Clown Pagliacci” by Alessandro Carnevale (Switzerland): A sad clown born and raised in a traveling circus decides to leave and follow his dreams.
“The Seed” by Daniel Ortiz (Spain): A solitary man, haunted by a pervasive sense of detachment, shares his troubles with an attentive bartender and seeks solace and answers from his psychiatrist and an enigmatic woman.
“TRETA” by Francesco Siro (Italy): A dreamy fable, full of symbolism, where man is unconsciously controlled by an evil jester, while in another mysterious dimension an advanced civilization of sentient beings lines up for battle.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony Feb. 28 at Expo City Dubai. Film fans can view the finalists and vote here.