2016.11.17

In this autobiographical talk, Michael Pollan tells the story of the path his thinking and writing have taken since he first planted a vegetable garden under the unfortunate influence of Thoreau and Emerson. Beginning with that horticultural disaster, his work evolved into an exploration of the human engagement with the natural world. But rather than go to “the wild” in search of nature, Pollan focused on nature closer to home: the garden, the farm, the table and, most recently, the altered states of consciousness that certain plants and fungi allow us to achieve. The talk includes brief readings from several of Pollan’s previous books and a work in progress.

2016.11.15

Human language technologies—from document search, to machine translation and question answering—have become an increasingly important part of our daily lives. The quality of such technologies for the English language continues to surpass the quality of comparable technologies for Arabic. This talk discusses the challenges of developing language technologies for Standard Arabic and its various dialects. The talk also presents current state-of-the-art in the field of Arabic language technologies and explores its potential, as well as implications, for Arabic in the 21st century.

2016.10.16

This year’s iteration of the Venice Architecture Biennale set its aim at highlighting the social consciousness of architecture. By shifting the discussion from the theory driven and formal concerns of the profession, and moving away from an architecture of the spectacle, the move was lauded by many yet disconcerting for some. This talk tackles the debate that architects are not equipped to deal with social issues, highlighting the extent to which the UAE National Pavilion, through its focus on a social housing project, made a positive contribution to the discussion.

2016.10.26

This conversation explores art and technology in the context of the NYUAD Art Gallery exhibition "Invisible Threads: Technology and its Discontents," framed by the region and upcoming Emirates Mission to Mars. The speakers lead a discussion about the philosophical and creative drive behind humankind's desire to travel into space.

2016.10.09

Mleiha is considered one of the most important sites in the Arabian Peninsula, standing out from any other site in the United Arab Emirates. Evidence has confirmed that Mleiha had set up trade links amongst major ports of the ancient world. The inhabitants even minted their own currency, proved by large numbers of so called “Mleiha coins.” The city was developed with monumental buildings, consisting of various styles that were used for different purposes. These features contributed towards making Mleiha such a distinguished site, which sustained ancient communities for a period 500 years.

2016.10.05

The US Presidential Election is less than two months away. As the race heats up, people around the world are anxious to know the implications of a Trump or Clinton victory on US foreign policy. Join us for a discussion of the campaign to date, recent debates, and potential consequences for both the US and the globe.

2016.09.24

This talk inaugurates the Art Gallery's fall exhibition, Invisible Threads: Technology and its Discontents. Among other themes of the exhibition, the artists explore the history of space travel and the future of technology.

2016.09.20

If the Global Sixties were marked by the spirit of freedom and the politics of revolt, where does Africa fit into the chronology? The continent certainly launched this momentous decade, with seventeen countries winning their independence in 1960 alone. It was the “Year of Africa,” the beginning of the African Revolution. Or so it was thought. By 1968, fourteen military coups had swept independent African governments from office and the nation-state project appeared a dismal failure. What perished in those critical years and how? What, if anything, should we mourn?

2016.09.27

Growing up in a very conservative family where many things are "haram" (forbidden in Islam), Abdullah struggles over the years to hide his love for music.

[Director: Humaid Al Suwaidi| UAE | 2015 | 97 mins | Arabic w/ English subtitles]

Speaker

Ahmed Lotfy Producer, Abdullah

Mohammed Yehia Production Manager, Abdullah

2016.09.18

This panel explores the Sundance Institute Theatre Program’s innovative playwright initiatives in East Africa, as well as its new and exciting association with Middle Eastern playwrights, dramaturges, and directors. The program’s international vision is to create open, reciprocal, and meaningful artist-to-artist and people-to-people exchanges across borders, politics, economics, and culture.