Masdar Institute to Host Lecture on Lighter-than-Air Aviation Technology

Don Hartsell, Commissioner for World Air League, to Speak about Advantages of LTA at Masdar Institute

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 20 May, 2014 - Masdar Institute of Science and Technology today announced that it will host a guest lecture by Don Hartsell, Commissioner for the World Air League, who will discuss advances in lighter-than-air aviation (LTA) technology and its potential transformational role in the global economy for this century.

To be held on 28 May, at the Masdar Institute Auditorium, the lecture will be attended by students, faculty and various stakeholders in sustainable fields.

Don Hartsell said: "Starting with the proven engineering of the 1920s and 1930s, we will innovate for today to create new markets for green LTA transportation. With LTA solutions, there will be reduced need for building highways, railroads, harbors and runways. Essentially, LTA commerce can eliminate the need for building that last 1,000 miles of roads."

Dr. Sgouris Sgouridis, Head of the Institute Center for Smart and Sustainable Systems (iSmart) and Associate Professor, Engineering Systems and Management, said: "LTA systems provide some promising options for reducing aviation's energy footprint in certain markets. iSmart welcomes Don Hartsell, who will be delivering a lecture on LTA and the World Sky Race, raising awareness about the advantages but also of limitations of these reemerging technologies."

Hartsell will also speak in detail about how the World Sky Race plans to fly airships and zeppelins across the globe in 2016.

To learn more or to get involved, visit:

www.masdar.ac.ae
www.worldskyrace.com

About Masdar Institute
Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (Masdar Institute) was established by the government of Abu Dhabi as a not-for-profit, private graduate university to develop indigenous R&D capacity in Abu Dhabi addressing issues of importance to the region.

In collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute has developed an academic and research platform that articulates its mission and vision according to critical energy and sustainability challenges.

An important characteristic of Masdar Institute is its focus on complex real-world problems that require a multidisciplinary approach for the development of solutions from an integrated technology, systems and policy perspective. This multi-interdisciplinary and integrated approach is supported by the structure of its academic programs and by the emphasis placed on engaging external partners from industry, government, and other academic institutions in collaborative activities.

Serving as a key pillar of innovation and human capital, Masdar Institute remains fundamental to Masdar's core objectives of developing Abu Dhabi's knowledge economy and finding solutions to humanity's toughest challenges such as climate change.

Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow. With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change through education and research.

Masdar Institute offers degrees in:

MSc Engineering Systems and Management
MSc Computing and Information Science
MSc Materials Science and Engineering
MSc Mechanical Engineering
MSc Water and Environmental Engineering
MSc Microsystems Engineering
MSc Electrical Power Engineering
MSc Chemical Engineering
MSc Sustainable Critical Infrastructure
PhD in Interdisciplinary Engineering

Please visit our website www.masdar.ac.ae/

For more information contact:
Name: Bader Al Zarei
Director - Communications
Public Affairs Department
Email: balzarei@masdar.ac.ae
Phone: +971 02 8109372

About World Air League
As an agent of change, the mission of the World Air League is to chart an alternative sustainable path for Humanity by technology incubation and education. The World Sky Race is the first historic and epic race of zeppelins and airships competing to circumnavigate the globe. The Three E's of the World Sky Race: