Outreach/Society/
Society
This work sat outside my formal responsibilities. I take it on as a duty to society: to bring awareness of robotics and AI beyond the laboratory, and to inspire the next generation so younger people can meet these technologies and picture themselves building with them.
UAE rulers
Briefings for the Ruler of Dubai and the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.
Dubai Future Labs
Area 2071, Dubai · May 2018
Presented Dubai Future Labs projects at Area 2071, Emirates Towers, to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai. Their Highnesses approved the projects.
Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah
Briefed His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, on how robotics and AI can increase productivity and minimise downtime and risk in the heavy industry of Ras Al Khaimah.
Schools
Tours and workshops for school students.
Al Mawakeb School
NYU Abu Dhabi · September 2025
Hosted the school’s robotics demonstration and a tour of the centre. The school followed up with student feedback and photographs.
Science and Photography
NYU Abu Dhabi · November 2019
Gave time and laboratory access for a student photography session. The photographs were exhibited at The Cube, Arts Center.
Abu Dhabi high-school tours
NYU Abu Dhabi · March 2016
Organised two laboratory tours for Abu Dhabi high-school students and coordinated the researchers who hosted them.
UAE high-school laboratory tours
NYU Abu Dhabi · April 2015
Hosted high-school students in the laboratory during a research outreach programme.
University classes
Lectures and laboratory demonstrations for NYU Abu Dhabi courses, grouped by course.
Robots and the creative process
NYU Abu Dhabi · 2023–2024
Hosted Merritt Moore’s classes for tours and Spot demonstrations, including the robot’s dance, and advised on wearable robot controllers and ROS.
Bioinspiration
NYU Abu Dhabi · 2021–2023
Delivered introductions to robotics and live demonstrations of bioinspired robots, including Spot, for classes taught by Rafael Song and Jeremy Teo.
Interactive media
NYU Abu Dhabi · 2023
Hosted Sara Niroobakhsh’s students for a laboratory tour and a talk on machines and robots, in support of their final projects.
Biomechanics
NYU Abu Dhabi · 2022–2023
Demonstrated motion capture and gait analysis in Kinesis for Jeremy Teo’s course, so students could connect the laboratory with their gait-analysis work.
Public
Open houses, festivals, and demonstrations for a wider audience.
Our Learning Festival
NYU Abu Dhabi · April 2024
Operated Spot in the festival’s AI zone, coordinated the demonstration with a Unitree B1, and submitted the risk assessment that secured approval.
UAE National Day robot parade
NYU Abu Dhabi · November 2023
Initiated and organised the parade: recruited participating laboratories, gathered the robot descriptions, and coordinated with the celebration organisers.
Innovation Week open house
NYU Abu Dhabi · November 2015
Co-planned the Engineering Research Building tours for NYU Abu Dhabi’s open house, covering fabrication, electronics, 3D printing, and research projects.