UAE: Professors take pride in 1st female Arab astronaut's success

Abu Dhabi - Noura Al Matrooshi is part of a team to undergo training at NASA

The UAE University (UAEU) professors, who taught Noura Al Matrooshi, the first female Arab astronaut, have described her as a bright, talented, and dedicated pupil.

Al Matrooshi graduated from the UAEU in 2015, where she received a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.

The Emirati will be part of a UAE team of four astronauts to undergo training at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the US for missions to space.

Khalifa H. Harib, Associate Professor Mechanical Engineering, at the UAEU, said Al Matrooshi was a bright student, who was keen to work on projects and laboratory assignments during her university days.

“She did exceptionally well in her project work under my supervision. She richly deserved the A score she received. We’re all very proud of her success,” said Harib.

Professor Mohamed Younes El-Saghir Selim, the Chair of Mechanical Engineering Department, UAEU, who taught Al Matroushi an elective course during the 2015 spring session on “Air Conditioning Systems” fondly remembered her as a talented pupil who was well regarded for her out-of-the-box thinking ability.

“She led a group of students in designing a unique air conditioning system (chilled water piping system) for a building like what a consultant engineer does. She had secured full marks in the design project,’ said Selim. “She was one of the best pupils in the class and was competing with her batchmate in scoring the highest grades. She almost got the highest marks in her class during the final examination. She obtained an A- grade, which was the highest grade.”