Eleven Nobel laureates, nearly 200 world thinkers from 40 countries and 400 students from the region attended the The third Festival of Thinkers (FoT) yesterday in the capital.

The opening ceremony included a panel discussion with Nobel laureates and world thinkers on Future Capital: Moving Beyond the Economic Crisis. Liz Mohn of Bertelsmann and philosopher Swami Parthasarathy gave special addresses. Gavin Esler, BBC, served as emcee.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), addressed a 2,000 strong audience.

He said: "The Festival of Thinkers is based upon the premise that the bringing together of promising students with some of the world's recognised leaders in innovation and creativity will enrich both groups and lead to an even brighter future for our global society."

The second session addressed the topic Future Resources: Envisioning Sustainable Development. Today's sessions will see discussions on Future Well-Being: Towards a Healthier World; Future Innovations: Promoting Science and Technology; Future Identity: Globalisation of Culture and Language; Future Role Models: Adventure in Adversity and Future Growth: Development Economics & Poverty Alleviation.

Nobel laureate Dr Shirin Ebadi gave the keynote address. Ebadi, an Iranian lawyer and her country's first female judge, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her pioneering efforts in human rights for women and children.

She is the first Muslim woman and the first Iranian to receive the Nobel prize.

Nobel laureates attending the festival include Professor John Nash, Dr Robin Warren and Professor Richard Ernst, HM Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, Cherie Blair, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand Mike Moore, US basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lady Barbara Judge – Chairman of UK Atomic Energy Authority and Dr Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart of Cuba.

Organised by HCT, the largest higher education institution in the UAE, FoT is a unique forum for young scholars from the Middle East and global leaders to work together and design possible solutions for the world's challenges.

The festival will see thinkers and laureates holding round-table discussions with young scholars. Themes to be discussed include sustainable development, effect of globalisation on culture and language and resolving non-traditional threats among others.

"HCT seeks to establish a global imprint. We want to welcome the world to our shores. This festival is a part of that process of sharing and welcoming," said Dr Tayeb Kamali, Vice-Chancellor of HCT and Chairman of FoT Organising Committee.

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