Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, inaugurated the second International Festival of Thinkers at the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi. The festival is being organised by the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT).
One hundred and fifty internationally acclaimed scientists and thinkers, including 20 Nobel Prize winners in various scientific disciplines, are taking part in the festival which would last until October 24.
Prominent among those attended Monday's session include Nobel Prize winners Dr Werner Arber, Professor Mario Molina, Dr Franklin Sherwood Rowland, Dr Ivar Giaever, Dr Sheldon Glashow Dr Wangari Maathai and Dr Martinus Veltman, Dr Buzz Aldrin, astronaut and the second man to walk on the Moon and Dr Edward de Bono, creative thinker.