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ASILA AL BADI (ABU DHABI)
It was art that first led Aysha AlShehhi to robotics – an unlikely beginning, she admitted, but one that demonstrated how creativity and science often go hand in hand to bring meaningful innovations to life.
AlShehhi, a PhD student in robotics at Khalifa University in collaboration with Dubai Future Labs (DFL), is one of this year’s winners of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Regional Young Talents Award, honoured for her contributions to advancing scientific research.
The L’Oréal-UNESCO programme – which has supported more than 4,400 women researchers in over 140 countries since 1998 –recognises outstanding young women scientists across the region. This year’s ceremony, held at Dubai’s Museum of the Future, celebrated six GCC researchers for their achievements.
Looking back on her journey, AlShehhi didn’t expect she would one day be counted among the world’s rising robotics researchers. After all, she loved art and art wasn’t always directly linked to science and technology.
“My journey began in an unexpected place: art and 3D modelling,” she told Aletihad. “Designing my first 3D robot sparked a powerful curiosity in me. It revealed how creativity and engineering can come together to shape the future, and that realisation drew me into the world of robotics.”
That moment of discovery guided her to her first research internship at the BioRobotics Institute in Italy, a transformative experience that solidified her passion.
“Being surrounded by groundbreaking projects and witnessing how robots can transform lives made everything click. It was the moment when passion, purpose and curiosity aligned, and I knew that robotics was the field I wanted to dedicate myself to,” she said.
Today, AlShehhi works on advanced robotics systems at DFL, one of the UAE’s leading applied research initiatives in robotics and artificial intelligence.
Winning the L’Oréal-UNESCO award, she said, was a privilege that came with responsibility. “It is an honour and a milestone that reflects years of dedication. At the same time, it brings a responsibility to keep moving forward, to advance the field of robotics and to aim even higher. It also inspires me to continue opening doors for younger generations of women who aspire to enter science.”
AlShehhi hopes her accomplishment sends a message of confidence and courage to young Emirati women who are considering careers in science and engineering.
“Be courageous and take the leap,” she told them. “STEM thrives on diversity and Emirati women have so much to contribute. Science is a noble pursuit that allows us to improve lives, solve real challenges, and give back to our communities.”
AlShehhi aims to see her research applied in real-world scenarios. She seeks to contribute to innovations that will support the advancement of robotics both in the UAE and internationally; inspire collaboration; and build technologies for a safer, smarter and more resilient future.
