KAUST alumnus Marie-Jean Thoraval was selected for Xi'an Jiaotong University’s “10 Young Scholars of Distinction” award, the first foreign teacher to receive this honor. Thoraval's current research focuses on the dynamics of interfacial flows, combining high-speed imaging with numerical simulations. He developed research facilities at Xi'an Jiaotong University to study drops' and bubbles' dynamics. Why it matters: This award highlights KAUST's role in producing impactful researchers and fostering international collaboration in science and engineering.
KAUST has announced the winners of the KAUST Alumni Change Makers Awards, recognizing alumni impacts at local, national, and international levels. The awards honor alumni in Leadership and Impact; Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship; and Social Impact. Ahmad Showail, a KAUST alumnus and assistant professor at Taibah University, received the Leadership and Impact award for his work on IoT security solutions. Why it matters: The awards highlight the impact of KAUST's graduates in advancing technology and contributing to Saudi Arabia's development.
KAUST alumnus Babar Khan won the best oral presentation award at the First International Symposium on Nanomaterials and Membrane Science in Morocco. His presentation focused on his doctoral work at the KAUST Water Desalination and Reuse Center, specifically on detecting microbes on industrial surfaces and their impact on membrane systems. Khan's research involves an indirect method to measure microbial communities in closed systems. Why it matters: This award recognizes KAUST's contribution to innovative research in water desalination and microbial detection, highlighting the university's impact on addressing critical environmental challenges.
KAUST doctoral students Xiujuan Zhang and Aftab Hussain, along with Research Scientist Dr. Alberto Casu, will attend the 66th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. The three scientists were selected based on their work at KAUST. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's commitment to fostering scientific talent and contributing to global research.
KAUST alumnus Chuan Xia (M.S. '14, Ph.D. '18) is now a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard, researching CO2 capture and conversion into valuable chemicals using renewable electricity. His Ph.D. research at KAUST, under Professor Husam Alshareef, focused on ternary metal sulfides and selenides for energy storage. Xia credits KAUST with providing training in communication, teamwork, and leadership that facilitated his transition to Harvard. Why it matters: The success of KAUST alumni in fields like sustainable energy highlights the university's growing role in addressing global challenges and fostering international research collaboration.