In January 2016, H.E. Abdullatif Al-Othman delivered the opening keynote at KAUST's Winter Enrichment Program (WEP). Al-Othman, then governor of SAGIA, discussed Saudi Arabia's plans to move towards a knowledge economy and invest in alternative energy. He highlighted over $19 billion in sustainable energy projects and called on Saudis to contribute to the country's progress. Why it matters: This speech underscored the Kingdom's early commitment to sustainability and KAUST's role in achieving these ambitious goals.
Afrah Alothman, a Ph.D. student in marine science at KAUST, is conducting research in the Red Sea, studying the impact of various variables on the marine environment. She collects seawater samples from different depths to measure temperature, nutrients, and salinity, and quantifies carbon uptake by planktonic microorganisms. Her supervisor, Susana Agusti, praised her efforts during a challenging oceanographic cruise. Why it matters: This research contributes to Saudi Vision 2030 by developing local expertise in marine science and understanding the Red Sea ecosystem.
Ahmad Alabdulghani, a KAUST master's student in Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering, is studying fluid flow mechanisms in heterogeneous media under the supervision of Professor Hussein Hoteit. Alabdulghani is a member of the Advanced Reservoir Modeling and Simulation (ARMS) research group at ANPERC. He previously worked at Saudi Aramco's EXPEC Advanced Research Center and aims to pursue a doctorate at KAUST. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in developing Saudi talent for the energy sector and fostering collaboration between academia and industry.