KAUST ·
KAUST held a Bay Area alumni dinner in San Francisco. This was the first of a series of planned events for KAUST alumni. The event aimed to connect KAUST graduates in the Bay Area. Why it matters: Building alumni networks can strengthen KAUST's reputation and facilitate collaborations with international tech hubs.
KAUST ·
KAUST alumnus Fahad Hossain (M.S. 2010, Ph.D. 2014) discusses his journey from KAUST to UC Berkeley, where he co-founded Serinus Labs Inc., a manufacturer of integrated silicon gas sensors. Serinus Labs develops gas-sensing solutions for air-quality monitoring, safety, and preventive healthcare. NASA became Serinus' first customer in 2018, contracting them to develop multi-gas sensors for the next generation of spacesuits. Why it matters: This highlights the impact of KAUST graduates in developing advanced sensor technologies and securing partnerships with leading organizations like NASA.
KAUST ·
KAUST's Discovery program supports entrepreneurship. The program appears to have existed since at least 2014, with collaborations including UC Berkeley. Why it matters: Such programs foster innovation and align with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals for economic diversification.
KAUST ·
KAUST's Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) 2015 features keynotes by international experts and award winners. Week 2 events include Caltech's Anthony Readhead discussing radio astronomy and Saudi Arabia's potential role, and an exhibition of Tingatinga art from East Africa. Other events cover urban science, polar expeditions, and a multimedia performance called BELLA GAIA. Why it matters: WEP promotes scientific engagement and cultural exchange within KAUST and highlights opportunities for Saudi Arabia in global research fields like radio astronomy.
KAUST ·
KAUST Ph.D. student Asrar Damdam won a Silicon Valley pitching competition with her biotechnology startup UVERA, which uses ultraviolet light to extend the shelf life of fresh food. The idea ranked first out of 116 others and was deemed the most investable by venture capitalists. UVERA's technology reduces food pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella, aiming to reduce food waste. Why it matters: This award highlights the potential for innovative foodtech solutions emerging from Saudi universities and their ability to attract global investment.
KAUST ·
KAUST Discovery will host a webinar on solvent-based recycling of lithium-ion batteries. The presentation will be given by Dr. Yaocai Bai, an R&D Staff Scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The talk will explore solvent-based separation processes to efficiently separate electrode materials from metal foils in end-of-life batteries and manufacturing scraps. Why it matters: Battery recycling is a key area for sustainability efforts in the region, as it has implications for energy independence and environmental protection.
MBZUAI ·
Paul Liang from CMU presented on machine learning foundations for multisensory AI, discussing a theoretical framework for modality interactions. The talk covered cross-modal attention and multimodal transformer architectures, and applications in mental health, pathology, and robotics. Liang's research aims to enable AI systems to integrate and learn from diverse real-world sensory modalities. Why it matters: This highlights the growing importance of multimodal AI research and its potential for advancements across various sectors in the region, including healthcare and robotics.
KAUST ·
KAUST hosted a Global IT Summit. The summit featured speakers like Khaled Biyari, group CEO at the Saudi Telecom Company. Interviews from the summit are available on KAUST's official YouTube channel. Why it matters: The summit likely served as a forum for discussing IT trends and developments relevant to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.