KAUST Ph.D. student Nils Rädecker won a best student presentation award at the European Coral Reef Symposium (ECRS) 2017 for his talk on coral bleaching. Rädecker's presentation focused on the underlying mechanisms of coral bleaching and the breakdown of symbiosis between corals and endosymbiotic algae due to ocean warming. His research explores the nutrient exchange between the coral host and algal symbiont to understand why the symbiosis is disrupted. Why it matters: This award recognizes important research into coral bleaching, a critical issue for marine ecosystems in the Red Sea and globally, highlighting KAUST's contribution to addressing environmental challenges.
KAUST Ph.D. student Sheikha Alardhi won the sustainable energy and fuels poster award at the 2017 Spring Meeting and Exhibit of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) in Strasbourg, France. Alardhi's poster was titled "Ab initio Assessment of Bi1-xRExCuOS (RE=La, Gd, Y, Lu) Solid Solution for Water Splitting". Her poster came in first place among 77 student and postdoctoral fellow posters. Why it matters: This award recognizes promising research in sustainable energy and highlights KAUST's contributions to the field.
The 2017 KAUST Research Conference focused on new combustion concepts, bringing together experts from academia, national labs, and industry. Participants discussed various aspects of combustion, including energy conversion by Professor Igor Adamovich from Ohio State University. Anne Bourdon from École Polytechnique presented on plasma-assisted applications. Why it matters: The conference facilitated knowledge exchange and collaboration on advancing combustion technologies, a field relevant to energy and environmental sustainability in the region.
KAUST PhD student Zahra Al-Saffar won first prize for her poster presentation at the 52nd European Marine Biology Symposium (EMBS) in Piran, Slovenia in September 2017. Her research was presented in poster format. The symposium focuses on marine biology research. Why it matters: This award recognizes promising research by a KAUST student in the field of marine biology.
Dr. Laurent A. Lantieri delivered a keynote address at KAUST on April 17, 2017, discussing microsurgical procedures. The address included a brief history of microsurgery. The event took place in the University Auditorium. Why it matters: Such events expose the KAUST community to advances in specialized medical fields and potential research applications.
KAUST students and faculty attended the 2017 Materials Research Society (MRS) Spring Meeting & Exhibit in Phoenix, Arizona. KAUST students also participated in the 2016 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit in Boston, Massachusetts, where they organized seminars and workshops. Rahim Munir represented the KAUST student chapter at the Spring 2017 event, attending a luncheon to recap the Fall 2016 communication seminars. Why it matters: KAUST's strong presence in international materials science conferences highlights its commitment to advancing research and fostering collaboration in the field.
The KAUST booth at the 2017 American Chemical Society conference in San Francisco attracted potential students and staff. Justin Mynar, Director of the KAUST Core Labs, engaged with attendees. KAUST staff also interacted with visitors to provide information about the university's offerings. Why it matters: This type of outreach helps KAUST attract international talent and build its reputation within the global scientific community.
KAUST participated in the Supercomputing Conference (SC17) in Denver, Colorado, with faculty, staff, and students. The university's Shaheen 2 Cray XC40 System was ranked the 20th fastest globally and the fastest in the Middle East. KAUST's IT department hosted talks featuring David Keyes, Jack Dongarra, Thierry-Laurent, Mootaz Elnozahy, and Jason Roos. Why it matters: KAUST's strong presence at SC17 highlights its commitment to advancing supercomputing capabilities in the Middle East and fostering international collaboration.