KAUST President Tony Chan will participate in a panel discussion titled 'Between East and West' on October 15. The panel will include Eng Chye Tan, President of the National University of Singapore, and Da Hsuan Feng, a theoretical physicist. The discussion will focus on challenges and opportunities in leading institutions in the 21st century, with a focus on the global higher education landscape. Why it matters: The event provides insights into KAUST's role in bridging Eastern and Western academic perspectives and its efforts to navigate the evolving global education landscape.
KAUST Professor Matteo Parsani completed a 3,000 km hand-cycling journey across Saudi Arabia, from Dammam to KAUST, over 30 days. The journey, titled “Athar: East to West,” aimed to promote physical activity and awareness for people with disabilities. Parsani visited rehabilitation centers and engaged with people with disabilities, drawing inspiration from Crown Prince's motivational words. Why it matters: This inspiring journey highlights the potential for inclusivity and accessibility within Saudi Arabia, showcasing the nation's hospitality and support for people with disabilities.
Science writer Dava Sobel spoke at KAUST in 2019 about the importance of longitude and precision timekeeping for navigation. She discussed the historical difficulties in determining longitude, contrasting it with the ease of finding latitude. Sobel highlighted the Longitude Act of 1714 and figures like John Harrison who addressed these challenges. Why it matters: This lecture exposed the KAUST community to the historical context of navigation and the crucial role of timekeeping, relevant to contemporary technologies like GPS.
KAUST hosted the KAUST Research Conference: Advances in Well Construction with Focus on Near-Wellbore Physics and Chemistry from November 7 to 9. The conference was co-chaired by Eric van Oort, a professor at UT Austin, and Tadeusz Patzek, director of the University’s Upstream Petroleum Engineering Research Center. Attendees included professors from the University of Queensland and UT Austin, and directors from GenesisRTS and Labyrinth Consulting Services, Inc. Why it matters: The conference facilitates international collaboration on advancements in petroleum engineering and well construction technologies, which are strategically important for Saudi Arabia.
Edward C. Stone, former Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratories at Caltech, spoke at KAUST's Winter Enrichment Program in 2017. He discussed the exploration of Neptune's moon Triton, enabled by the Voyager 2 mission. The article includes images from NASA's Voyager 1 and 2 missions and a photo of King Abdullah. Why it matters: Such events and collaborations enhance KAUST's reputation as a leading science and technology university.
Salim T. S. Al-Hassani from the University of Manchester presented at KAUST's 2019 Winter Enrichment Program about the contributions of Muslim civilization to science and engineering. The lecture highlighted inventions like early clocks from Muslim heritage, including Al-Jazari's elephant clock. Al-Hassani aims to address the neglect of non-European cultures' impact on humanity. Why it matters: The talk emphasizes the historical significance of Islamic contributions to science and technology, relevant for promoting STEM education and cultural awareness in the region.
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 highlights postdoctoral fellows Yi Jin Liew, Isabelle Schulz, Maren Ziegler and Neus Garcias Bonet outside the University Library. The article mentions King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (1924 – 2015). It encourages applications to KAUST's Discovery Postdoctoral program. Why it matters: This brief announcement signals KAUST's ongoing investment in attracting international research talent to Saudi Arabia.