KAUST is investing in a state-of-the-art 50-meter oceanographic research vessel (RV) to replace the existing Thuwal RV, selecting Glosten for the design. The new RV will feature a reconfigurable deck, advanced positioning system, and weather-hardy traits tailored for the Red Sea's unique conditions. This upgrade aims to enhance KAUST's marine research capabilities, enabling studies in shallow reef and deep-water environments up to 3000 meters. Why it matters: The advanced vessel positions KAUST to lead Red Sea research, supporting Saudi Arabia's environmental and economic initiatives like NEOM and the Red Sea giga-projects.
KAUST Professor Georgiy Stenchikov has received the 2022 Future of Life Award for his research on the climatic consequences of nuclear war. Stenchikov is the principal investigator of the KAUST Atmospheric and Climate Modeling (ATCM) Research Group. The award recognizes his work on "reducing the risk of nuclear war by developing and popularizing the science of nuclear winter." Why it matters: This award highlights the important climate research being conducted at KAUST and its relevance to global challenges.
KAUST Professor Marc Genton has been selected as the 2020 Georges Matheron Lecturer of the International Association for Mathematical Geosciences. Genton will present a lecture at the 36th International Geological Congress in Delhi, India, focusing on geostatistics, climate model outputs, and the ExaGeoStat software developed at KAUST. His lecture will cover Matheron's theory of regionalized variables and showcase ExaGeoStat, a high-performance software for geostatistics with exascale computing capability developed at KAUST. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's contributions to advanced statistical methods and high-performance computing in geosciences, enhancing its international reputation in these fields.
KAUST Professor Marc Genton and his former postdoc Stefano Castruccio jointly won the 2017 Wilcoxon Award for their paper in Technometrics. Their paper, "Compressing an ensemble with statistical models: An algorithm for global 3D spatio-temporal temperature," details a data-compression scheme for climate simulations. The method reduces data-storage requirements and accelerates climate research capacity. Why it matters: This award highlights KAUST's contribution to statistical methods for climate modeling and big data analysis, particularly relevant for studying renewable energy resources in Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Martin Fischer, head of the design team for Groupama Team France, spoke at KAUST as part of the Winter Enrichment Program (WEP). His keynote lecture focused on engineering design principles exemplified by the America's Cup challenge. The event took place on January 17th at KAUST. Why it matters: Such events help promote STEM fields and expose students to real-world engineering challenges.
Nobuyuki Umetani from the University of Tokyo presented a talk on using AI to accelerate simulations and optimization for 3D shape designs. The talk covered interactive approaches integrating physical simulation into geometric modeling. Specific applications discussed included musical instruments, garment design, aerodynamic design, and floor plan design. Why it matters: This highlights growing interest in AI techniques at MBZUAI and across the GCC for streamlining engineering design and simulation processes.
Dominique Sciamma, Managing Director at Strate School of Design in France, gave a presentation at KAUST during Enrichment in the Fall of 2017. The title of the presentation was "From Descartes to Morin." The event was held at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Why it matters: While the event is dated, KAUST's ongoing enrichment programs contribute to fostering a culture of innovation and knowledge exchange in Saudi Arabia.