KAUST held its fifth annual KAUST Saudi Leadership Program (KSLP) in collaboration with the Haas School of Business of UC Berkeley. The 2018 KSLP edition included workshops and a six-day training course for 25 Saudi female academics in leadership and deanship positions. Participants reviewed strategic planning, team management, and effective executive leadership, and attended lectures by KAUST's senior leadership. Why it matters: Such programs contribute to developing leadership capabilities within Saudi academic institutions, fostering a stronger educational ecosystem in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
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 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.
Dr. Pooja Khosla, formerly an academic, co-founded Entelligent, a climate fintech startup that uses big data and machine learning to help companies manage climate change risk. Khosla recently spoke at MBZUAI, advising academics to translate research into real-world applications, leveraging their unique access to data and analytical thinking. She emphasized the importance of simplifying complex work to make it accessible, noting AI's role in accelerating complex tasks. Why it matters: This highlights the growing trend of translating academic research into practical, impactful business solutions within the AI and climate tech sectors, potentially inspiring more researchers in the region to pursue entrepreneurial ventures.
KAUST led a session at the World Economic Forum's Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian, China, focusing on sustainability science. President Tony Chan and faculty members Peiying Hong, Mohamed Eddaoudi, and Derya Baran presented KAUST's research in water reuse, carbon capture, and transparent solar cells. Derya Baran highlighted KAUST spinoff iyris, which aims to turn windows into solar power plants. Why it matters: This showcases KAUST's role as an innovative hub for global research and education, particularly in green technologies, and highlights the university's commitment to addressing environmental challenges.
KAUST Professors Jean Frechet and Charlotte Hauser were elected as Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Both professors were inducted into the NAI in 2015. The NAI held a ceremony on April 15 in Washington, D.C. where the professors received their NAI medals. Why it matters: Recognition of KAUST faculty by NAI highlights the university's increasing role in fostering impactful research and innovation.
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.
KAUST Professor Pierre Magistretti participated in the U.S.-Saudi Arabia Business Leaders Virtual Forum, organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Saudi Ministry of Investment. Magistretti spoke on a panel about healthcare innovation alongside representatives from Pfizer, Abbott, and the Saudi Ministry of Investment. KAUST's Smart-Health Initiative (SHI) aims to translate scientific discoveries into clinical tools. Why it matters: This participation highlights KAUST's growing role in shaping healthcare innovation within the Kingdom and fostering international collaborations in the field.