KAUST hosted the KAUST-NSF Research Conference on Interactive Electronics from January 30 to February 1. The conference featured speakers from Purdue University, Cornell University, and Saudi Aramco's EXPEC Advanced Research Center. Attendees from around the world gathered at KAUST for the event. Why it matters: The conference highlights KAUST's role as a hub for international collaboration and knowledge sharing in advanced electronics research within Saudi Arabia.
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.
TII's Secure Systems Research Center (SSRC) has partnered with Purdue University on a three-year cybersecurity project focused on ensuring the safe and efficient use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in urban environments. The collaboration will study security and resilience in cyber-physical and autonomous systems, addressing vulnerabilities in communication, navigation, and command and control. The project includes four phases: modeling and analysis of UAS security, developing algorithms for high-assurance autonomy, constructing an experimental environment, and testing mitigation strategies. Why it matters: The partnership enhances the UAE's capabilities in securing critical digital systems and fosters the growth of commercial autonomous drones and robots, opening new opportunities for enterprises.
Mani Sarathy, an associate professor of chemical engineering, has been appointed Associate Director of the Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC) at KAUST. Sarathy is part of the University’s Physical Science and Engineering Division. The announcement did not detail specific research directions. Why it matters: This signals KAUST's continued investment in and focus on clean combustion research.
J. Carlos Santamarina, a Professor of Earth Science and Engineering at KAUST, is researching geomaterial behavior and subsurface processes. His work focuses on energy geo-engineering, resource recovery, and geological storage of energy waste. He uses particle-level experiments, numerical methods, and monitoring systems to understand coupled thermo-hydro-bio-chemo-mechanically processes. Why it matters: This research contributes to energy sustainability and addresses global energy challenges through advanced geotechnology.
Researchers from the Directed Energy Research Center (DERC) will present research papers at the 17th Workshop of the International Lithosphere Program Task Force on Sedimentary Basins in Abu Dhabi. Dr. Meixia Geng's study identifies potential geothermal exploration sites in the UAE based on Curie isotherm depths. Dr. Felix Vega's research demonstrates drone-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for subsurface mapping of underground cavities. Why it matters: These studies showcase the UAE's commitment to sustainable development through geothermal energy exploration and advanced subsurface imaging techniques.
KAUST Ph.D. student Zhaolun Liu won the best student presentation at the 2017 Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) Full-Waveform Inversion (FWI) and Beyond Workshop in Beijing. Liu's presentation was on "3D Wave-Equation Dispersion Inversion of Surface Waves," based on a paper co-authored with Jing Li and Professor Gerard Schuster. The paper describes a new method called wave equation dispersion inversion (WD) for inverting surface waves. Why it matters: This award recognizes KAUST's contributions to geophysics and seismic imaging, highlighting the university's research capabilities and access to high-performance computing.
KAUST Vice President for Research Dr. Donal Bradley was inaugurated as a Fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors (NAI) at a ceremony in Florida. Bradley holds 16 granted U.S. patents, including a fundamental patent on conjugated polymer electroluminescence (U.S. 5,247,190) that led to the development of OLED displays. His work led to the founding of Cambridge Display Technology and collaborations with Dow Chemical and Sumitomo Chemical. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's impact on global innovation in materials science and engineering, particularly in the development of advanced display technologies.