Dr. Leslie Dewan, co-founder and CEO of Transatomic, spoke at KAUST's Winter Enrichment Program about next-generation sustainable nuclear power plants. Dewan advocates for both nuclear and renewable energy to meet energy demands. She believes her company's new reactor design, which uses better fuel and reduces nuclear waste, is ideal for countries with rising power demands like Saudi Arabia. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's engagement with innovative energy solutions and their potential relevance to Saudi Arabia's future energy strategy.
The Atomtronics@AbuDhabi2021 meeting, held virtually via Zoom, focused on recent advancements in cold atom quantum technology, particularly within the emerging field of Atomtronics. The meeting covered applicative, experimental, and theoretical aspects of atomic circuits for computation, communication, and sensing. Poster sessions were organized in Zoom breakout rooms. Why it matters: The event signals growing interest and activity in quantum technologies and quantum simulation within the UAE, with potential implications for future research and development in the region.
A KAUST article discusses the future of energy, highlighting the role of hydrocarbon fuels and the need for sustainable practices. Professor Tadeusz W. Patzek's paper emphasizes finding sustainable bridges until alternative energy sources become viable. The article contrasts optimistic and pessimistic views on energy sustainability, drawing parallels to the whale oil industry. Why it matters: The piece highlights the tension between continued reliance on fossil fuels and the urgent need for alternative energy sources and reduced consumption in the GCC region and globally.
The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has appointed Dr. Leandro Aolita as Acting Chief Researcher of the Quantum Research Center (QRC) and Dr. Frederico Brito as Acting Director of the Quantum Computing Hardware Laboratories. Dr. José Ignacio Latorre will remain an external advisor for QRC while Dr. Brito maintains his professorship at the University of Sao Paulo. These appointments come as the UN declares 2025 the Year of Quantum Technology and Science. Why it matters: The leadership changes at TII's quantum research center signal continued investment in quantum technologies within the UAE and the broader region.
KAUST's Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies (CREST) hosted a seminar on rechargeable hydrogen gas batteries. Professor Wei Chen from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) presented the seminar. The talk covered aqueous nickel-hydrogen gas, proton-hydrogen gas, halogen-hydrogen gas, and nonaqueous lithium-hydrogen gas batteries, along with applications like self-charging batteries. Why it matters: Hydrogen gas batteries represent a promising avenue for large-scale energy storage, particularly for integrating renewable energy sources into electric grids.
KAUST alumnus Dr. Muhammed Sameed works at CERN on the ALPHA project, studying antimatter. The project aims to understand why there is so little antimatter in the universe, given that physics equations predict equal amounts of matter and antimatter. Sameed's work involves creating, trapping, and studying antimatter particles in a controlled lab environment. Why it matters: This research advances our understanding of fundamental physics and the composition of the universe, with a KAUST alumnus playing a key role.