KAUST master's student Parsifal Islas Morales received the Cinna Lomnitz Medal from the Mexican parliament. The award recognizes his science communication work in Mexico through the organization 'Pa'Ciencia la de Mexico'. Islas Morales' undergraduate thesis from UNAM was in collaboration with KAUST, focused on Red Sea bacteria. Why it matters: The award highlights KAUST's role in fostering international collaboration and supporting students who contribute to science communication in their home countries.
The Mexican Embassy in Riyadh announced the creation of the first Saudi Arabian chapter of the Mexican Global Network (RedGlobalMX-Saudi Arabia). The chapter aims to recognize the contributions of the Mexican community in Saudi Arabia and foster collaboration between the two countries. KAUST alumni form a substantial part of the chapter's core membership, including those working at Saudi Aramco and Dow Chemical. Why it matters: This initiative strengthens ties between Saudi Arabia and Mexico, potentially opening doors for further academic and industrial collaborations, especially in fields where KAUST has expertise.
Oscar Becerril Lio, a KAUST alumnus who graduated in 2011 with a master's degree in applied mathematics specializing in operations research, is now an operations manager in Mexico. He leverages his KAUST experience in industrial engineering, construction, operations research, optimization, and logistics. Lio advises current KAUST students to learn from the diverse community and take advantage of travel opportunities. Why it matters: This alumni profile showcases KAUST's role in developing professionals who contribute to diverse industries and geographies, highlighting the university's global impact.
KAUST Professor Ingo Pinnau has been named a 2020 Fellow of the North American Membrane Society (NAMS). Pinnau's research focuses on high-performance membranes for energy-intensive gas and liquid separations. He has published over 170 peer-reviewed papers and holds 46 granted U.S. patents. Why it matters: Recognition of KAUST faculty in this area highlights the university's contribution to advanced materials research, which is crucial for energy and sustainability initiatives in Saudi Arabia and globally.
KAUST postdoctoral fellow Carolina Euán received the Sylvia Esterby Presentation Award from the International Environmentrics Society (TIES) for her talk on a spatio-temporal model applied to drought data in Mexico. The research, conducted with KAUST Associate Professor Ying Sun, focuses on modeling dependence between processes observed in two categories, such as dry or rainy days. Euán joined KAUST in 2016 after completing her Ph.D. in statistics from the Research Center in Mathematics (CIMAT), Guanajuato, Mexico. Why it matters: This award recognizes the quality of environmental statistics research being conducted at KAUST and its applicability to understanding complex environmental phenomena in the region and beyond.
KAUST's Functional Nanomaterials Laboratory (FuNL), led by Prof. Osman Bakr, focuses on synthesizing nanomaterials with novel optical, electronic, and magnetic properties for solar cells and other devices. The lab's research centers on controlling the size and composition of nanoparticles to optimize light absorption across different wavelengths. Unlike silicon-based solar cells, nanoparticle-based solar cells can be processed at low temperatures and potentially integrated with roll-to-roll printing. Why it matters: This research could lead to more efficient and versatile solar energy solutions, including printable photovoltaic thin films for buildings and flexible electronics.
KAUST Ph.D. student Amal Mohammed Alamri was a finalist in the July 2018 IEEE nanoArt Competition, part of the 18th IEEE International Conference on Nanotechnology in Cork, Ireland. Her work, displayed at University College Cork and Crawford/CIT Gallery, involved stacking n-type MoS2 single crystal with p-type perovskite CH3NH3PbBr3 single crystal. Alamri's IEEE Nano paper entitled "Photonic Single Crystal Heterostructures based on Perovskites/Molybdenum disulfide" was also presented at the conference. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's contribution to nanotechnology research and its students' participation in international scientific events.