KAUST ·
KAUST Ph.D. student Sofya Mudrova won the best poster award at the 4th International Congress on Invertebrate Morphology (ICIM4) in Moscow. The poster was in the biology domain. The award recognizes research presented at the conference. Why it matters: Showcases KAUST's strength in attracting and developing talent in interdisciplinary research areas.
KAUST ·
Dr. Gustav Paulay from the Florida Museum of Natural History spoke at KAUST in 2018 about the surprisingly low level of knowledge about marine biodiversity. He noted that only a fraction of the millions of marine species are currently known and described. Paulay highlighted the effectiveness of large-scale biodiversity surveys and the use of technology like mass sampling and DNA analysis to speed up species identification. Why it matters: Understanding and documenting marine biodiversity is crucial for conservation efforts and for leveraging the potential of marine resources in the Red Sea region and beyond.
MBZUAI ·
Ekaterina Vylomova from the University of Melbourne gave a talk on using NLP models to advance research in linguistic morphology, typology, and social psychology. The talk covered using models to study morphology, phonetic changes in words over time, and diachronic changes in language semantics. Vylomova presented the UniMorph project, a cross-lingual annotation schema and database with morphological paradigms for over 150 languages. Why it matters: This research demonstrates the potential of NLP to contribute to a deeper understanding of language evolution and structure, with applications in linguistic research and the study of social and cultural changes.
KAUST ·
Dr. Roberto Arrigoni, a research scientist at KAUST's Red Sea Research Center, has been awarded the international "Benazzi Lentati" prize in zoology by L'Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei in Rome. The biennial prize is dedicated to young researchers under 35 in organismic evolutionary zoology. Arrigoni's research focuses on the systematics, phylogeny, and biogeography of scleractinian corals from the Indo-Pacific, particularly the Red Sea coral fauna. Why it matters: This award recognizes KAUST's contributions to marine biology and highlights the importance of Red Sea research on coral biodiversity.
KAUST ·
Artists from Switzerland collaborated with researchers at KAUST's Red Sea Research Center to photograph autonomous reef monitoring structures (ARMS). ARMS are artificial towers that capture small critters colonizing coral reefs, developed to measure marine biodiversity. KAUST has deployed and retrieved over 180 ARMS units since 2013 to study cryptobenthic biodiversity, which represents up to 70% of a reef's biodiversity. Why it matters: This collaboration highlights the innovative approaches being used to study marine ecosystems in the Red Sea and underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations in advancing scientific understanding.
KAUST ·
Professor Catherine McFadden of Harvey Mudd College discussed coral reef biodiversity at KAUST, noting that only about 10% of coral reef species have been described. Her research indicates that many Red Sea coral species are unique and not closely related to Indo-Pacific species as previously thought. Genetic analysis has revealed that species identification based on appearance alone is flawed, impacting conservation efforts. Why it matters: Understanding the genetic diversity of Red Sea corals is crucial for effective conservation strategies in the face of climate change and coral bleaching.
KAUST ·
KAUST researchers undertook a week-long expedition in May 2017 from Al-Lith, Saudi Arabia to explore the biodiversity of the Red Sea. The expedition involved 35 participants, including KAUST faculty and 10 international marine scientists, and collected over 3,000 specimens. Over 50 species not previously recorded were found during the expedition. Why it matters: Cataloging the Red Sea's biodiversity is crucial given increasing development and provides insights into how marine organisms adapt to extreme conditions, which can inform climate change predictions.
KAUST ·
Professor Kimberly Smith from the University of Arkansas gave a lecture on ornithology to the KAUST community as part of the Enrichment in Fall Program. The lecture covered bird diversity, unique features such as feathers and bills, and various adaptations. Birds have developed unique features, including feathers, bills (or beaks), a flexible upper jaw and egg laying during reproduction. Why it matters: Such lectures can foster interest in biodiversity and conservation within the KAUST community, potentially leading to increased environmental awareness and research.