KAUST Professors Osman Bakr and Omar Mohammed have been awarded the Kuwait Prize 2021 in Condensed Matter Physics for their research on perovskite materials. Their work focuses on solar energy applications and high-energy radiation sensors. The prize, awarded by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, includes approximately $132,000 in funding. Why it matters: The recognition highlights the importance of materials science research in the GCC and the potential for regional contributions to global sustainable energy and medical technology advancements.
KAUST researchers in the Sensors Lab are developing neuromorphic circuits for vision sensors, drawing inspiration from the human eye. They created flexible photoreceptors using hybrid perovskite materials, with capacitance tunable by light stimulation, mimicking the human retina. The team collaborates with experts in image characterization and brain pattern recognition to connect the 'eye' to the 'brain' for object identification. Why it matters: This biomimetic approach promises advancements in AI, machine learning, and smart city development within the region.
KAUST Professors Atif Shamim and Osman Bakr received the King Prize for Honoring Inventors and the Gifted from KACST. Shamim was awarded for his real-time microwave sensing system that determines the proportion of water mixed in oil, enhancing production efficiency. Bakr won for his work on hybrid perovskite materials for optoelectronics and solar cell applications. Why it matters: The King Prize recognizes impactful innovations developed within Saudi Arabia, encouraging further advancements in key technological areas and highlighting KAUST's role in addressing national challenges.