The KAUST student chapter of the Materials Research Society (MRS) was the first outside the U.S., established in 2012. In late 2016, KAUST students, faculty, and staff attended the MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit in Boston, setting up a recruitment booth and organizing student-led seminars. KAUST faculty and PhD students also gave talks on their research at the event. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's commitment to international engagement and student development in material science, fostering research and career opportunities.
KAUST students and postdoctoral fellows organized the Red Sea Research Center Open Science Conference in late October 2017, featuring international speakers and attendees. The conference included a workshop on job opportunities within Saudi Arabia, with panelists discussing how students can improve their job prospects. Organizers emphasized the importance of formalized hierarchy, leadership, and accountability for future events. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's commitment to student-led initiatives and career development within the Kingdom's growing research and innovation ecosystem.
Students from the KAUST School volunteered to assemble gift boxes for families in Thuwal as part of the "Sharing is Caring" campaign. The activity was organized to celebrate Eid. Why it matters: This highlights community engagement by a leading STEM university in Saudi Arabia.
The KAUST Amateur Astronomy Association (AAA), led by Ph.D. student Daniel Corzo, uses telescopes to observe the night sky. The group organizes events to view celestial objects like Saturn and the Milky Way from locations with low light pollution. Corzo's interest in astronomy was sparked by visits to NASA's Johnson Space Center and science fiction literature. Why it matters: Such initiatives promote scientific curiosity and engagement within the KAUST community, potentially inspiring further interest in STEM fields in Saudi Arabia.
Two KAUST students, Praise O. Eromosele and Fabiyan Angikath Shamsudheen, participated in the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin. They were selected among 75 students to pitch their ideas, focusing on wastewater treatment and sustainable hydrogen production from waste, respectively. Praise Eromosele's research explores using sawdust to remove heavy metal ions from industrial wastewater, inspired by pollution issues in Nigeria. Why it matters: This participation highlights KAUST's commitment to addressing global challenges through innovative research and provides a platform for its students to gain international exposure and recognition.
KAUST Saudi Initiatives organized a back-to-school campaign in August and September 2016. The campaign provided school supplies to students in Thuwal and Qadimah. KAUST volunteers assembled the school supply kits on the university's campus. Why it matters: Such initiatives strengthen KAUST's ties with local communities and support education.
The first International Olympiad in AI for high school students will be held in Bulgaria from August 9-15, 2024. Organized by the LERAI Foundation, the competition will test students on machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing. Sponsors include Google and MBZUAI, with organizers hoping participants pursue further AI education and careers. Why it matters: This event aims to cultivate global AI talent and could increase interest in AI education and careers in the GCC region, particularly at MBZUAI.