King Abdullah University of Science and Technology at Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
BE
December 2010 / Dhu'l Hijjah 1431 Issue No. 4
the
Calligraphy by Omar Bukhari
Through Inspiration, Discovery
CON
متحف العلوم والتقنية يف اإلسالم
REDISCOVERING THE GOLDEN AGE
Museum of Science and Technology in Islam
www.kaust.edu.sa
Turn to p.6
Winners of the Graduate Research Symposium: From the left, Jack Cackler, Noah DeRosiers and Yousif Hamdoun
COMMENCEMENT: A NEW BEGINNING
KAUST’s iconic beacon will form the backdrop as almost three hundred KAUST students receive their Master of Science degrees on December 16. This first class of men and women from over 45 countries were trailblazers for KAUST. They chose not to follow their undergraduate classmates to established schools, accepting the challenge to participate in a new and unique academic community. Commencement not only celebrates the graduates’ achievements, it heralds a new beginning. Whether they intend to remain in academia or move directly into the workforce, this group of bright, enterprising scholars will make their mark on a new generation of engineers and scientists in Saudi Arabia, the region and the world. Approximately 25% of the class intends to stay at KAUST for their Ph.D. Of the remaining students, about half are hoping to remain in Saudi Arabia to contribute to the development of the Kingdom. Companies who interviewed students at the recent Career Day were very impressed with the quality of the graduates. Drawn to KAUST for its international and multidisciplinary nature, Makkah native, Afnan Mashat told The Beacon that “meeting people from different countries helped me learn a lot about different cultures”. Speaking of how valuable the insight he gained into working in a multi-cultural environment will be in his career, Mishari Al-Dosari, from Dammam, said “I feel that I’ve gained the equivalent of three years experience in the space of just one and a half”. Applied Math and Computational Science student, Chengcheng Tang told The Beacon that, in addition to gaining a strong academic foundation, he learned the importance of building leadership skills and becoming an “involved and responsible member of the community”.
INSIDE:
S ATE LLI TE S SATELLITES
G A S FISH F IS H GAS Three Winning Projects
THE three winners of the recent Graduate Research Symposium spoke of the potential future value of the research to the Kingdom. Jack Cackler, Noah DesRosiers and Yousif Hamdoun drew the attention of the faculty judges
JACK CACKLER
Designing a Mobile Phone Architecture as a Nanosatellite Platform
not only because of the science content of their research but also due to the quality of their presentation skills.
NOAH DESROSIERS
YOUSIF HAMDOUN
The Secret Life of Najil
Noah is a second year master’s student from Huge strides have been made in satellite develop- Massachusetts who took his undergraduate studies ment since 1957, when the Soviets took the world in Florida. Last year he expended considerable by storm by launching Sputnik 1: the first ever energy collecting no less than 226 najil, a redartificial satellite. Today we all rely on satellites colored grouper, from regional Red Sea markets, for communication, navigation and remote sens- removing their skull bones and gonads, and then ing. Contemporary satellites can take more than finding KAUST community members willing to eat five years to develop by highly qualified engi- the nearly 480 kilograms of exquisite najil that neers, have a limited market and cost hundreds of were the by-product of his research. Noah procmillions of dollars. In contrast the mobile phone essed his samples in Australia over the summer: is remarkably inexpensive, easy to program and each fish was measured and weighed, and otolith shares many of the required functions of a satel- bands counted allowing for the age of each indilite: the ability to collect data, store energy, and vidual fish to be approximated (the skull bones of the najil band in a similar way to tree rings). By send and receive data. Graduate student, Jack Cackler, first became histological examination of the reproductive tissue, involved in the possibility of developing a satel- Noah was able to estimate when sexual maturity lite where the main component is a mobile phone occurs in najil - a fish that can live up to twenty when, as an undergraduate at Stanford, he was part years in the Red Sea, is integral to the local econof a collaboration between NASA’s Ames Research omy and commands a high price. This research could help fisheries further develop Center and Google. Leveraging the billions being spent on mobile phone research and development, management techniques in regard to size limits and
News 1-2
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GCR 3
Natural Gas Sweetening Using Membranes Gas processing is a vital issue for gas producing and consuming countries worldwide. “Sour” gas, which contains sulfur and carbon dioxide, must be “sweetened” to render it safe for use. The Kingdom’s vast gas reserves are mostly sour and there are major costs, both monetary and environmental, associated with the current amine sweetening process. Gas production in the Kingdom is vital to desalination, power generation and the petrochemical industry, and as the population continues to grow processing needs will increase. New membranes are being developed that filter out the acid gases; recently a system using this technology was installed as part of a large gas-processing platform in the South China Sea. Master’s student, Yousif Hamdoun from Syria first began comparing the economics of membrane sweetening and the more traditional amine sweetening processes when he was an undergraduate student at American University of Sharjah. He
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WEP 4-5
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MOSTI 6-7
Community 8
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NEWS
December 2010 THIS month’s issue takes us on quite a journey. We start with a visit to KAUST’s extraordinary Museum of Science & Technology in Islam, whose exhibits beautifully illustrate the foundations on and from which the King’s vision and our work today are based and inspired. We expect the research to be undertaken at the university’s Catalysis Center, set to open this month with an academic conference featuring some of the world’s luminaries in the field, will represent one of the new chapters in the story of the House of Wisdom. The Winter Enrichment Program, featured in the center spread, is designed to be a catalyst in its own right to spur our graduate researchers’ well-rounded development. And our journey ends with a beginning. The historic, first commencement at KAUST on December 16 of
The Beacon
nearly 300 master’s students represents the essence of our shared work as a university – as they finish this stage of their education, this extraordinary group of researchers and scientists from around the world are also beginning their journey, some to continue their doctoral studies, some to enter the work force, many here in the Kingdom. We are proud of this inaugural class and warmly wish them success in their next endeavor.
IN BRIEF KAUST IN THE KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY
- THE BEACON Editorial
Write to us at thebeacon@kaust.edu.sa The Beacon, Issue 4, December 2010. Published by The Communications Department, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia. Contact Salah Sindi +966 (2) 808-3221, email salah.sindi@kaust.edu.sa, or Christopher Sands +966 (2) 808-3228, email christopher.sands@kaust.edu.sa © King Abdullah University, of Science and Technology. Printed on partially recycled paper.
JACK CACKLER Continued from p.1 by using open-source software and modifying the hardware of a Nexus One phone, a prototype mobile satellite was successfully launched using a sub-orbital rocket this past August. The inaugural journey can be viewed on line at: http://alturl.com/6sj9i The entire mission, completed on a shoestring budget, was designed, programmed and fabricated in under a month. This research could make satellite technology a realistic proposition for the broader community, and even college and high school students could become part of the space program. Affordable satellites for remote sensing could be critical for Saudi Arabia. Jack has plans for developing a cell phone based satellite system in Saudi Arabia, which could be easily modified using infrared sensing to detect groundwater. With limited supplies of freshwater, getting a complete picture of where these reserves are located in Saudi Arabia will be crucial to the long-term health and prosperity of the Kingdom.
THE ORGANIZERS
NOAH DESROSIERS Continued from p.1
YOUSIF HAMDOUN Continued from p.1
seasonal closures and could also contribute to ecological knowledge about the effects of fishing pressure as well as the variation in the biological pattern of a species between ocean basins. Noah hopes to do future work in areas such as population genetics using extracted DNA, mercury contamination using muscle tissue, and the examination of gut content to establish prey selection.
WORDS TO THE WISE •
has continued his investigations at KAUST with Professor Ingo Pinnau, Director of the Advanced Membrane and Porous Materials Center, as his mentor. Looking at the developed model that uses membranes, he was able to generate up-to-date costing of both amine and membrane sweetening. Gas sweetening using membranes is currently more expensive than amine sweetening at low acid gas concentration. However as energy prices increase, the membrane process could become more competitive, justifying the use of this alternative approach more extensively.
Make sure your research topic is robust and interesting.
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Demonstrate your enthusiasm for your subject in the style of your presentation.
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Engage your audience by using language that they can understand.
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Be sure to place the research in context.
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Introduce drama into the presentation by varying the pitch, timbre and texture of your voice.
KCC OPENS DEC 6 WITH SYMPOSIUM
Organizers of the Student Research Symposium, from left: Andrew Yip, Gustavo Chavez, Chengcheng Tang
Professor Dr. David Ketcheson agreed to lend his experTHE suggestion for a Graduate Research Symposium tise to help make the proposed Graduate Research • Be sure to move around as you speak to came from a Society for Industrial and Applied Symposium a success. Faculty from different disciplines keep the attention of the audience. Mathematics (SIAM) meeting of which KAUST hosts were approached to judge the event, joined by two grada student chapter, only the third in Asia. Three • Maintain eye contact when possible. uate students, and the student body turned out in force. enterprising applied mathematics students Gustavo Participants were confronted with the real world chalChavez, Chengcheng Tang and Andrew Yip reallenge of making their research ideas easily understood ised how vital presentation skills and enthusiasm are to the communication and available using English, which for many is a second language. The exercise of scientific ideas and wanted their colleagues to have the opportunity and provided an ideal training and educational opportunity for their developing the experience of presenting their research to their peer group. Assistant research careers.
PLAYING WITH FIRE ENHANCING combustion to optimize performance and fuel economy whilst minimizing environmental impact will continue to challenge 21st century scientists since petrochemicals remain the primary fuel for cars, trucks and buses, ships, and airplanes. Dr. Byung Choi and Clean Combustion Research Center Director Professor Suk Ho Chung recently published a paper in Combustion
and Flame discussing their findings regarding the autoignition characteristics of various fuels. Autoignition is a key issue in understanding the all too familiar knocking phenomenon in gasoline engines and ignition processes in diesel engines and also for emerging engine technologies such as premixed-charge compression ignition (PCCI) engines and low-temperature combustion
KAUST Executive Vice President Nadhmi Al-Nasr has been invited to outline the role of KAUST in developing the knowledge-based economy of The Kingdom and the wider Middle East when he addresses the FIKR 9 conference in Beirut on December 8 and 9. Entrepreneurs, decision makers, academics and intellectuals are gathering to discuss effective ways of shaping the Arab future in the region.
(LTC) engines. These experiments are intended to link basic kinetic information on autoignition and practical applications where autoignition frequently occurs in fuel jets, such as in diesel sprays. Two different modes of autoignition have been identified. They use autoignition with a tribrachial edge and autoignition with mild combustion. The work embraces several elements of the combustion
processes including autoignition, jet flow, and heat loss during autoignition in mixing layers. A correlation of characteristic flow time to the square of ignition delay time has been found to be valid independent of the fuels tested. A fundamental and painstaking work like this may reap rewards in the future by helping to optimize combustion for emerging engine technologies. Illustration of four different tribrachial flames.
THE KAUST Catalysis Center (KCC), under the directorship of Professor Jean-Marie Basset, will welcome local and international visitors to celebrate its official opening on December 6. Over a hundred people including Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, Professor Robert Grubbs from Caltech, will gather at KAUST on December 7-8 for the KCC symposium, “The Crucial Role of Catalysis in Energy, Environment and Sustainability”. Topics will cover many aspects of catalysis by design with the emphasis on environment and sustainability.
KAUST @ SC10 KAUST was proudly represented at Supercomputing-10 in New Orleans November 15-18 which had approximately 10,000 registrants. Prof. David Keyes, Dean and Professor of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, praised the design and content of the KAUST exhibit, one of the most commanding displays in the exhibition hall, telling colleagues that “it starts conversations”. KAUST researchers and partners’ presentations in the exhibition garnered much attention and the university received several expressions of interest from students and researchers at the conference Job Fair.
GCR
www.thebeacon.kaust.edu.sa
December 2010
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European Recognition of KAUST
MATH FOR
INDUSTRY IT’S not often that students get to work on real-life industry problems side by side with some of the world’s top mathematicians. At the end of January 2011, KAUST Global Collaborative Research (GCR) and the Oxford Centre for Collaborative Applied Mathematics (OCCAM), in collaboration with the Applied Mathematics and Computational Science (AMCS) division and KAUST Industry Collaboration Program (KICP), are going to make that happen here at KAUST. The First KAUST Study Group in Mathematics for Industry, part of the upcoming Winter Enrichment Program, will involve 80 academics (split between KAUST, OCCAM and those from other leading universities from around the world and the Kingdom) and several companies. The study group concept dates back to 1968 and the process is well honed. Past study groups have tackled problems in remarkably diverse areas: from the identification of biomarkers for exposure to environmental contaminants to an egg-turning model for the incubation of penguin eggs to the design of an efficient snow removal plan for city streets. On the first day of this four day program each company presents a brief summary of their business, a description of their problem and an account of their previous attempts to study the problem. Mathematicians then break into problem defined groups and the intervening 2.5 days involve brainstorming, modeling, experimenting and a balance between deep concentration (where silence ensues) and energetic discussion. Often more experienced participants move from room to room, sharing their ideas before moving on to a different problem. The final afternoon is reserved for presentation of the results, while a full report of the work is written after the event and made publicly available to the participating companies and everyone else. http://www.mathsin-industry.org
THE Office of Research Services (ORS) is delighted to announce Europe and Middle East illustrating the that KAUST is the first Saudi locations of the participants in the ERASMUS MUNDUS program. university to make a successful bid to participate in the prestigious ERASMUS Mundus Program. KAUST master’s and Ph.D. students, postdoctoral scholars and staff from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are eligithe University of the United Arab Emirates in Al ble; individuals can apply to study at one of the partner universities in five European Ain as well as Zayed University in Dubai. The reasons why the EU has allocated some 2M countries: Spain, Austria, Sweden, Ireland and the Netherlands. The ERASMUS program, funded by Euros for the ERASMUS Mundus include the desire the European Union (EU), will pay the fees, the to “foster culture, knowledge and skills for peacestipend and the travel expenses of successful ful and sustainable development in a Europe of applicants and could, for example, allow a KAUST diversity and to promote awareness of the imporemployee to take a complete master’s degree in tance of cultural and linguistic diversity and an appropriate subject at a European institu- intercultural education within Europe.” Established tion. Other Middle Eastern universities involved 23 years ago, the ERASMUS student exchange include those of Qatar and Bahrain, Sultan Qaboos program has offered some two million students University and the University of Nizwa in Oman, the opportunity for study abroad. THE EU has recently funded two other projects intended to foster EU-GCC interaction: INCONET-GCC and the EU-GCC Clean Energy Network. INCONET-GCC aims to develop and support the EU-GCC dialogue by bringing together policy-makers and stakeholders from both regions. Partners already cooperating in programs include the King Saud University (represented by Riyadh Techno Valley) and the London School of Economics. A second initiative, the EU-GCC Clean Energy Network is establishing structures and instruments for cooperative activities and joint research projects between both regions in the field of clean energy. Part of this will be the creation of consortia that could bid for future EU While the final outcome is usually not a complete answer to the problem; it often results in the launch of a project or the production of new software. Past industry participants have, for the most part, left with enough information to decide whether they are ready to proceed on their own, or whether they would benefit from a more lasting association with one or more of the participating mathematicians. The study group provides a wonderful opportunity for graduate students to be involved in high-quality discussion, done in real time, alongside faculty members from KAUST, Oxford and other leading institutions and industrial companies. KAUST students, postdocs, researchers and faculty interested in experiencing the power of mathematics in solving industrial problems can still register until the end of December. For more information, please contact the academic coordinator Dr. Ibrahim Hoteit. ibrahim.hoteit@ kaust.edu.sa
funding. Several KAUST members attended the inaugural meeting of the Clean Energy Network in Dubai in late November where Dr. Raed Bkayrat, Technology Advancement Group Manager, spoke about plans for the solar park at KAUST. These include the development of a pilot project for advanced solar power plants and the means to improve energy yield and efficiency by integrating advanced system level solutions. Partnering in multinational networks is key to KAUST becoming a respected research university, reflecting institutional excellence and guaranteeing high visibility internationally. Exploring such opportunities is just one of many responsibilities of the Office of Research Services (ORS), which was established
KAUST will reciprocate in the future by welcoming students in science disciplines for a period of study. A robust system of awarding credits to ensure portability will be put in place before this can happen. Applicants will be considered on a case-bycase basis with the final decision being taken by the consortium of all participating universities. Individuals who are interested in the program can contact Aida Hoteit in Building 9, Office 3337 or email erasmus@kaust.edu.sa.
at the beginning of the year and is headed by Silke Blohm. The team of nine at the office is responsible for all externally funded research. It supports faculty in the proposal preparation and application process, and is the central point of contact when it comes to external research funding whether from industry, public funding bodies, international organizations or foundations. The ORS manages not only pre and post award processes but also all contractual aspects to protect academic research including publication rights. As part of KAUST’s economic development mission in the Kingdom, ORS ensures that all intellectual property requirements are handled by the KAUST Technology Transfer & Innovation team.
STRATEGIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE IN pursuit of KAUST’s vision of developing new areas of research excellence, Global Collaborative Research (GCR) is pleased to launch the Strategic Research Initiative (SRI) Program. This competitive program is open to those at KAUST as well as the international scientific community. The SRI program will provide funding to explore new areas of research at KAUST in which multiple investigators will work collaboratively to focus on a significant research theme. The awards are for $1.5M per year for three years. During the term of these awards, the SRI Director and founding team will establish a research program and organization that might form the basis of a new area of focused research excellence, or be incorporated into an existing KAUST Research Center to increase its scope and capabilities. Through this program, it is anticipated that up to three small-scale research centers will be funded. While several areas of interest are suggested below, SRI applications are welcomed in any research area within its scientific remit. 1.
Polymers and composites
7.
Solar energy (excluding photovoltaics)
2.
Sustainable agriculture in
8.
Soil remediation
9.
Micro-biology from the Red Sea
arid environments 3.
Micro-electronics (MEMS & NEMS)
4.
Carbon dioxide trapping and sequestration
5.
Biophysics
6.
Subsurface imaging
(from extremophiles to natural products) 10.
Mining massive data sets
11.
Quantification of uncertainty in computer simulations
The deadline for the receipt of Concept Papers is February 16, 2011. For other deadlines and details about the application process, please email blake.ashwell@kaust.edu.sa in the Office of Research Services.
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WEP
December 2010
The Beacon
Winter Enrichment Program (WEP)
DURING the planning stages of this year’s program, proposals and ideas were generated campus-wide and then selected by the 2011 WEP program committee, chaired by professors Alyn Rockwood and Tariq Alkhalifah. Over 100 interesting ideas and 100 proposals were received, making the selection process a difficult one. In the end, the proposals and ideas were selected through a blind review by the Program Committee, using criteria of cost, breadth of appeal, overall fit with direction and theme of the program, etc. The committee would like to thank all those who contributed their input and took the time to submit proposals.
2011
Mark Your Calendars! THE KAUST 2011 Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) will be held January 15 - 31, 2011 with a special opening ceremony January 14. WEP is designed with the aim of enlarging our intellectual horizons and stretching our collective imaginations. Through an expansive offering of courses, workshops, lectures and cultural and recreational activities, WEP is a time to discover new fields of interest and to be inspired.
WEP Committee
The general format for the program is as follows: skilled and technical courses in the mornings; lectures, cultural and recreational events in the afternoon; lectures and events with a broad appeal in the evenings; and recreational events on the weekends.
Letter from the Acting Provost THE KAUST Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) is a short interlude in the University’s busy academic calendar designed to broaden our community’s intellectual horizons and expand our cultural perspectives. WEP creates a lively and engaging atmosphere as it takes us away from our regular activities and brings eminent guests from around the world to give us new insights and inspire our studies and work. The seminars, short courses, cultural events and keynote lectures give us opportunities to think in new ways. WEP is an important event for the University that will bring the community together. I encourage all students and everyone else on campus – faculty, researchers, and community members – to take advantage of the remarkable opportunities that WEP offers and attend as many events as possible.
Opening and Closing Ceremonies ON Thursday, January 14 from 7-10pm there will be a special opening ceremony marking the start of WEP 2011. You are invited to attend this reception at Harbor Square (behind the Harbor Library) where there will be food, folklore and handicrafts, highlighting the varied traditions of Saudi Arabia. On Sunday, January 31 from 6:30-9:30pm at the conclusion of WEP 2011, there will be a closing ceremony (also at Harbor Square) that will feature a choral performance by children from the KAUST School, the presentation of awards to winners of the WEP sporting tournaments and a variety of international food.
James A. Calvin
Weekend Recreational and Cultural Events IN addition to the weekday offerings of courses, workshops and lectures, the WEP weekends offer various recreational and cultural events. Weekend recreation and sport will include a 5K run/walk, sunset boat cruises, a bowling tournament and a golf tournament. There will also be a beach day with water sports, boat races, a volleyball tournament, beach soccer and a barbecue. Cultural events will feature a Basel and Friends Theater Improv Performance, and a Culinary Master Class.
Poster Session IN addition to lectures by distinguished international and in-Kingdom speakers, as well as our own KAUST experts, there will be workshops and programs offered. Highlights for 2011 include:
Certificate in Entrepreneurship Program
The Art of Being a Scientist
THE Economic Development Entrepreneurship Center and the WEP 2011 committee are pleased to announce a new partnership with Cornell University’s Johnson School of Management to offer a Certificate Program in Entrepreneurship. This unique program will offer KAUST students, researchers, staff and faculty the opportunity to attend an Ivy League entrepreneurship program without leaving Saudi Arabia. Designed as a highly interactive course, participants will gain exposure to the art of entrepreneurship and will be able to practice skills in developing business plans, negotiating deals and pitching ideas. Those in the program will be awarded a formal certificate from Cornell University upon completion. The course is limited to 35 participants from the KAUST community, selected on a competitive basis. Admission to the entrepreneurship program will be based on each applicant’s demonstrated academic achievements, notable experience, leadership and decision-making abilities and outstanding interpersonal and communication skills. The application process includes the submission of a current resumé, two recommendations from faculty/colleagues, essays with specified topics and if invited, a personal interview. By the end of the entrepreneurship program, participants will have considered and evaluated a series of opportunities, written a business plan, practiced presenting this plan and evaluated the business plans of other participants. They will also have learned and practiced the basics of negotiation and taken away the skills need to start a venture, work in an existing venture, or promote innovation in a large organization. To find out more or to apply, please email entrepreneurship@ kaust.edu.sa or call (02) 808-3702. (Inquiries should be sent early enough to complete the requirements by the December 20 deadline.)
ONE of the courses offered this year includes insight and expertise from Roel Sneider, the W.M. Keck Distinguished Professor of Basic Exploration Science at the Colorado School of Mines (USA) and coauthor with Ken Larner of the textbook, The Art of Being a Scientist. The WEP course, with the same title, will be held in the mornings from January 29-31. Designed for researchers and mentors, the course will focus on how to effectively transfer skills and information necessary for optimal research progress. Participants will gain a better understanding of challenges and opportunities in science and how to develop more effective research habits. Topics will range from the ethics of research to time management and managing a scientific career.
IN the spirit of celebrating and sharing advancements, WEP is hosting the first WEP Research Poster Session Contest. Students and postdocs are invited to submit a one-page (maximum) abstract of their research poster by December 25. From these entries, the top abstracts will be chosen and the winning applicants will be given further instructions about creating and presenting their posters. These posters will be on display in the library during the WEP session (January 15-31). The top three graduate student posters and top three postdoc posters will be chosen and awarded a prize. An award ceremony will be held January 29. To find out more, please contact niveen.khashab@kaust.edu.sa.
Women in Science and Engineering: Growing a Knowledge-Based Economy A distinguished panel of the region’s most successful female professors, innovators and professionals will speak about growing a knowledge-based economy through science and engineering. They will offer their insight and experience, as well as share opportunities for engagement in science and engineering in the Middle East. Workshop speakers include: •
Khawla Al-Kuraya, Director, Research Centre at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, KSA
•
Ilham Kadri, General Manager, Middle East & Africa, Dow Advanced Materials, The Dow Chemical Company, UAE
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Entissar Al-Suhaibani, Vice Dean for Academic Effort of the College of Applied Studies and Community Services, Assistant Professor in Cytogenetics, King Saud University, KSA
WEP
www.thebeacon.kaust.edu.sa
December 2010
Key Note Speakers
Photo courtesy of PIXAR RESEARCH GROUP
LAST year’s inaugural WEP was a success and the Provost’s Office is pleased to offer another stellar program this year. The 2011 WEP keynote lectures will feature: •
Bruno Bonnell (CEO of Robopolis, Co-founder and former CEO of Atari) – Viva la Robolution
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Bengt Norden (former Chairman of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry) – Welcome Lecture on the Nobel Prize
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Nick Campell (Managing Editor, Nature) and Dan Csontos (Science Editor & Project Manager, Macmillan Scientific Communications) – The Craft of Scientific Writing and Publishing
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Hans Rosling (Professor of International Health at Karolinska Institute and Director of Gapminder) – A Fact Based World View
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Mark Sagar (Special Projects Supervisor, Weta Digital) – Facial Animation and Facial Behaviors
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Jay Schafer (Co-owner Tumbleweed Tiny House Company) – Size Matters
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Maria Zuber (Head of the Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, MIT) Present Day Mars: from Moonscape to Desert to Tundra
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Rob Cook (VP of Advanced Technology at Pixar) – Behind the Scenes at Pixar
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Klaus & Alice Peters (Founders of AK Peters Ltd.) – The State of Scientific Publishing and How it Affects You
Rob Cook physicist, Academy Award winner and founder of Pixar The WEP 2011 Committee looks forward to hosting keynote speaker Rob Cook, as he will be speaking on "Behind the Scenes at Pixar". As co-architect and primary author of Pixar's RenderMan software, Rob Cook first engineered the software to help meet the demanding challenges of computer graphics. As the current gold standard for rendering 3D animation and visual effects, RenderMan handles an astonishing amount of geometric complexity in creating photo-realistic computer images. We’ve all seen its dazzling effects in
Photo courtesy of MIT NEWS OFFICE
Maria Zuber geophysicist and principal investigator for NASA research missions
EXPLORING the unknown and seeing for the first time what no one else has seen before, is one of the most exciting parts of Maria Zuber’s life. Maria Zuber currently serves as the Head of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences and as the E.A. Griswold Professor of Geophysics at MIT. She is also a Senior Research Scientist in the Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics, at the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. Several of Maria Zuber’s planetary missions include roles as Principal Investigator, NASA Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) Mission; Investigation Lead for the Laser Ranger, NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission; Deputy Principal Investigator, Lunar
classic films such as Terminator II, Jurassic Park, and Toy Story. In fact, every film nominated for a Visual Effects Academy Award in the last 16 years has used RenderMan. In 2001, Rob Cook and two colleagues received Oscars for their outstanding contributions to the field, the first ever awarded to the developers of a software package. More recent films that relied on RenderMan software for their visual effects include The Last Airbender, Prince of Persia, Iron Man I and II, the Harry Potter film series and The Pirates of the Caribbean series. Cook received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Duke University and a master’s degree in Computer Graphics from Cornell University. In 1981, he was one of the first to join the group at Lucasfilm that eventually became Pixar, where he is currently Vice President of Advanced Technology. Orbiter Laser Altimeter, NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission; Co-investigator, NASA Dawn Mission to Vesta and Ceres; Co-investigator and Lead of the Geophysics Investigation, NASA MESSENGER Mission to Mercury; and Deputy Principal Investigator, Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter, NASA Mars Global Surveyor Mission. She is one of the first two women to lead a major planetary mission for NASA, which launches next year. The mission is a robotic research mission that involves sending two remote-controlled satellites to orbit the moon, in an effort to study its gravity for clues to the moon’s early history. Other space explorations that Zuber has worked on include missions to study Mars and Mercury. Some of her research interests are in the theoretical modeling of geophysical processes, the analysis of altimetry, gravity and tectonics to determine the structure and dynamics of the Earth and solid planets and the development and implementation of spacecraft laser and radio tracking experiments.
Next Step Online registration will be through the new WEP site which is currently under construction. Be sure to visit www.wep.kaust.edu.sa in the coming weeks to find out the most up-to-date WEP information. Detailed listing of courses as well as schedules will be posted. The website is also your link to register for courses and activities. Each course has limited space so registration is mandatory and will be filled on a first come-first serve basis. Get involved as a volunteer! WEP relies on many volunteers to help make the program a success. Check the WEP website in the coming weeks for details about an upcoming informational meeting for volunteers. For questions, please email contactwep@kaust.edu.sa.
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December 2010
MOSTI
The Beacon
Museum of Science and Technology in Islam (MOSTI)
REDISCOVERING THE GOLDEN AGE AT the KAUST groundbreaking ceremony, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud voiced his hope that KAUST become a new "House of Wisdom"– to “rekindle and spread the great and noble virtue of learning that marked Arab and Muslim worlds in earlier times”. But what was this House of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikma), and what relevance does it have to scientists, researchers, or the layperson today? Answers, and much more, can be found in the Museum of Science and Technology in Islam (MOSTI). It is found below the conference center linked to the Administration Building. At first glance, it’s a unique space with a multitude of moving objects, colors and sounds that grab your attention and encourage you to touch and learn. Once absorbed in the content, visitors of any age are fascinated by the stories of ancient scholars, the wonder of their inventions (dramatically illustrated through interactive exhibits and scale models), and vivid images of the Golden Age of Islam in which they lived. It is readily apparent how and why the contributions of Muslim scientists laid the foundation for modern civilization, and how remarkably similar the goals and aspirations of KAUST are to those of the old houses of wisdom. During the planning stages of the university, senior leadership had the foresight to recognize the need to inform our own community, as well as campus visitors, of the intellectual and historical foundations upon which the University was built. An international company, MTE Studios, whose recent projects include interactive displays for the Arab League Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo and Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, was contracted to design the museum space and exhibits. After an intensive 18 months of work,
MOSTI opened its doors in February 2010. The museum takes you back in time – highlighting the achievements of Muslim scientists and demonstrating, in an engaging and interactive way, how they helped shape the world. Exhibits also explain how the quest for learning has been an important part of the Islamic way of life since the birth of Islam in the 7th century (CE). The Museum’s interactive map highlights the broad extent of the Islamic Empire, and a timeline touch-table, using six tracking cameras and six projectors concealed under the table, displays images, text, video or animations that relate to the chosen time, captivating visitors young and old. Science flourished throughout the Golden Age as a result of unique circumstances. One contributing reason was the Islamic faith itself, with the Qur’an’s strong emphasis on learning and knowledge and its great respect for past and present cultures and civilizations. The first House of Wisdom, established during this era, began as the Royal Library of the Caliph al-Mansur in Baghdad in the 8th century (CE). It was remarkable for the number of polymaths who worked as librarians, scholars and scientists, dedicated to preserving the knowledge of different civilizations before them. These scholars travelled the world to find manuscripts. They brought back works of Persian, Hindu and Greek luminaries such as Aristotle and Euclid for translation and annotation. Afterwards, these houses of wisdom became the precursors of modern science academies; gathering scholars from many cultures and countries to study translated text, research theories, teach and invent useful technologies in a strong culture of innovation spanning a 500 year period.
As they built upon the writings of the ancients, Islamic scholars benefitted from the introduction of the first paper mill by Chinese engineers near the end of the 8th century (CE). Replacing the traditional papyrus or parchment, scientific knowledge could be spread rapidly as the publication of books; maps and calendars became easier and less expensive. As science flourished almost 1,300 years ago, support for scientific initiatives of houses of wisdom came not only from state funds but also from the social and political elite at the time. Recognizing the value of scholarship and discovery to society, they also provided moral support. Soon trade routes involved not only the trading of commodities but also knowledge. Arabic became the language of international scholarship, as scholars were encouraged by emperors and kings to visit the Islamic world and bring intellectual thought and ideology and the findings of the Golden Age back to their home countries; transferring knowledge to their own constituencies. For example, the sophisticated navigation techniques and early geographic information systems of the Islamic scholars led the King of Sicily, Roger II, to commission the first map of the world from geographer Muhammad Al-Idrisi around 1138. While it can be a fascinating departure from the day-to-day activities of work or study, MOSTI is so much more. By using contemporary technology the museum bridges both the historical and present day houses of wisdom. A recommended stop for VIPs and other visitors who come to the university, the museum has received thousands of visitors including students of various levels from Thuwal and Jeddah
who have toured the facility. Many visitors, restricted in time on their first visit, are planning to return for a more in-depth look. As information is designed to be presented in multiple levels and layers of content, the exhibits successfully engage all ages and interests. Museum Director Farooq Aljanahi is looking forward to building even closer ties between the university’s scientists and their early counterparts. Once the expansion of the museum is completed Mr. Aljanahi and his dedicated team will then be able to welcome an even larger number of visitors and interactive advanced technologies will showcase more of the contributions of the Golden Age of Islam. "The goal of this museum is to act as a bridge between the old and new houses of wisdom, to enrich the lives of a new generation of scientists and to inspire them to benefit all humankind with their new inventions and discoveries". Following in the footsteps of Al-Kindi, Al-Khawarizmi, Al Jazri, Ibn Sina, and Ibn Al-Haytham of the old houses of wisdom, university researchers seek out and gather knowledge from all corners of the world, encouraging co-operation and inter-disciplinary exchange. Reflecting Al-Kindi’s words: “we ought not to be embarrassed of appreciating the truth and of obtaining it wherever it comes from, even if it comes from races distant and nations different from us”. By combining scholarly interaction with their own knowledge and expertise and applying this to urgent human needs (including energy, water, environment, food) present day scholars can ultimately make new scientific breakthroughs, and create innovative technologies for the Kingdom, the region and the world.
www.thebeacon.kaust.edu.sa
MOSTI
December 2010
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MUSEUM GEAR Elephant Water Clock 2
Illustration by: CHRIS KENDALL
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SCIENTISTS IN ISLAM THE KAUST laboratory buildings along the campus spine, often referred to by their numbers, are actually named for five great Islamic scholars and polymaths. AL KHAWARIZMI (BUILDING 1) | MUHAMMAD IBN MUSA AL KHAWARIZMI | c. 783 – 850 A scholar and researcher at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, Al Khwarizmi was known as a mathematician, geographer and astronomer. He is renowned for his book: The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing which was the first authoritative book on algebra. He also introduced the concept of zero into mathematics, promoted the widespread use of the Arabic numerals 1 to 9, and pioneered the use of decimal places. As a geographer, he produced the first map of the known world in 830, revising Ptolemy’s view of the world, and he collaborated on the measurements of the volume and circumference of the earth. AL-KINDI (BUILDING 5) | ABU YUSUF YA’QUB IBN ISHAQ AL-KINDI | c. 801 – 873 An appointee to the first House of Wisdom in Baghdad in the 9th century and described as the first Arab philosopher, Al-Kindi’s influence was felt in many fields: astronomy, chemistry, cryptography, physics, mathematics and music. Al-Kindi was the first to discredit the alchemist’s theories that base metals could be turned into precious metals. One of his medical treatises has been heralded as the earliest known book the effects of environmental pollution. Renowned as a mathematician, he is credited with introducing Indian numerals to the Islamic and Christian worlds. IBN AL HAYTHAM (BUILDING 2) | ABU ALI AL-HASAN IBN AL-HASAN IBN AL HAYTHAM | c. 965 -1040 Al Haytham was the first to describe how the eye forms an image on the retina, and designed a version of the camera obscura as a result of his research on the eye. He was also the first to propose a correct ‘theory of vision’, which posited that the eye does not produce light rays, as the Greeks thought, but receives reflected and refracted light rays from objects. He was the author of a landmark treatise on the anatomy of the eye, The Book of Optics. As a mathematician, he established a linkage between algebra and geometry, thus developing analytical geometry.
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THIS is the finest of Al-Jazri’s many inventions. It is a technological marvel that tells the time, and a work of art that celebrates the universality of Islam – an Indian elephant, an Egyptian phoenix, Arabian figures, a Persian carpet and Chinese serpents. The elephant also symbolized royalty, the phoenix rebirth and the serpent power. There are three men on the clock: a priest on the balcony, a mahout (or elephant driver) on the elephant’s neck and a scribe on the elephant’s back. The half hour and hour of the day are indicated by the number of spheres that are white on the dial over the balcony and the minutes of the hour by the position of the Scribe’s pen.
IBN SINA (BUILDING 3) | ABU ALI AL-HUSAYN IBN ABD ALLAH IBN SINA | c. 980 - 1037 Ibn Sina was a prominent physician and philosopher who also excelled in a wide range of other disciplines. The best known of his 100 medical textbooks was the five volume Canon of Medicine which continued to be used as a standard textbook until the 18th Century. Within these five volumes, Ibn Sina introduced his theory of contagious diseases and quarantine to limit the spread of infection. As a chemist, Ibn Sina made a breakthrough in distillation technology, inventing the refrigerated coil and being the first to describe the process of steam distillation.
1. Inside the elephant’s body is a small perforated bowl which initially floats on the surface of the water. A small hole regulates the speed at which it sinks. As it submerges over a half hour – it tugs the scribe and his pen by a system of pulleys.
AL JAZRI (BUILDING 4) | ABU AL’IZ IBN ISMAIL IBN AL-RAZAZ AL JAZRI | c. 1136 – 1206 Al Jazri was the inventor of fantastic water-raising machines that not only supplied water to mosques and hospitals but also powered, wheels, home appliances and musical automata. His introduction of crankshafts, cog wheels and pistons transformed rotary motion into linear reciprocating motion, paving the way for internal combustion and steam engines. His magnificent giant water clocks (such as the Elephant Water Clock and the Castle Clock on display in the museum) used innovative float and gear mechanisms to tell the time. His landmark publication: Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices, published in 1206, described fifty mechanical devices and included instructions for building the devices his illustrations, in the form of miniature paintings, proved that he was not only a scientist but also an accomplished artist.
3. The ball drops out of the bird’s beak into the serpent’s mouth and causes it to fall, rotating around its pillar. The weight of the ball tugs a rope that brings the bowl back to the surface of the water. The ball drops again into a vase that triggers the Mahoot’s mallet, hitting a cymbal that announces the half hour. The ball falls into the trough and the bowl starts to submerge once more.
2. At the top of the clock a channel of balls tilts, lifting a stopper that allows one to fall, hitting a fan that turns the phoenix.
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COMMUNITY
December 2010
This delightful photo sent to us by community member, Maryna Kochetyga, very cleverly captures the minarets of the central mosque in a mirror and is part of a series of photos of KAUST using the same technique.
BOOK REVIEWS
Email your photos to thebeacon@kaust.edu.sa Photo by: Maryna Kochetyga
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
THIS month, The Beacon has been spoiled for choice with many readers sending in photos. Thank you all – please keep them coming!
The Beacon
KAUST Accolades Professor Gerry Schuster was awarded the V. Kauffman Gold Medal by the Society of Exploration Geophysics (SEG) for his "outstanding contribution to the advancement of the science of geophysical exploration as manifested during the previous five years" during its international meeting in Denver in October. KAUST scholar teams led by Guoda Chen and Hassan Abou Eisha were placed 6th and 9th respectively in the regional Arab Collegiate
Programming Contest held in Lebanon in late November. Guoda’s team has qualified for the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) world finals in Sharm El Sheikh in February 2011. Dr. Muhammad Hussain and Dr. Khaled Salama have been recently elevated to the grade of IEEE Senior Member reflecting their professional maturity and significant professional achievements.
ROADS OF ARABIA: ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA (Somogy Art Publishers; Louvre Éditions) KAUST Library: Reference Collection (main)
THIS fall the Musée du Louvre in Paris opened its new galleries of Islamic Arts with an exhibition devoted to the ancient and prestigious history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The lavish companion book Roads of Arabia: Archaeology and History of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is available in the KAUST Library’s reference section. It beautifully illustrates many of the exhibit’s 320 rare artifacts displaying the rich history of the region from 4000 BC to the founding of the modern Kingdom. Experts provide a commentary on the history of Arabia and its centrality to civilization, religion, and commerce. This is a truly exceptional book.
1001 INVENTIONS: MUSLIM HERITAGE IN OUR WORLD
MY UNIVERSITY MONA AYYAD Mona Ayyad feels fortunate to have lived and worked in diverse organizations in many countries including England, Egypt and Iran. She never fails to be amazed that people all over the world share some fundamental aspirations. Among these are the desires for well being, self worth and growth. “Learning is integral to our survival as human beings. Learning to jump out of the way of a car speeding towards you greatly enhances your chance of surviving! The better we become at learning, the
better our chances. This applies to both our personal and professional lives”. Mona finds great joy in her position as a Learning and Development Specialist. She enjoys the privilege of helping people to get the most out of the learning process, developing their skills and increasing their self-esteem. Mona believes, “If you don’t love going to work, you need to find work that you love”, which is something she lives out at KAUST.
by: Salim T S Al-Hassani (Foundation for Science Technology and Civilisation) KAUST Library call number: L 901 G76 (MAIN) 609.176 ALH (HARBOR)
ABUBAKR SAID The outgoing Chair of the Graduate Students Council, Abubakr Saeed, came to KAUST from Dhahran. His undergraduate experience at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals included one semester at Texas A&M University which gave him a taste for the environment he would find at KAUST. He concentrated his mechanical engineering studies at KAUST on applications for sustainable and renewable energy and, in the latter part of his program, worked on a project related to renewable energy for water desalination. After graduation he is
looking forward to working for a large Saudi company, applying what he has learned to an industrial setting. He praised fellow Council members for the tremendous amount of time and energy they dedicated to student affairs, over and above their classes and research. To new and returning students, Abubakr suggests “your time at KAUST is very short, so live the full experience – take advantage of great faculty, resources and facilities and, outside the lab, get to know people from different cultures”.
MASHHOOR BAESHEN Born and raised in Jeddah, Mashoor Baeshann graduated from King Abdulaziz University in 2009 with a degree in industrial engineering. His journey with KAUST began in September 2007 when he led a team handling all aspects of the in-Kingdom invitations to the groundbreaking ceremony, where he felt honored to be chosen along with a colleague to present the ground breaking stone to King Abdullah. In January 2009, he took part in the Discover Event when prospective students were welcomed and
registered for the coming fall semester. After working for KAUST over the summer, he took part in the inauguration ceremony in September 2009. Soon after that, he felt privileged to be offered a position at KAUST with a temporary contract and was one of the first to seize the opportunity for promotion to full employee. Mashoor is currently in Economic Development working as an engineer in the New Energy Oasis (NEO), a project of the KAUST Industry Collaboration Program (KICP).
1001 Inventions: Muslim Heritage in Our World is a beautifully illustrated general history of the major scientific and technological accomplishments of Muslim civilization between the 4th and 14th centuries CE. Written for children and adolescents, it begins to address the paucity of information on this subject. 1001 Inventions describes how advances in medicine, mathematics, chemistry, astronomy and architecture are indebted to Arabic and Islamic scientists, artisans and educators of this often-neglected Golden Age. Full of such revelations, interesting discoveries are explained accompanied by captivating illustrations. Copies of the book are available in both the Harbor and University libraries.