February 2011

The WEP

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology at Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

BE

POSTER

February 2011 / Safar 1432 Issue No. 6

the

SESSION

CON

Winners

2011

www.kaust.edu.sa

Dr. Magdy Mahfouz has developed a technology for targeted genome modification in crop plants. The results of his original thinking and novel approach have been published in recent issue of the prestigious journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA (Jan 24, 2011).

While helping set up and awaiting the completion of the Plant Stress Genomics Research Center (PSGRC) directed by Professor Jian-Kang Zhu at KAUST in 2009, Dr. Mahfouz, an Egyptian postdoctoral team leader newly arrived from Abu Dhabi UAE, decided to conduct a broad and comprehensive literature search on genome engineering. He discovered extensive materials. As the world population increases and resources become more limited, this technology holds significant potential for improving the quality and yield of current crop varieties. An initial basic conclusion was that genetic engineering in plants has suffered from two major drawbacks: 1) novel genes are inserted at random locations in the genome; and 2) other forms of modification have relied on chemical- or radiation-induced mutations that are also random and laborious to exploit. In effect, inserting a new gene in the wrong place could make it ineffective or could disrupt an endogenous, functional gene. In recent years, a bio-engineering technology based on enzymes called zinc finger nucleases has been used to manipulate the genomes of many organisms, but the process is labor-intensive and has had limited efficiency and success. Having assimilated all of this material then, when the PSGRC’s molecular biology laboratory was fully operational in March 2010, Dr. Mahfouz knew exactly what his first experiments would involve.

Dr. Mahfouz devised a molecular “repair tool” in the form of an engineered protein that makes a complete cut in the DNA double helix of an organism’s genome. The molecular scissors module of the protein is combined with an address-seeking module (like a ZIP code) that, with pinpoint accuracy, takes the whole protein to the region or address of the genome. The address-seeking module can be engineered to recognize any sequence in the DNA. For specificity reasons this address has to be at least 12 base pairs and can be as long as 34 base pairs.

The genome break created by the bi-modular protein can permit the addition, deletion or editing of genes with extreme specificity and precision. To demonstrate the activity of the protein and the generation of the DNA break, Dr. Mahfouz analyzed

Turn to p. 4–5

Bi-modular protein makes a complete cut in a DNA double helix

Molecular Scissors for

GENOME SURGERY

‫طور الدكتور جمدي حمفوظ تقنية لتعديل اجلينومات املستهدفة يف حماصيل النباتات وهو اكتشاف يبشر‬ .‫مبساهمة ذات تأثري عال جدا يف جمال علوم احلياة‬ the sequencing data of many reactions performed in the KAUST genomics core labs by Dr. Kumaresan Rathinam and Mr. Dinesh Reddy. Early tests of the engineered protein employed a special type of tobacco plant, nicotiana benthamiana, because this species is exceptionally easy to grow and genetically modify.

Transient gene expression assays in tobacco leaves confirmed that Dr. Mahfouz’s protein has achieved its intended function of genome engineering. Using this new technology, novel genes can be identified, crop trait development can be accelerated, and the range of possible traits can be expanded.

The implications for agricultural science are profound.

The novel DNA-modifying protein will greatly facilitate

“trait-stacking”, which is the placement of more than one beneficial gene into a genome. In this case, multiple genes can be placed at one or more precise genomic addresses. Historically, the process of genetically engineering plants has randomly introduced molecular artifacts into the genome—including antibiotic resistant genes arising from the DNA of bacteria that are used as vectors to insert the genes of interest. Although evidence is overwhelming that these extraneous DNA fragments are completely benign to humans and the environment, this foreign DNA is a major basis for opposition to genetically engineered (or, more popularly, genetically modified—GM) plants by some environmental groups. Political pressure in many countries has Continued on p.2

STEFAN CATSICAS:

One month in

‫استطاعت جامعتنا استقطاب وكيل اجلامعة اجلديد بروفيسور ستيفان كاستيكاس نظرا لطبيعة اجلامعة‬ .‫املتعددة التخصصات واساسها املتني الذي بناه فريق املؤسسني‬

Stefan Catsicas

‫الربوفيسور كاستيكاس يتطلع إىل االستماع لردود أفعال الفريق التنفيذي والعمل معه لالنتقال إىل اخلطوة‬ .‫التالية بطريقة منطقية يف تطوير اجلامعة‬ PROFESSOR Stefan Catsicas has just finished his first month as KAUST’s new Provost. He sat down to discuss the whirlwind of these past weeks. "At both the University of Lausanne and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), I had the privilege of joining well-established institutions. One of the biggest challenges many existing universities face is the hindrance of siloed approaches which often has the effect of limiting discovery and innovation. At KAUST there is effectively a tabula rasa - we should work without walls to solve problems together, free of traditional academic departments – free, frankly, of a history,” he reflected. “Research questions and practices should be framed according to real-world problems rather than

disciplinary frameworks. Great breakthroughs often occur at the interface of traditional scientific disciplines.”

Prof. Catsicas intends to listen to feedback, and take time to assess before helping the executive team transition to the next logical, and not unexpected, step. To coin a phrase, we’re now ready to “bring the university home. This is a further evolution and integration of ourselves as we develop the next generation of scientists, professors, and students to prepare the future”.

Catsicas was attracted to his role as KAUST’s newly appointed Provost because it is an institution whose very DNA bears the transdisciplinarity he had worked to foster in his previous roles. "Science and technology that improves

the quality of human life, and addresses critical problems facing the Kingdom and the world absolutely needs this open and collaborative environment to find innovative solutions", he told The Beacon.

Prof. Catsicas, a neurobiologist and academic leader, comes to the university after five years as an entrepreneur founding innovative university spin-offs. He received his Ph.D. in 1987 from the University of Lausanne. Following his doctorate, and post-doctoral work at the Research Institute of the Scripps Clinic in San Diego, California, he

was head of Neurobiology at the Glaxo Institute for Molecular Biology in Geneva. Thereafter he joined the University of Lausanne's School of Medicine as Professor and Chairman of Cellular Biology until, in 2000, he was recruited to join EPFL as Vice President, Research Director and Professor of Cellular Engineering.

Continued on p.2

INSIDE:

News 1-2

WEP Round-Up 3

Poster Session 4-5

Research 6-7

Community 8

2

NEWS

February 2011

Marie Laure Boulot, Rob Cook (Pixar), President Shih, Prof. Alyn Rockwood

WE have just finished our second Winter Enrichment Period - and what a two and a half weeks it was. Led by Professors Alyn Rockwood and Tariq Al Khalifa, and ably organized by Marie Laure Boulot, Wendy Keyes and a team from all corners of the university, we have been spoiled. Thank you all. The Beacon was privileged to be able to grab some time with new Provost Professor Stefan Catsicas as he wraps up his first month on campus. We are told there is a time to plant, and a time to reap that which is planted. Catsicas spoke first of those who have planted and established the foundations of KAUST. From Chairman Al-Naimi, to President Shih,

executives Nadhmi al-Nasr, Mohamed Samaha, Jean Frechet and previous interim Provosts Professors Brian Moran and Jim Calvin, Catsicas joins a leadership team that have together planted the seeds. And in Catsicas they are joined by someone who is listening, asking questions and looking at how he can bring his particular experiences as an entrepreneurial researcher, academic administrator and teacher to bear on the adventure underway. We wish him well as he brings fresh perspectives and energy to our collective endeavor. Finally, Professor Gilles Lubineau works with composites – multiple materials joined together to give the end product unique properties. That sounds like a pretty good analogy for the KAUST matrix about which Professor Catsicas is so enthusiastic. Lubineau’s own research crosses boundaries much like the make-up of the composites he studies. 

- THE BEACON Editorial

Write to us at thebeacon@kaust.edu.sa The Beacon, Issue 6, February 2011. 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.

The Beacon

CORRECTION A mistaken photo caption in the January issue of The Beacon referred to Prof. Frank Rhodes as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of KAUST. Our apologies to His Excellency Minister Al-Naimi who, of course, is our Chairman.

PLANT MODIFICATION continued from p.1

imposed strict regulatory hurdles for commercialization of GM crops, based on the method of their development rather than the scientific assessment of actual risk from a particular modification. Such regulations add greatly to the expense and the years required for deploying GM crops in the field.

Dr. Mahfouz’s novel approach can bypass concerns about foreign DNA and random integration and, potentially, disrupt the current paradigm of GM crop regulation. This is significant in Saudi Arabia and many other countries where laws do not yet allow GM crop production. Regions where water quantity and quality are limiting, such as the Middle East, could benefit by growing crops engineered for stress tolerance, which could feed burgeoning local populations and be exported to GM-restrictive markets.

While Dr. Mahfouz’s work is aimed at agricultural improvement, it may have potential for much broader applications including human health. Gene therapy has long held the promise of freedom from diseases that devastate the lives of the afflicted and those who care for them. Human genetic disorders

arise from mutated or deleterious genes that are nonfunctional or that encode defective proteins. Gene therapy involves molecular surgery on the “instruction manual of life” by substituting “good” genes for bad, or by simply excising or silencing the defective genes that cause the disease. Dr. Mahfouz’s new technology could enhance this approach significantly.

Commenting on the research, KAUST Provost Stefan Catsicas saw the technology as a scientific breakthrough and, if a patent is eventually successful, having potentially promising revenues.

Distinguished Visiting Professor Dr. Nina Fedoroff, Professor of the Life Sciences at Penn State University, said the Mahfouz paper “shows the practicability of creating DNA-cutting enzymes tailored to cut a desired target sequence with very high specificity. This is an excellent step forward toward creating very specific genetic improvements in crop plants, while avoiding the potential risks many are concerned about with more conventional genetic modification strategies. Moreover, the paper gives the first evidence that this particular strategy will

work in plants.” Professor Federoff is “delighted to see such cutting-edge contributions emerging from a university as young as KAUST!” Dr. Bengt Nordén, Professor of Physical Chemistry at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, former Chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry and the opening keynote lecturer at the recent Winter Enrichment Program at KAUST commented “that it is very pleasing to see that KAUST has now produced a breakthrough contribution in the field of life science.

The work by Mahfouz has great impact and connects with early discoveries by Nobel Laureate Sir Aaron Klug that DNA-recognizing zinc finger proteins connected with a nuclease function may be exploited to create, highly selectively, double-strand breaks in DNA which initiate recombination-catalyzed insertion of an oligonucleotide sequence with surprisingly high efficacy. The possibility to take this DNA manipulation into clinic for gene correction therapy is thus no longer only science fiction.” 

to economic development, maintains the highest academic ambition in areas that have an impact on the quality of life.

“I look forward to building on the strong faculty base already at KAUST; to attract and retain the very best talents, to nurture them with all that KAUST can provide in terms of facilities and mentorship, and to ensure their long-term commitment to KAUST by means of an efficient promotion track.” He sees additional potential in identifying and recruiting the many talented faculty and students working in Middle East and North African (MENA) and European countries. Prof. Catsicas shares President Shih’s view that KAUST offers junior faculty an open environment with a long runway for careers and research to take off by encouraging and enabling risk and protecting creativity.

Amongst other KAUST centers, Prof. Catsicas enthused about the work of the Red Sea Research

Center in preserving and enhancing the uniquely unspoiled coral reef environment while exploring the potential of new marine biotechnology applications.

He looks forward to communicating such expertise worldwide, ultimately attracting new students, faculty and industrial partners.

“The standard sequential approach should be replaced with a parallel flow where progress occurs on many fronts simultaneously, creating a synergistic and autocatalytic process. I look to our graduate students, researchers and faculty for goal oriented research using their discoveries to create new technologies and start-ups, working hand-in-glove with our industrial partners. I would like to see small young companies attracted to KAUST where, like junior faculty, they can be nurtured to success in an environment less hostile than the current global environment.” 

STEFAN CATSICAS continued from p.1

He firmly believes that academic excellence must be the core aspiration of the university.

“Groundbreaking peer-reviewed science of global significance must be KAUST’s mission and responsibility as a research institution and the goal of all its scientists.”

Already in place is a unique academic matrix structure that encourages collaboration across disciplines leading to practical solutions. “I join this fledgling institution with great hopes of building on the foundation of human talent and physical infrastructure and equipment established over the past two years. Academic and research excellence and innovation intimately linked to entrepreneurial and economic development have driven the vision of the founders of KAUST.” Prof. Catsicas is committed to that transdisciplinary strategy bridging the three KAUST foundations of education, research, and innovation which, linked

SCIENCE,

Professor Catsicas noted that scientists at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have been characterized by their partners as “explorers of the new territories of knowledge”. Research collaborations such as those with adventurer Bertrand Piccard to develop a plane that would circumnavigate the world on solar power and with Alinghi on their three consecutive America’s Cup races prove it’s a description well deserved.

The Solar Impulse project, which has now witnessed a continuous 26 hour flight powered only by solar energy, engaged faculty and students from multiple disciplines in problems including those related to photovoltaic systems, energy transfer and storage, composite materials, electrical systems and thermodynamics. As Official Scientific Advisor, the university not only assisted this

SAILING &

SOLAR FLIGHT

exciting adventure but it is also helped drive research in areas such as flexible solar cells, ultra-light materials and human-machine interfaces which could benefit numerous other fields and industries.

In March 2003, when the America’s Cup returned to Europe for the first time in 150 years, it was in part due to the 50 scientists from seven different laboratories at EPFL who were directly involved in boat and material

design, testing and route planning. This motivated new avenues of research in challenging areas such as composite materials, fluid dynamics and simulation which have subsequently been applied to life-changing devices such as prosthetics.

Projects such as these not only raised the profile of EPFL but energized students and faculty and attracted numerous new industrial partnerships. 

IN BRIEF THUWAL SCHOOL SCIENCE FAIR

ALMOST 100 students from Thuwal schools (elementary through high school) joined KAUST's celebration of the International Year of Chemistry on Monday January 17. Split into two groups; half watched experiments demonstrated at the WEP Chemistry Fun Fair while the other half visited the Museum of Science and Technology in Islam. 

JEDDAH RELIEF EFFORTS AFTER the recent flooding in parts of Jeddah, the KAUST community donated time and resources to the relief efforts.

In addition to delivering meals and mobilizing heavy equipment for the relief efforts, much needed supplies were donated and delivered to Jeddah. The KAUST Jeddah Relief Coordination Committee thanks the community for its concern and generosity. 

KIDS ART ON DISPLAY THIS month, art created by KAUST children will be displayed for a week at each of these locations: the lobby of Building 16, Campus Diner, KAUST Library, and the cinema.

Be sure to take a moment and see what these bright children have to say about KAUST. 

RESEARCH PARK CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION will begin late February of the infrastructure for the Research Park, the 3.2 million square meters of currently undeveloped land at the southeast end of KAUST. The Research Park is a vital part of the KAUST vision of scientific, technological and industrial collaboration. To minimize community disruption and maximize safety, construction will be implemented in phases – beginning with the installation of a temporary security fence. To find out more about this project, please email mehboob.bangash@ kaust.edu.sa 

CALLING ALL ARTISTS THE KAUST Library and the KAUST Office of the Arts invite artists from within the KAUST community to enter their works in the 2011 Artists of KAUST Exhibit from April 20 to May 6. Entries will be accepted February 26 — March 23. To submit your art, contact: sarah. algirim@kaust.edu.sa 

WEP Round-Up

www.kaust.edu.sa

February 2011

3

A TASTE OF

WEP 2011 A FACT BASED WORLD VIEW THE evident joy that Swedish Professor Hans Rosling, MD finds in statistics captivated the audience when he spoke about his “Fact Based World View”. He described his “Cinnamon Bun Method”: a way to solicit informal post-lecture feedback. Handing around coffee and cakes at his academic home, the Karolinska Institute, he discovered that students were making arbitrary decisions about the “them and us” as they looked at the world, and much of his ensuing talk served to dispel such myths.

An epidemiologist, he illustrated his talk with interactive graphics translating data and statistics into memorable, real life narratives. He spoke of the importance of decisions made between couples “in the bedroom” embracing family planning, education and aspirations, and how such decisions were integral to change worldwide.

Urging us to consider 21st century economic, social and environmental changes and overturning our lagging perceptions, he projected a future that challenged widely accepted world views.

These same tools are available through the link to the Gapminder Foundation website at www.gapminder.org/world/ where data can be freely manipulated according to the user’s need. 

JOURNEY TO THE SOUL OF AFRICA CONCERT SAMITE, Charlie Shew and Mar Gueye took a packed audience in KAUST auditorium on a journey into Africa through their words, music and pulsating rhythms.

Samite Mulondo, born and raised in Uganda, was forced to flee to Kenya where he first began to recognize the power of music on troubled minds. From his grandfather’s first lesson on a traditional African flute, Samite moved on to play a western flute and then to become a multi-instrumentalist, playing the kalimba (finger-piano), marimba (wooden xylophone), litungu (seven-stringed Kenyan instrument) as well as being an amazingly versatile vocalist.

The trio’s music ranged from deep vocals that beckoned for responses from the audience to drum cadences that made it difficult not to tap your feet in time and feel the mesmerizing rhythms. Each song was accompanied by a story that brought Samite’s personal passions into play.

A resident of Ithaca, New York, since 1987, Samite spends as much time as he can working with children in African refugee camps and orphanages; children with AIDS and former child soldiers – encouraging them to sing and play their own music as part of the healing process.

As the concert ended the audience that evening left with an understanding that Samite was an exceptional person; not just a gifted musician but a passionate humanitarian. 

THE CRAFT OF SCIENTIFIC WRITING AND PUBLISHING – HOW TO GET PUBLISHED IN NATURE AND OTHER TOP-RANKED INTERNATIONAL JOURNALS THE most important message that came from the Nature Publishing Group’s speaker, Dr. Nick Campbell was, “If you want to be published in Nature, do top-notch research!” Illustrating his advice with papers including the structure of DNA (1954) and Dolly the sheep (1997), he demonstrated that editors look to the research in submitted papers to: • Include data to compellingly support conclusions • Be novel • Take a significant step forward, and • Provide new directions for future research Strong contenders for publication will be likely to: • Present an interesting research question with clarity • Create interest among the audience of readers • Rule out some alternative explanations • Ensure that speculation doesn’t “stretch” the data Dr. Campbell encouraged institutional and subject level benchmarking and pointed out that language training was critical and often overlooked by scientists.

Colleague Dr. Dan Csontos explained that thoughtful research and thorough, logical presentation of text and figures lead to great papers that, in effect, “tell a story”. The title and abstract should entice both reader and journal editor; they are often the only part of a paper read. Words of advice included, “Read and learn from papers in your field…avoid clutter…scientists are collegial- make use of them…and revise, revise, revise!” 

PLANT SPIRALS, BEAUTY YOU CAN COUNT ON: DO PLANTS KNOW MATH? PROFESSOR of Mathematics at Smith College, Pau Atela has worked in phyllotaxis, studying plant pattern formation. A phenomenon exists where the number of visible spirals in leaf arrangement follow the Fibonacci sequence, with each number in the sequence the sum of the previous two.

This helical formation of leaf arrangement gives a survival advantage for a plant, allowing each component an equal chance for resources such as sunshine or rainfall. Alyn Rockwood, Associate Director of Geometric Modeling and Scientific Visualization Research Center and Professor of Applied Mathematics, shared that “Rotating each leaf on the stem by the golden angle, 137.5 degrees, gives the best possible distribution for an unknown number, generating spirals. These separations on successive turns are based on Fibonacci numbers.”

In his lecture, Dr. Atela gave a glimpse into this intriguing mathematical relationship. He explained that botanical elements initiate as primordial, microscopic bulges of cells at the growing tip of a plant, forming lattice-like patterns. He also shared his experiences in how his approach to mathematical problems changed once he embraced his artistic side.

While art in itself didn’t provide the answer, it unlocked new perspectives giving novel approaches to finding solutions, proving that art and math aren't polar opposites, and that by embracing both, a fuller picture can be appreciated. 

POVERTY IN THE NATION OF SOCIAL SPONSORSHIP LOCAL businessman and philanthropist Saleh Al-Turki told an attentive audience that, despite the fact Saudi Arabia is one of the top 20 economies in the world; the Kingdom has a disproportionate level of poverty. Defining poverty not simply in terms of low income but also in capability deprivation, Mr. Al-Turki suggested that there are three key issues facing the country.

Firstly, he believes that the Kingdom’s social welfare model must be integrated with workable economic development programs which encourage private companies to train and employ Saudi workers. Secondly, he insists that individual productivity is a key to reducing dependence on social welfare in the Kingdom and productivity is linked to appropriate training. People need to be convinced that a feeling of well being actually comes from hard work. They need ready access to training; programs that provide opportunities to as many people as possible – the disabled as well as the enabled. Finally, Mr. Al-Turki stressed “society must change the way we view ourselves”.

We need to make people aware of how to help themselves rather than waiting for society to do it for them”. 

4

Poster Session

February 2011

The WEP

POSTER

The Beacon

SESSION

2011

‫ مثلت تقريبا مجيع االقسام و مراكز البحث يف اجلامعة يف هذه‬:‫دورة ملصقات البحوث للربنامج الشتوي التكميلي‬ ‫ جائزة‬15 ‫ طالب وزميل يف مرحلة ما بعد الدكتوراه و تسابقو على‬100 ‫املسابقة اليت اثبتت جناحها و شارك فيها‬ .‫نقدية‬ All three divisions and almost every research center was represented in this very successful competition in which 100 students and postdoctoral fellows competed for 15 cash prizes. The awards ceremony was well attended by students, faculty and senior administrators, including President Choon Fong Shih, Executive Vice President Nadhmi Nasr and Vice President - Research, Jean Frechet. President Shih spoke of how the act of writing the research paper forces you to focus and opens the way to connect with others. “There is a time-honored saying – chance favors the prepared mind” he said “but, in today’s world, you must go beyond a prepared mind. I believe that chance also favors the connected mind... continue to talk about your ideas and invite critique and collaboration.” He reminded the winners that their award was just the beginning of “great research to come”.

1st

AFNAN MAASHAT

1st

1st

Microbial Ecology of Microbial Fuel Cells

STUDENT

STUDENT

Polymer Gated Nanocontainers for Controlled Release Applicatons

TYAS HIKMAWAN

1st

POSTDOC

YASSER KHAN

STUDENT

Controllable Electrochemical Etching of Tungsten

MOHAMED SOBHI Versatile Single Molecule Fluorescence Setup for Studying DNA Replication Dynamics

1st POSTDOC

STUDENT

Deep Sea Microbe Hunting

1st

NOURA CHEHAB

WEI CHEN MnO2-CNT-Texture Nanostructures for Symmetrical Electrochemical Superconductors

Poster Session

www.kaust.edu.sa

2nd

ALI CHARARA

2nd

2nd

GAMAL EL DIN

2nd

STUDENT

POSTDOC

Respiratory Information Extraction from Electrocardiogram Signals

STUDENT

3rd

3rd

NATHAN COLLIER

3rd

JESPER KARLSSON Efficient Modeling of Reaction Processes by Adaptive Tau-Leap Method

MADHI BEN GHORBEL Location Based Resource Allocation for OFDMA Cognitive Radio Systems

STUDENT

The Cost of Continuity: A Study of the Performance of IGA using Direct Solvers

RICHMOND LEE A Density Functional Theory Study of the Copper Mediated C-H Activation / C-S Cross Coupling of Heterocycles with Thiols

ABHIJEET RAJ Quantitative Prediction of the Pollutants Formed During Gasoline Combustion

POSTDOC

Employing Stem Cells to Reverse Brain Damage Caused by Hypoxia

3rd

XUXIN MA Wavefield Extrapolation in the Pseudo-Depth Domain

STUDENT

POSTDOC

2nd

DINA ADU SAMRA

STUDENT

STUDENT

Rawasheen Designer

February 2011

http://www.kaust.edu.sa/QR-CODE/QR.html

GET THE FULL POSTER THROUGH QR

To enable you to see the full poster images – we have provided a QR code on the right of each thumbnail in this layout.

QR Code is a matrix barcode, which is scanned by appropriate QR Reader software by taking a picture using your smart phone. The information encoded can be a website URL, an SMS, contact information or other useful data.

If you do not have a QR Reader, search for a “QR Reader” application and install a reader compatible with your device. 

5

6

Research

February 2011

The Beacon

COMPOSITE MATERIALS

4 ‫منحت شركة بوينج الباحث لوبينو جيل و فريقه من جامعة امللك عبد اهلل للعلوم والتقنية من الباحثني يف هندسة املواد منحة ملدة‬ .‫سنوات ليتمكنوا من التنبؤ بدقة أكرب بالضرر الوقيت ( او املعتمد على الوقت) يف املواد املركبة و املغلفة معدنيا املستخدمة يف الطائرات‬

BILL Boeing used a naturally occurring composite to build his first airplanes: spruce hewn from the forests surrounding his native Seattle. In a classic example of interdisciplinary exchange, he capitalized on the expertise of the local shipbuilders and the available resources to begin his hugely successful company.

Dr. Gilles Lubineau, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Division of Mathematical and Computer Sciences and Engineering, and his team of structural and material engineering scientists have been awarded a four-year grant from The Boeing Company to more accurately predict the time dependent damage of metallic coated composite materials for use in airplane fuselages. Prof.

Lubineau has an impressive list of over 50 publications, the most recent an article on inverse identification techniques accepted for publication in Computers & Structures in 2011. A KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP) member, Boeing worked with KAUST Economic Development to define their research and development priorities in the Kingdom, introducing them to scientists including Prof. Lubineau. The agreement was drawn up with help from faculty and the KAUST Office of Research Services.

Composite materials are engineered by combining two or more constituent materials of quite different physical or chemical properties that work together to give the composite unique properties. The materials within a composite can be differentiated on one or more scales. In contrast, an alloy is a partial or complete solid solution of one or more elements in a metallic matrix. Wood is a naturally occurring composite: its long cellulose fibers are held together by lignin; bones are another hierarchical composite material. Man has been producing composites for millennia: putting straw in bricks, or gravel and metal rods in concrete increases both compressive and tensile strength. Fiberglass (a

plastic matrix reinforced with glass fibers) is an example of a modern composite.

Composite materials can also have structural properties: by the clever alignment of fibers

as nanotechnologies may create new materials with even more performance and environmental advantages. This poses the question: how do researchers look at these new materials and

COMPOSITE VERSUS METALLIC MATERIALS IN AIRCRAFT ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

Strength

Fewer data re long term aging properties

Decreased weight: important for the environment and for fuel economy

Impact of environmental factors will need further research

Resistance to corrosion and fatigue

Demands new methods of assembly

Design flexibility

High production costs

Smart properties can be incorporated

Can be difficult and costly to repair

within the composite, and the way different layers are placed, the material can be used to counteract mechanical stresses. The successful design of composites therefore requires expertise from structural computational scientists as well as material scientists.

The external body of an aircraft is exposed to severe environmental conditions, including wind, rain, hail and lightning. From take off to landing, temperatures can vary from -50C to +120C. The stress of these environmental conditions, as well as the stress put on aircraft during different elements of the flight regime, causes the structure of the aircraft to fatigue very gradually over time.

Modern aircraft have a life expectancy of at least 20 years – materials selected and used for today’s aircraft are based on many years of in-service experience using a building-block approach based on experience accompanied by significant technical analysis. Today’s advanced composites have their origins in fleet experiences going back over 50 years for fiberglass and over 30 years for carbon-reinforced composites.

However, the advances in new polymer technologies and new engineering materials such

how do they determine their long-term durability without having to wait another 30-50 years to gain a similar experience basis as we have today? The answer is to use robust, accurate and reliable models to predict aging outcomes.

In the first instance, an aging model based on today’s composite capabilities will be developed to serve as a baseline for a future system.

An extensive experimental campaign will be undertaken. This will identify the elementary factors involved in the mechanisms of degradation in carbon fibers/epoxy matrix laminated structures and their interactions using accelerated aging facilities at KAUST’s Composite and Heterogeneous Materials Analysis and Simulation (CoHMAS) Laboratory using their extensive equipment including climatic chambers. All characterization of aeronautical grade samples will be done in-house using advanced field measurements and tomography.

KAUST core facilities will be used to characterize degradation morphology using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy. The resulting “phenomenology” (the way things happen) will be clarified in collaboration with Boeing to create a multi-physics

model. This will serve as a baseline model for understanding future-generation composite material systems.

The second challenge for this kind of aging application is to develop computational models that can cope with manifestations of advanced aging degradation mechanisms. One example that is seen in extreme environments such as cryogenic tanks today (which is outside our current airplane operational environment) is the formation of large numbers of microscopic discontinuities (sometimes called micro-cracking).

This is an example of one kind of future state environmental condition in which models would be needed to predict the future state for brand new materials to allow their timely introduction into future products. There is currently no robust method to predict the evolution of these kinds of degradation mechanisms in a unified, relevant environment. Prof. Lubineau’s team will participate in developing innovative approaches to this challenge in collaboration with Boeing.

The challenge of the experiments is to ensure that they are representative of what will happen when the material actually forms the structure of the aircraft.

The outcome of this research will encompass comprehensive modeling approaches for next generation advanced composite durability based on current generation composite baselines. This will assure a link between the future states and today’s capabilities and maintain relevancy of the models to real world conditions. This is the perfect illustration of the value of an integrated laboratory, in which studies can be undertaken from processing to characterization, modeling and simulation, resulting in validation. In awarding this major grant, Boeing has recognized the facilities offered by the CoHMAS laboratory and the expertise of Dr Lubineau’s team. Boeing continues to explore other new areas of possible future collaboration at KAUST. 

Research

www.kaust.edu.sa

February 2011

LAB GEAR

Upper right: Simulation of the development of interfacial cracks between plies of laminated composites Middle: An example of a Tomogram Lower right: The Tomograph

TOMOGRAPHY

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CHRIS KEND

ALL

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THE BREAKWATER BEACON A composite was the perfect solution when the architects of the Breakwater Beacon needed a material strong enough to last for at least 100 years as the iconic symbol of KAUST. The Beacon is constructed of 187 individually cast hexagonal blocks, weighing up to 18 tons each, made from ultra high strength concrete (UHSC), a cementitious matrix reinforced with steel fibres.

Drawing inspiration from ancient Arabic maritime traditions as well as regional art and architecture, Australian based international design studio, Urban Art Projects designed the Beacon to link to the marine ecology of the Red Sea. Reminiscent of weathered coral, this complex structure was created as a collection of unique amorphous hexagonal sections stepping up out of the sea into an elliptical spire.

The tower is divided into three sections, tapering from a base of approximately

30m x 25m to just 3.0m x 2.5m at the top.

Each individual interior hexagon was precast off-site and then lifted into place on site using a variety of cranes, including one of the largest in the world (a 550 ton mobile crane). The patterned “skin” of the atrium creates a dappled shaded effect, forming reverential interior spaces for communal gatherings with an amphitheatre and reflection pond.

The design’s structure acts as a natural cooling tower similar to that of a minaret on a mosque. The tapered tower draws up the hot air bringing in breezes at the lower level to cool the internal space and the surrounding plaza.

Thanks to UHSC, KAUST students will still be enjoying the sunset over the Red Sea from the plaza of the Beacon well into the 22nd Century. 

4 TOMOGRAPHY, a technique to draw (or reconstruct) a section of an object, is derived from the Greek word “tomos” which means part or section. Rather than simply illustrating the surface, it literally maps all the inner sections of an object – becoming a complete three-dimensional view which can be manipulated and closely examined.

A composite material is fabricated in the lab, cut by diamond saw, failed by mechanical testing and then checked by tomography. The specimen size is determined by the resolution required and set according to ASTM standards (from 20mm x 20mm up to 250mm x 20mm).

The damaged composite sample is then placed into the x-ray chamber of the tomograph and mounted on a rotating plate. If it is a particularly hard material, a filter such as copper or aluminum is placed at the tip of the gun in order to focus the high intensity beam on the sample. The x-ray gun then snaps successive 2-D images as the sample rotates 360 degrees. In situ straining experiments can also be conducted inside the tomograph for live damage inspection during mechanical testing to check any dynamic cracking mechanisms that may have occured.

The multiple images are then transferred to specialized imaging software (Vg Studio) which produces a tomogram. This 3D reconstruction of the material that was x-rayed provides the scientist with the ability to analyze the results of the breakage, where the crack has spread, and how it will likely spread further as the material ages.

Once the scientist has fully characterized the damage by drawing its geometry, its history and its size, he/she will be able to use this characterization as input data to feed the model for further simulations. If the simulations run well, the expected damage of the material can be predicted. 

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COMMUNITY

February 2011

This month The Beacon features a beautiful sunrise the morning after the storm that caused such destruction and sadness in Jeddah at the end of January. Canadian, Mohamad Akramulla Hussaini (Akram), who works in the Procurement Department, says he enjoys not only photography but also painting, drawing and calligraphy.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

The Beacon

We hope to see some of his work in the Spring 2011 Artists of KAUST Exhibit.

Would you like to see your photo published in The Beacon?

Every month we plow through our inbox and choose the best one to publish (wishing we could publish many more). 

2011–12 ACADEMIC CALENDAR

Email your photos to thebeacon@kaust.edu.sa Photo by: Mohamad Akramulla Hussaini (Akram)

August 10–19, 2011

On-boarding of students

August 20–24, 2011

New student orientation

August 25– September 2, 2011

Eid Al-Fitr Break

FALL SEMESTER September 3, 2011

First day of classes

September 9, 2011

Last day to add a class

September 14, 2011

Last day to drop a class without a W grade

September 24, 2011

National Day Holiday

October 26, 2011

Last day to drop a class with a W grade. No drops permitted after this date.

November 3–11, 2011

Eid Al-Adha Break

November 12, 2011

Classes resume

December 7, 2011

Classes end

December 10–12, 2011

Final exam period

December 14, 2011

Fall semester ends

December 16, 2011

Commencement

December 17, 2011– January 13, 2012

Mid-Year Break (no classes)

WINTER ENRICHMENT PERIOD

MY UNIVERSITY

Winter Enrichment Period begins

January 29, 2012

Winter Enrichment Period ends

SPRING SEMESTER

HAOZE HE Haoze is a chemical engineering student from the province of Shaanxi in China, who will be completing his thesis in May. He came to KAUST from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and comments that while most of his undergraduate peers went on to the U.S., Europe and Hong Kong, the excitement of the desert and Red Sea appealed to his adventurous side.

With just a few remaining months left at KAUST, he reflected upon his time here and shared, “This experience at KAUST will always be very important to my

life. I feel it has given me a foundation in chemical engineering beyond laboratory work. One of the things I appreciated the most is the Global Collaboration Research (GCR ) program. It gave me the opportunity to spend a summer researching at Cornell University. I like exploring and KAUST let me experience a new life in Saudi Arabia. . . now I am ready for my next new world.” In the spring he plans to continue his Ph.D. in the United States. As the Lunar New Year began on February 3, Haoze wishes everyone a Happy Year of the Rabbit! 

BEATE AISHA KERLIS Originally from Germany, Beate has over 20 years of experience across several industries and 10 countries.

With a major in IT and an MBA specializing in Islamic Economics, her passion for the transformation of the Middle East has kept her in the GCC over the past 12 years - serving in several government organizations tasked with economic development, reforms and social transformation, changing course to create 3 start-ups.

Following her passion for entrepreneurship, and having fully bought into King Abdullah’s vision to rekindle the age-old Muslim thirst for knowledge and innovation, Beate joined KAUST in 2009, offering the unique

January 14, 2012

and challenging opportunity to help create the right environment for innovation-based entrepreneurship to flourish in Saudi Arabia.

Beate established and manages the KAUST Seed Fund Program, along with Lama Naseer, Dr. Vibeke Svensson, and Sharif Islam. After three successful internal rounds and 15 awards with a financial commitment of just under $2 million, the Seed Fund Program is looking forward to joining hands with other institutions in KSA, for a broader participation and reaching a wider audience. 

PANOS KALNIS Associate Professor, Panos Kalnis, is from the beautiful Greek island of Evia and his love of the sea has followed him throughout his career. As an undergraduate at the University of Patras he overlooked the Gulf of Corinth and as a Ph.D. student he looked over Clear Water Bay to the South China Sea from the windows of the library at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He then spent six years as Assistant Professor in the island state of Singapore at the National University of Singapore before moving to the San Francisco Bay area to spend a semester at Stanford.

“I heard about this incredible new university by the Red Sea when most of the campus existed only as a drawing, and I was thrilled by the opportunity to participate in the birth of a university. Shaheen, the possibility to collaborate with top scientists and (last, but not least) great scuba diving also enticed me!”

To round out his experience, he says his InfoCloud research group has attracted some excellent people who can compete with the best students in top universities worldwide. 

February 4, 2012

First day of classes

February 10, 2012

Last day to add a class

February 15, 2012

Last day to drop a class without a W grade

March 28, 2012

Last day to drop a class with a W grade. No drops permitted after this date

March 29– April 6, 2012

Spring Break (no classes)

April 7, 2012

Classes resume

May 9, 2012

Classes end

May 12–16, 2012

Final exam period

May 16, 2012

Spring semester ends

SUMMER SESSION June 9, 2012

First Day of Summer Session

August 1, 2012

Summer Session Ends

NAMING the Beacon IN the summer of 2010, a contest was held inviting people to suggest names for the new KAUST newspaper that was about to be launched. Many suggestions were given, but the resounding theme was the campus landmark and symbol of the university’s purpose and vision. Twenty individuals are credited for inspiring the name of The Beacon newspaper, having suggested that name exactly or a close variation: Alyn Rockwood, Zuhair Abussaud, Idris Ajia, Abdulla Al Muhaizea, Mazahirali Alidina, Alexander Cinali, Deena Gilbert, Muhammed Hussain, Inji Jaber, Ahmad Kadoura, Tak Man Desmond Lee, Richmond Lee, Eric Martin, Christopher Morash, Richard Orme, Mahmud Sajed, Omar Shawky, Timothy Swales, Cabby Tennis, and Philippe Vignal. 

Winners holding their beacon crystal awards. From left: Mazahirali Alidina, Muhammed Hussain, Alexander Cinali, Ahmad Kadoura, Richard Orme, and Philippe Vignal