2012 September

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

BEACON ‫املنـارة‬ at Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

September 2012 / Jumada Al-Akhir 1433 Volume 3, Issue No. 1

the

www.kaust.edu.sa

Dean Yves Gnanou

‫تعيني الربوفسور إيف نانو عميدا‬

‫لقسم العلوم واهلندسة الفيزيائية‬

‫جديدا‬ ‫عميدا‬ ‫مت أخريا تعيني الربوفسور إيف نانو‬ ً ً ‫لقسم العلوم واهلندسة الفيزيائية يف جامعة امللك‬ ‫جالبا معه خربته املكثفة‬ ،‫عبداهلل للعلوم والتقنية‬ ً ‫يف اإلدارة األكادميية وخربته البحثية من املؤسسة‬ ‫التعليمية العريقة اليت قدم منها وهي جامعة‬ ‫ حيث شغل منصب‬،‫إكول بوليتكنيك يف باريس‬ ‫نائب الرئيس للشئون األكادميية واألحباث يف هذه‬ ‫ كما أنه واثقًا من قدرته على‬.‫اجلامعة العريقة‬ ‫املساعدة يف وضع جامعة امللك عبداهلل للعلوم‬ .‫والتقنية على خارطة التميز األكادميي‬ ‫وما اجتذبه إىل هذه املؤسسة الفتية ما تتميز به من‬ ،‫"رؤية جريئة وبنية حتتية مدهشة" على حد قوله‬ ‫ويبحث الربوفسور نانو عن اجلودة والتميز يف الطلبة‬ ‫وهيئة التدريس لربنامج أكادميي مع الرتكيز على‬ .‫العالقة الوثيقة بني العلوم واهلندسة األساسية‬ ‫ويعلق قائال أنه "يف بيئة اليوم ذات املنافسة احلادة‬ ‫ال مكان للرتاخي وأنه يتعذرعلينا النجاح يف الدمج‬ ‫بني التميز األكادميي والتنمية االقتصادية ما مل‬

‫يف خماطبته الحتفال استقبال الطالب اجلدد‬

‫رئيس اجلامعة يتحدث عن‬ ‫التميز واهلدف‬

President Shih speaks of excellence, purpose in Convocation address

2 ‫تتمه صفحة‬

An engaging talk by President Choon Fong Shih welcomed new students

Professor Yves Gnanou Appointed Dean of Physical Sciences and Engineering

to the campus at the 2012 Convocation September 3, marking the begin-

Professor Yves Gnanou, newly appointed

with a spirit that seeks knowledge for the larger purpose of serving

Dean of Physical Sciences and Engineering

humanity through scientific and engineering solutions to the problems

(PSE) brings to KAUST his extensive academic

facing the Kingdom and the world.”

management, teaching, and research experience at a long-established institution: École

ning of KAUST’s fourth academic year.

Professor Shih spoke of King Abdullah’s dream of founding “a university that would rekindle the Golden Age of Islamic Civilization and its great traditions of scholarship and service.”

“King Abdullah wanted a university of global excellence, one imbued

Professor Shih offered an interpretation of the King’s dream in three words: excellence with purpose.

Polytechnique (EP) in Paris. He held the role

Professor Shih then spoke of another visionary, the late Steve Jobs,

of Vice President of Academic Affairs and of

founder of Apple. “In the early 1980’s, Jobs’s team started working on

Research at this grande ecole and is confident

the original Mac. Recognizing that going for quick results can undermine

that he can be part of “putting KAUST on the

excellence, Jobs constantly told his people ‘Don’t compromise.’”

map of academic excellence.”

“Jobs did not speak about maximizing profit or minimizing costs. He

Attracted to this young institution by the

said: ‘Being the richest man doesn’t matter to me. My passion has been to

“bold vision and fantastic infrastructure,” Dean

build an enduring company where people were motivated to make great

Gnanou seeks quality and excellence in students

products. Everything else was secondary.’”

and faculty for an academic program with an

“From Apple, let us turn to universities. What do universities pro-

emphasis on a close relationship between basic

duce? Three deliverables come to mind – graduates, research, and

science and engineering. “In today’s competi-

increasingly, technology transfer. Through these products, top univer-

tive environment,” he commented, “there is no

sities impact the world.”

room for complacency. Only by propagating the work habits of a truly academic institution can we succeed in blending academic excellence and economic development.”

“The scientist is driven by curiosity to discover. The engineer is driven by compulsion to make things work and deliver value.”

“At KAUST, our Academic Divisions integrate Science and Engineering.

At KAUST, our scientists and engineers are encouraged to work together

KAUST President Choon Fong Shih said:

– to think big, to push the boundaries of knowledge, to deliver innova-

“Yves Gnanou shares our aspiration to build

tive technologies. At KAUST, our four research thrusts – Water, Food,

a great research university which makes

Energy, and the Environment – offer rich intellectual space for our sci-

DEAN GNANOU | Continued on p2

entists and engineers to work together to discover and deliver.” 

INSIDE:

News 1-3

Research 4-5

‫ رحب فيه بالطلبة‬،‫قدم الربوفسور تشون فونغ شيه حديثا استقطب االهتمام‬ ‫ سبتمرب مع بداية العام الرابع‬3 ‫اجلدد واستقباهلم يف احلرم اجلامعي يف‬ ‫ وقد حتدث الربوفسور شيه عن حلم خادم احلرمني الشريفني امللك‬.‫للجامعة‬ ‫عبداهلل بتأسيس "جامعة تعيد الوهج لشعلة العصر الذهيب للحضارة اإلسالمية‬ ."‫وتراثها العظيم يف جمال التعليم وخدمته‬ ‫وقد أراد امللك عبداهلل تأسيس جامعة ذات متيز عاملي وجامعة ذات روح‬ ‫وثابة تسعى للمعارف خلدمة اهلدف األمسى املتمثل يف خدمة البشرية من‬ ‫خالل اإلهتداء إىل احللول العلمية واهلندسية للمشاكل اليت تواجه اململكة‬ ."‫والعامل قاطبة‬ ‫ التميز‬:‫تفسريا حللم امللك عبداهلل يف ثالث كلمات هي‬ ‫شيه‬ ‫الربوفسور‬ ‫وقدم‬ ً ‫ مث حتدث الربوفسور شي عن شخصية حاملة أخرى هو ستيف‬.‫مع اهلدف‬ ‫ بدأ فريق جوبس العمل‬،‫ قائال "يف أوائل الثمانينات‬،‫ مؤسس شركة آبل‬،‫جوبس‬ ‫ وقد كان جوبس يدرك متام االدراك أن اجلري وراء‬.‫على جهاز ماك األصلي‬ ‫النتائج السريعة يعين تدمري التميز وكان حيث فريقه دائما على عدم اللجوء‬ .‫إىل احللول الوسطى‬ ‫واستطرد الربوفسور شيه قائال أن "جوبس مل يتحدث عن تعظيم األرباح أو‬ ‫ وكان يقول كون أنه شخص واسع الثراء أو أغىن رجل ال‬،‫خفض النفقات‬ ‫ وأن جل شغفه كان يتمثل يف بناء شركة معمرة ومستمرة يتم‬،‫يعين له شي ًئا‬ ‫فيها حتفيز الناس لعمل منتجات عظيمة وأن أي شئ آخر خبالف ذلك يعده‬ ."‫أمرا ثانويا‬ ‫وقال "دعونا ننتقل من آبل للتحدث عن اجلامعات ولنسأل ماذا تنتج‬ ‫ اخلرجيون‬-‫اجلامعات؟ ولالجابة على هذا التساؤل تطرأ ثالثة متطلبات‬ ‫ ومن خالل هذه املنتجات يكون تأثري‬.‫واألحباث وبصورة متنامية نقل التقنية‬ ."‫أرفع اجلامعات على العامل‬ ‫ واملهندس حيركه االندفاع جلعل‬.‫"فالرجل العامل يدفعه الفضول لالستكشاف‬ ."‫األشياء تعمل وحتقق قيمة‬ ‫ تتوىل األقسام األكادميية الدمج بني العلوم‬،‫"ويف جامعة امللك عبداهلل‬ ‫ ويف جامعة امللك عبداهلل جيري تشجيع العلماء واملهندسني‬.‫واهلندسة‬ ‫معا والتفكري يف أفكار عظيمة لتجاوز حدود املعرفة وابتكار تقنيات‬ ً ‫للتعاون‬ ‫ ويف جامعة امللك عبداهلل تتمثل حمركات أحباثنا األربعة يف املاء‬.‫جديدة‬ ‫والغذاء والطاقة والبيئة وهي مبثابة جماالت فكرية ثرية لعلمائنا ومهندسينا‬ o .‫للتعاون معا بهدف االكتشاف وحتقيق النتائج املرجوة‬

Initiatives 6-7

Community 8

2

News

September 2012 THIS issue of The Beacon marks the beginning of our fourth aca-

programs as part of Saudi Initiatives, while still others welcomed

demic year. It features President Choon Fong Shih’s speech shared

high school students from The KAUST Schools into their labs.

at Convocation 2012, encouraging each of us to contribute to a culture of excellence with purpose.

These pages capture some of the energy and activity of our research community. While over 100 graduate students took up

One of the many advantages of being a young institution is the ability to be flexible and dynamic. The realignment of the divisions is one such example, marking an important moment in the University’s journey of establishing KAUST in the first ranks of academia. 

summer internships around the globe, our faculty and researchers on campus mentored many young Saudi scholars in challenging

—THE BEACON Editorial

The Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 1, September 2012. Published by The Communications Department, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.

Contact Salah Sindi salah.sindi@kaust.edu.sa, or Caroline Kingdon caroline.kingdon@kaust.edu.sa © King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Printed on partially recycled paper.

Left to right: Luis Luján, Kiran Narayanan, Bingmu Xiao, Ahmad Showail

in brief

‫سيضفي على طلبة اجلامعة املزيد من التمكني لكي يتخرجوا‬ ‫كمهنيني من ذوي الفعاليات االبتكارية عالية الكفاءة والفعالية‬ ."‫ومؤهلني لكي يصبحوا اجليل القادم من قادة التقنية‬ ‫وتتمثل اهتمامات الربوفسور نانو البحثية وخلفيته الشخصية يف‬ ‫تصميم الوسائط الكيميائية "اخلضراء" اخلالية من املعادن لعمليات‬ ‫سلسلة البلمرة وعلى جتميع معماريات البوليمر األصلي باستخدام‬ ‫ وللربوفسور نانو سجل توليف مبهر فهو املؤلف‬.‫طرق تصنيع مبتكرة‬ ‫املشارك ألثنني من الكتب املنهجية املستخدمة على نطاق العامل‬ .‫لطلبة املرحلة اجلامعية واخلرجيني‬ ‫ولد العميد نانو يف فيتنام و ترعرع يف بلدة بونديشريي يف اهلند‬ ‫ ويتمىن كل من‬.‫قبل انتقاله اىل أوروبا والواليات املتحدة األمريكية‬ o .‫زوجته وأطفاله زيارته بصورة منتظمة من فرنسا‬

."‫ننشر عادات العمل اليت متيز املؤسسات األكادميية احلقيقية‬ ‫ الربوفسور تشون فونغ شيه أن‬،‫ويقول رئيس جامعة امللك عبداهلل‬ ‫"إيف نانو يشاطرنا تطلعاتنا إىل بناء جامعة حبثية عظيمة تقدم‬ ‫ ويتمتع نانو بسجل بارز يف‬.‫مساهمات مستدامة للملكة والعامل‬ ‫قيادته األكادميية وهو فضال عن ذلك باحث متميز على املستوى‬ ‫ وال شك أن والءه ألعلى املقاييس سيكسب ثقافة اجلامعة‬.‫العاملي‬ ."‫األكادميية والبحثية املزيد من املنعة واملتانة والتميز‬ ‫ويرى وكيل اجلامعة ستيفان كاتسيكاس أن خربة إيف نانو يف جامعة‬ ‫ فجامعة امللك‬.‫إكول بوليتكنيك تعد ميزة فريدة يف تطوره الوظيفي‬ ‫عبداهلل مثلها مثل اجلامعة الفنية تسعى إىل تطبيق منوذج التعليم‬ .‫متعدد التخصصات البينية من أجل زرع ثقافة الريادة يف الطلبة‬ ‫وهذا النموذج املعدل ليناسب احتياجات اململكة واملنطقة‬

enduring contributions to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and

professionals equipped to become the next generation of tech-

unique insights into “how the young generation views the

the wider world. He possesses an outstanding record in aca-

nology leaders.”

world, what it expects, what it dreads, and what attracts it.”

Dean Gnanou | Continued from p1

L eaders of Tomorrow Four KAUST students attended the 2012 St. Gallen Symposium in May. The Swiss city of St. Gallen is home to one of the top business schools in Europe, the University of St. Gallen, known for its programs in management, economics, and commerce.

Equally well-known is the annual St. Gallen Symposium, drawing 600 leaders of government, business, and civil society. At this annual event, leaders of today come to debate with students selected and invited from around the world (Leaders of Tomorrow). The resulting intergenerational discussions are enlivened by intercultural exchanges which give

demic leadership, and is a researcher of international distinction.

Professor Gnanou’s personal background is the design of

Facing Risk was the theme of this year’s two-day

His dedication to the highest standards will further strengthen

metal-free “green” catalysts for chain and step-growth polymeri-

Symposium in May. The theme, with applications in business,

KAUST’s culture of academic and research excellence.”

zations and the assembly of original polymeric architectures by

science, and technology, is directed to many basic questions

For Provost Stefan Catsicas, Yves Gnanou’s experience at

novel synthetic methods. Professor Gnanou’s publication record

for humanity and many decisions taken daily by scientists,

École Polytechnique is a unique attribute to his career. “Like EP,

is impressive and he is the co-author of two internationally used

managers, teachers, and others.

we pursue a transdisciplinary educational model to foster a tra-

textbooks for undergraduate and graduate students.

Four KAUST students were invited to attend this year’s

dition of leadership amongst our students. This model, adapted

Born in Vietnam, Dean Gnanou grew up in Pondicherry, India,

Symposium: Ahmad Showail (PhD CS), Bingmu Xiao (MS

to the needs of the Kingdom and the region, will further enable

before moving to Europe and the US. His wife and children hope

ErSE), Kiran Narayanan (PhD ME), and Luis Lujan Rodriguez

KAUST students to graduate as innovative and highly-qualified

to visit regularly from France. 

(MS EnSE).

An intercultural group, they represent four countries: Saudi Arabia, China, India, and Mexico. Extremely enthusiastic, they have expressed many ideas about future contributions to the student experience and the student voice at KAUST. For all four, attendance at the St. Gallen Symposium has been a high point in their graduate student careers, and they convey their ideas with excitement and freshness. 

WELCOME new Scholars!

Visit The Lens for: News and Updates Announcements Information and Events

Find out more at

http://thelens.kaust.edu.sa ON CAMPUS ACCESS ONLY

News

www.kaust.edu.sa

Transdisciplinarity: 1, 2012, is shown in the graphic below.

Bringing together closely related scientific and engineering disciplines within each Division and providing strong and coherent intellectual platforms, the realignment will promote fundamental discoveries and support the key priorities of our goal-oriented Research Centers.

Scientific advances in the past ten years have created new research areas including bioinformatics, bioengineering, and nanotechnology. These fields require excellence in each basic discipline and the capacity to integrate through transdisciplinary channels.

As KAUST Provost, Prof. Stefan Catsicas, told The Beacon, “Each Division will combine and integrate approaches where disciplines merge. At the same time, Research Centers will seek transdisciplinary contributions from the knowledge base of all Divisions. The realignment seeks to promotes the balance needed between basic research and goal-oriented research which will allow KAUST to focus on our strategic thrust areas of Water, Food, Energy, and Environment.” 

:‫األقسام األكادميية‬

1 ‫يوضح الشكل البياين أدناه التشكيل اجلديد للربامج واألقسام األكادميية ومراكز األحباث اعتبارا من‬ .2012 ‫سبتمرب‬ ‫ويتميز التشكيل اجلديد باجلمع بني التخصصات العلمية واهلندسية ذات العالقة الوثيقة ببعضها اآلخر يف‬ ‫ كما أنه يشجع ويدفع االكتشافات‬،‫ ويؤمن املنصات الفكرية القوية واملرتابطة بصورة منطقية‬،‫كل قسم‬ ..‫األساسية ويدعم األولويات الرئيسية ملراكز األحباث ذات األهداف املحددة يف جامعة امللك عبداهلل‬ ‫وقد أدت التطورات العلمية خالل السنوات العشر املاضية إىل نشوء جماالت أحباث جديدة تشمل استخدام‬ ‫ وتتطلب هذه املجاالت‬.‫احلاسوب الستخالص وحتليل البيانات البيولوجية واهلندسة البيولوجية وتقنية النانو‬ .‫التميز يف كل ختصص أساسي والقدرة على الدمج من خالل القنوات متعددة التخصصات البينية‬ ‫وقد صرح وكيل اجلامعة الربوفسور ستيفان كاتسيكاس ملطبوعة "املنارة" قائال "سيتوىل كل قسم مجع‬ ‫ ويف الوقت نفسه ستسعى مراكز األحباث للحصول على االسهامات‬،‫ودمج أساليب تلتقي عندها التخصصات‬ ‫ وتهدف اعادة التنظيم هذه إىل إجياد‬.‫املتعددة التخصصات من قواعد املعرفة املتاحة يف مجيع األقسام‬ ‫التوازن املطلوب بني األحباث األساسية واألحباث ذات األهداف املحددة مبا يسمح للجامعة بالرتكيز على‬ o ."‫جماالت اهتماماتها االسرتاتيجية املتمثلة يف املاء والغذاء والطاقة والبيئة‬

kaust welcomes New faculty Mani Sarathy

Peiying Hong

Burton Jones

Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering,

Assistant Professor, Environmental Science and

Professor, Marine Science, Red Sea

Clean Combustion Research Center,

Engineering, Water Desalination and Reuse

Research Center

Physical Sciences and Engineering Division

Center, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division

Professor Mani Sarathy joins the

Professor Burton Jones came to KAUST from the University of Southern California. He combines

University from the Lawrence Livermore

Professor Peiying Hong joined the University

biological engineering and oceanography in

National Laboratory, USA. Prof. Sarathy's main research interest

in August 2012 from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

his transdisciplinary research into the biological, chemical, and physical

lies in experimental and computational combustion chemis-

She obtained a PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering

processes in the ocean. He has participated in fundamental worldwide

try. His fundamental chemical kinetic models can be coupled

from the National University of Singapore in 2009. Prof. Hong’s

oceanographic studies. Using ocean observations, remote sensing, and

with physical models to simulate fuel combustion and pollut-

research interests include molecular microbiology and the microbial

numerical modeling, he has led efforts to understand the effects of

ant formation in energy systems, and to decrease the impact

aspects of water and wastewater ecosystems. Her research aims to

major conurbations on biological and chemical processes in coastal

transportation fuel combustion systems have on our envi-

understand the roles and interactions of microorganisms in these

ocean regions. At KAUST he is extending this research to an under-

ronment. Prof. Sarathy received his master's degree in 2006

ecosystems, and to utilize these insights to solve issues related to

standing of the physical and biogeochemical processes of the Red Sea,

and his PhD in 2010, both in Chemical Engineering, from the

water quality and wastewater treatment. Her research also looks at

and the interaction of the open sea with the coastal coral reef systems.

University of Toronto, Canada. He received his bachelor's degree

the biotic contaminants (e.g. antibiotic resistance genes, pathogens)

The results will be used in environmental management and in planning

in Environmental Engineering Chemical Specialization from the

that are present in the natural and engineered environments. 

future uses of the Red Sea. Prof. Jones received his bachelor’s degree in

University of Waterloo, Canada, in 2004. 

3

‫تشكيل عمليات األحباث والتعليم‬

shaping research and education The alignment of Programs, Divisions, and Research Centers, which was effective from September

September 2012

Biological Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and his PhD in Biological Oceanography from Duke University. 

4

Research

September 2012

The Beacon

The Core Laboratories pro-

KAUST researchers put a new spin on electronics

vide world-class facilities

In a recently published article, two KAUST

configuration of nanodevices controls cur-

oscillators. Although not yet commercially

for KAUST faculty, students,

scientists discuss theoretical predictions

rent flow. One of the fundamental effects,

available, this technology is a potentially

researchers, and collabo-

that contribute to understanding how

giant magnetoresistance (GMR), enables

viable way to replace dynamic random-

rators. The Beacon spoke

electrical currents control magnetization

ultra-high data storage density, passing the

access memories (DRAM) and to perform

with their newly appointed

direction – a hot topic in the developing

once-challenging milestone of one million

reprogrammable logic in low-power-con-

Core Laboratories Director,

field of ‘spintronics’ (http://spintronics.

bits per square inch (1 terabit/in2). The tech-

sumption systems. At present, the limitation

Dr. Xixiang Zhang.

kaust.edu.sa).

new core labs director dr. xixiang zhang

nology is presently used by Jürgen Kosel,

is in the complexity of the multilayer stack

Commenting on research, Dr. Zhang explained that, “As

Aurelien Manchon, Assistant Professor

a KAUST assistant professor of Electrical

needed to achieve a spin-valve (Fig. 2).

a core facility, these labs provide cutting edge instruments

of Materials Science and Engineering,

Engineering, in biosensor applications

to the faculty and researchers way beyond the scope of

and postdoctoral fellow Xuhui Wang, co-

(http://smm.kaust.edu.sa).

those facilities available in individual labs. Our equipment

authored a paper entitled “Diffusive Spin

A reciprocal mechanism – ‘spin transfer

that an appropriately designed spin-orbit

and resources save faculty members much time and allows

Dynamics in Ferromagnetic Thin Films with

torque’ – allows the magnetic configuration

interaction (a fundamental connection

them to focus their research.”

a Rashba Interaction” published in Physical

to be manipulated by injection of large cur-

between the spin and the electron propa-

Review Letters 108, 117201 (2012).

rent densities into the device. This effect is

gation direction) could replace the need for

Thus far, Imaging Lab researchers have co-authored

A recent development in the field is Profs.

Manchon and Zhang’s theoretical prediction

more than 80 publications in very high impact journals

Spin Electronics – ‘spintronics’ – is a

now exploited in promising applications

a polarizer and allow electrical control of

such as Nature, Materials, NanoLetters, and Journal of the

field that marries conventional electron-

such as non-volatile magnetic memo-

a single ferromagnet’s magnetization. This

American Chemical Society.”

ics with magnetism, where magnetic

ries (MRAM – Fig. 1) and radio-frequency

would significantly simplify device archi-

Dr. Zhang talked about the role of the Core Labs in

tecture and performance. High-end research

education. “Our facilities play a critical role in support-

in the field has subsequently confirmed

ing education. Our staff provides certified training so that

the existence of the so-called ‘spin-orbit-

qualified users can operate instruments and thus con-

induced torque,’ and recent work by the

duct their own experiments in the labs. Additionally, we

KAUST Spintronics Group paves the way to

provide training and technical support for collaborative

a better understanding of this effect. 

research opportunities and our staff is often asked to lecture on specific techniques.

Once users are trained, they become experts in those techniques – adding to their skill set.

We also support faculty by providing demos, lab courses, and lectures.”

The Core Lab’s scope is not just internal. “We provide support to various industrial partners, including Aramco,

Fig. 1: Typical Magnetic Random Access Memory architecture Aurelien Manchon

Sabic, and Schlumberger, and work closely with the universities in KAUST’s Global Collaborative Research network, as well as with other universities in the Kingdom,” Dr. Zhang told The Beacon.

Spintronics: why is it important?

The seven Core Laboratories:

An electron carries an electrical charge. This simple feature

Advanced Nanofabrication, Imaging, and Characterization

is the basis of all electronic gadgets from iPhones to super-

Analytical Chemistry

computers. But an electron has a second basic feature, akin to

Bioscience and Bio-engineering

magnetic polarization, known to scientists as spin.

Coastal & Marine Resources

Supercomputing

Spin electronics – or spintronics – is a developing field that

Visualization

focuses on harnessing the electron’s spin. The benefits for

Central Workshops

computer memory and storage could be enormous. Potentially, spintronics would allow more data to be stored in a computer, and allow the data to be accessed faster. In addition, a spin-

Dr. Zhang has been with KAUST since September 1, 2008.

tronics computer would run cooler and use less power. As an

“It is an honor to continue developing this excellent facility to better fulfill KAUST’s education and research

Fig. 2: Mutlilayer stack of a tunneling spin-vave, the fundamen-

example, a four GHz desktop PC currently consumes between

mission. I look forward to working with everyone.” 

tal brick for spin logics and memories.

60 and 250 watts but a spintronics version might need as little as 20 watts, or even less.

Surfaces: up close and personal

catalysts (CMOs) has attracted much research attention in past decades. Although the mode of action simple oxides is well understood, CMOs present some puzzling phenomena that cannot be explained by bulk structure, and evaluation of the surface termination (the interface where the catalysis occurs), which could lead to the further enhancement of this energy-intensive process, has been challenging.

Dr. Yihan Zhu, a postdoctoral fellow in Prof. Yu Han’s group, co-authored an important paper

The extraordinary core facilities at KAUST allowed the team of researchers to directly observe

with Qingxiao Wang and Dr. Lan Zhao from the Imaging and Characterization Core Lab, which

surface termination using high-resolution electron microscopy (EM) and environmental scan-

was published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition at the end of last semester.

ning EM which facilitated direct in situ observation of surface evolution at the major active M2

Today, most plastics are made from feedstock derived from crude oil and natural gas. Indeed,

phase of the reaction. Such examination necessitated an ultrathin sample and the focused ion

a major by-product of the petroleum processing is propane, and the more adventurous among

beam (FIB) technique used allowed site-specific sample preparation ensuring that the specimen

us are familiar with this gas – widely used for camping stoves and barbecue grills. But in fact

obtained contained the actual outermost surface.

over 50% of this inexpensive component is converted into high value-added oxygenates using

Employing various characterization methods, it was discovered that the surface termination

a catalytic vapor-cracking process; these monomers are the building blocks for many plastics.

differed in crystalline structure from the bulk structure and the proposed surface reconstruction

But this is an energy-intensive process and in fact more hydrocarbon fuel is required to effect

model explains the puzzling catalytic behavior of the M2 phase seen in practical applications.

this conversion than the hydrocarbon feedstock. Enhancing the process with a view to reducing

The elucidation of surface structure is fundamental to optimizing catalytic performance and

energy requirements makes both economic and environmental sense.

this research makes a valuable contribution to the body of work. The paper can be accessed at

Key to this chemical conversion process is the catalyst, and the use of complex metal oxide

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.201108532/abstract. 

Research

www.kaust.edu.sa

September 2012

5

“I to the world am like a drop of water that in the ocean seeks another drop …”

- Shakespeare

Making a Splash A KAUST doctoral student has run a simulation on the Noor

phenomena occurring in a droplet impact had

computer cluster to bring new understanding in fluid dynamics.

not been considered until these results were

Marie-Jean Thoraval’s work simulates the vortices and eddies pro-

seen in simulations at KAUST. Of course,

duced when a single droplet hits a pool of still liquid. The work,

because of the massive computation capacity

published in Physical Review Letters in June, was done in collabo-

required, we can study only one isolated drop-

ration with fellow scientists from France, Japan, and New Zealand.

let at this high resolution.”

Thoraval, who came to KAUST after completing his master's

This fundamental research at KAUST may

at the École Polytechnique in Paris, created a model to simu-

yield lessons of general value that can be used

late the splash of a single drop on impact. “I returned to Paris

in industrial models and perhaps in processes

to learn to use the code which is the basis of this simulation,”

such as spray coating. Currently, industrial stud-

Thoraval told The Beacon. “This model corresponds closely with

ies elsewhere focus on such processes as sprays in

images of the same event taken by a high-speed camera.”

fuel-injectors, using statistical models of distribu-

“The fundamental dynamics of these splashing effects appear to have similarities with airflow effects, such as the swirls that occur when air flows past a telephone wire,” added Thoraval’s

LEFT: Marie-Jean Thoraval. ABOVE: Impact of a liquid drop and splashing effect (simulation).

The top images show liquids originating from the drop (red), from the pool (blue), and the air (green). The lower images show the correspond-

tion of droplets, but do not go into this detail. 

ing vorticity in the liquid. The images on the

http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/

right (g) detail the early oscillation and vortex

PhysRevLett.106.034501

shedding of (c).

supervisor, Prof. Sigurdur Thoroddsen. “The possibility of such

Nanotubes or Nanowires for Energy Management in the Digital Era? PhD student

tradeoffs. Particularly, increased functionality penalizes battery

Hossain Fahad

life. But transistor architecture is now reaching a limit where it

OFF

ON

is increasingly more difficult to squeeze out any faster computation, more functionality or longer battery life. Researchers are thus looking for different and better transistor designs.

Electrical Engineering Program Assistant Professor Muhammad Mustafa Hussain continues: “Last year, KAUST founding class MS student Hossain Fahad,

Figure 1: Nanotube field effect transistor in its off (0) and on

published his MS thesis in the high-impact journal NanoLetters.

(1) state. During on state, all the available carriers participate to

Fahad demonstrates an ultra-fast nanotube device made of sili-

surge in current to generate extra-ordinary computation speed.

con with architecture that confines all the electrons (current carrier) available in the semiconductor to use for switching. The result is extra-ordinary current – enabling ultra-fast computation, unique control and in a much smaller area.

In Fall 2011, Fahad extended his project, testing the principle in both n- and p-type transistors (a computer needs both).

In June 2012, the results were published in Scientific Reports, newest member of the prestigious Nature Group.

A first in semiconductor physics, Fahad and his supervisor Prof. Hussain have shown that a single device can achieve Just as moveable type enabled printing, the digital age is enabled

improvement in all three chip parameters: ultra-fast computa-

by a tiny switch, the transistor, ubiquitous in today’s devices.

tion, more functionality, and longer battery life.

Manufacturers continue to miniaturize transistors, yielding

Fahad, a Provost Award recipient, won first prize in KAUST’s

faster computation and more portability. Intel can now package

Graduate Research Symposium from the Physical Science and

1.2 billion transistors on a computer chip (microprocessor), in

Engineering Division. Prof. Hussain humbly makes a point that KAUST

Figure 2: Nanotube field effect transistor’s characteristics

an area of 2.25 square centimeters. Each transistor is less than

students with their dedicated faculty can perform groundbreaking

compared to traditional planar and futuristic nanowire transis-

one-fortieth the diameter of a human hair!

research using campus resources, fulfilling King Abdullah’s vision. 

tor shows nanotube transistor has faster computation capabil-

http://www.nature.com/srep/2012/120627/srep00475/full/

ity at a much lower power consumption translating into longer

In miniaturizing, designers are optimizing three parameters: computation time, functionality, and battery life. This involves

srep00475.html

battery life time.

6

Initiatives

September 2012

The Beacon

Pathway for Young Saudi Scientists Brings Success Recent campus activity has been a practical demonstration of how the Saudi Initiatives Program has built a pathway to identify, recruit, and nurture exceptional science students throughout the Kingdom. It has been a special pleasure to welcome the first five graduates from the KAUST Gifted Student Program (KGSP) to KAUST this September, following their undergraduate studies at Harvard University, the University of Nottingham, and University College London.

KGSP Now in its fourth year, the KAUST Gifted Student Program continues to grow exponentially. The new 2012 intake of 120 students effectively doubles the number of students in this program that is a critical stage along the pathway for young Saudi students with ambition in science to reach their potential through education.

Some of the 2012 intake will go directly into undergraduate

This year 40 bright and ambitious Saudi high school students from across the Kingdom attended the program. The students followed a rigorous program of lectures, college and career workshops, scientific paper writing, presentations, and extracurricular activities. This was made possible by 30 KAUST faculty members,

Moatasim Zawawi said, “We learned how to conduct scientific research … and radically developed our communications skills with presentations and poster sessions. The academic atmosphere at SRSI is an outstanding experience.”

who offered their time, expertise, and laboratory resources, as they mentored the students with postdoctoral fellows and graduate students from their teams.

Mentoring Professor Nina Fedoroff explained, “My job with the young students… is to alert them to the big picture… Students really need to know that science isn’t just a collection of facts and books… it’s about discovery, it’s about going places that no one has ever been before, and it’s about solving problems, small problems in the laboratory, and big problems for humanity.”

A Celebration of Saudi Talent: July 26, 2012 Over 200 KGSP members including the first five KGSP graduates and their parents gathered with 40 SRSI students to attemd the Young Talent Award Ceremony. KAUST welcomed His Royal Highness Prince Mishaal Bin Abdullah and His Highness Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah, Saudi Minister of Education; KAUST

programs this fall, while others will begin foundation or English

Chairman of the Board - Minister Ali Ibrahim Al Naimi, Khalid

language programs. Of the established KGSP students, 43 have

Al Falih, Ali Al Tuwairqi, and Jamil Dandany of Saudi Aramco;

completed their foundation year. All of them were admitted to

SRSI Board Members Dr. Khalid Al Sabti, Huda Al Ghoson, Amal

undergraduate programs in top science and engineering universities in the US including MIT, Berkeley, Johns Hopkins, Cornell and Georgia Tech.

Current KGSP student Durah Almansour said, “It has been an amazing year. Having to adjust to a new style of learning was not an easy thing to do, but … the world became a better, brighter place.”

KAUST srsi Mentors:

Fatani, Nasir Al Nafisee, Joann Diginerro; Dr. Adel Abdulrahman Al Keaid and Abdulattif Al Othman.

The theme of the evening was "Transforming people; transforming a nation." Dr. Najah Ashry, Vice President for Saudi

Professors Husam Al Shareef, Aram Amassian, Osman

Initiatives, explained that Saudi youth cannot achieve transfor-

Bakr, Christian Claudel, Jorge Eppinger, Aamir Farooq,

mation in isolation. She spoke of world-class opportunities in

Nina Federoff, Christoph Gehring, Samir Hamdan, Suk

science and the access to mentors and role models for young peo-

Ho Chung, Kuo-Wei (Andy) Huang, Muhammed Hussein,

ple who represent, in King Abdullah’s words, a "beacon of bright

Xabier Irigoien, Niveen Khashab, Jurgen Kosel, Gilles

hope for the future." Minister Al Naimi encouraged the scholars

Lubineau, Jasmeen Merzaban, Klaus-Viktor Peinemann,

to profit from their experiences and make a difference to the eco-

Vivek Polshettiwar, Iman Roqan, Pascal Saikaly, Ravindra

nomic success and social progress of the Kingdom.

Samtaney, Udo Shwingenschlogl, Atif Shamin, Ulrich

Mahmoud Ghulman, who has just begun his undergraduate studies at MIT, said, “The KGSP experience has helped me create a strong work ethic, it cemented my interest in science, and it helped integrate me into a community of young Saudi scientists…

I’d like to thank KGSP for the gift of community, the gift of brothers and sisters, and close college colleagues.”

Stingl, Kazuhiro Takanabe, Christian Voolstra, Xiangliang Zhang, and Associate Director of Computational Bioscience Research Center John Archer.

SRSI student, Redha Al Ibrahim said, “Professor Keyes opened his heart to us and our minds to science.”

HH Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah, the Minister of Education, said that he felt “…proud to be part of this opportunity to serve the Kingdom and to support these young men and women in these programs which address the future needs of the Kingdom.”

With the successful establishment of SRSI, KGSP, and other supporting programs, a pathway for young Saudis with talent and

Saudi Research Science Institute (SRSI) The six-week SRSI summer program is a key step on the academic pathway that nurtures talented young Saudi Arabians from diverse backgrounds to become scientists, researchers and leaders. The program, modeled on MIT’s annual Research Science Institute, gives gifted high school juniors the opportunity to conduct university-level research under the mentorship of KAUST and visiting professors.

The SRSI program included poster presentations of the stu-

ambition in science is now open. The event marked an important

dents’ work and a graduation ceremony on July 26, which

step in the nation's scientific and educational evolution that will

offered SRSI students the chance to meet and interact with

have a significant and positive impact on the future growth of

their KGSP peers.

KAUST and on the economic development of Saudi Arabia.

One of the students, Ammar Al-Ameer said, “SRSI is a one-of-a-kind program. It really gave me the opportunity to discover what my real passions are. It is a great experience that could alter one’s life path.”

Abdullah Kanee, a KGSP graduate who has just completed his undergraduate studies at Harvard spoke of his roots in a sheep herding family and the opportunities the program afforded him. “This experience has been a dream for me,” he said. “For which KAUST has given me beautiful tools.” 

‫‪7‬‬

‫‪September 2012‬‬

‫‪Initiatives‬‬

‫‪www.kaust.edu.sa‬‬

‫مسار النجاح‬ ‫والتفوق للعلماء‬ ‫السعوديني الشباب‬ ‫ميثل أحدث نشاط يف احلرم اجلامعي مؤخرا برهانا عمليا للكيفية اليت ظل برنامج املبادرات السعودية‬ ‫يبين مسارا للتعرف على طالب العلوم السعوديني االستثنائني من مجيع أرجاء اململكة واستقطابهم‬ ‫ورعايتهم‪ .‬فقد كان استقبال أول مخسة علماء من برنامج جامعة امللك عبد اهلل للطلبة املوهوبني يف‬ ‫اجلامعة يف شهر سبتمرب مبثابة فرحة غامرة بعد استكمال دراستهم اجلامعية يف جامعة هارفارد وجامعة‬ ‫نوتنجهام والكلية اجلامعية يف لندن‪.‬‬

‫برنامج جامعة امللك عبداهلل‬ ‫لرعاية الطلبة املوهوبني‬

‫كلمات امللك عبداهلل "منارة لألمل يف املستقبل الباهر"‪ .‬وحث معايل الوزير على النعيمي العلماء على‬ ‫االستفادة من جتاربهم واحداث الفرق يف النجاح االقتصادي والنمو االجتماعي للمملكة‪.‬‬ ‫وبفضل التأسيس الناجح هلذه الربامج وغريها من الربامج املساندة‪ ،‬انفتح الباب للشباب السعودي‬ ‫املوهوب والطموح من اجل اكمال مسريتهم يف درب العلوم‪ .‬وقد كانت هذه الفعالية مبثابة خطوة‬ ‫يف غاية األهمية يف التأسيس والتطور العلمي والتعليمي للمملكة وسيرتتب عليها التأثري اهلائل‬ ‫واإلجيايب ليس فقط على منو اجلامعة وتطورها يف املستقبل بل أيضا على التطوير االقتصادي‬ ‫للمملكة بشكل عام‪ .‬‬

‫لقد اكمل الربنامج عامه الثاين وهو ينمو بشكل منتظم حىت وصل عدد الطلبة املقبولني فيه لعام‬ ‫‪ 2012‬إىل ‪ 120‬طالبا وطالبة ‪ ،‬وبذلك يكون الربنامج قد ضاعف عدد الطالب السعوديني الطموحني يف‬ ‫مواد العلوم لتحقيق امكانياتهم من خالل التعليم‪.‬‬

‫معهد علوم األحباث السعودي‬

‫معهد علوم األحباث السعودي هو عبارة عن برنامج صيفي مدته ستة أسابيع وميثل خطوة رئيسية يف‬ ‫املسار األكادميي للشباب السعودي املوهوب لكي يصبحوا علماء وباحثني وقادة‪ .‬وقد مت تصميم‬ ‫الربنامج على منوذج معهد علوم األحباث السنوي يف معهد ماساتشوستس للتقنية ويتيح الفرصة‬ ‫لطالب املرحلة الثانوية للقيام بأحباث على املستوى اجلامعي حتت رعاية واشراف أساتذة اجلامعة‬ ‫واألساتذة الزائرين‪.‬‬

‫وقد إلتحق يف الربنامج هلذا العام ‪ 40‬من الطلبة املوهوبني والطموحني والذين قدموا من خمتلف أرجاء‬ ‫اململكة‪ .‬واتبع الطلبة برناجما مكثفا من املحاضرات وورش العمل اجلامعية والعملية وكتابة األوراق‬ ‫العلمية والعروض والنشاطات الالصفية‪ .‬وقد مت حتقيق ذلك من خالل ‪ 30‬من أعضاء هيئة التدريس يف‬ ‫اجلامعة ممن عملوا بكامل طاقاتهم وخرباتهم وتسخري اإلمكانيات املتوفرة من اجل تدريب الطلبة‬ ‫مبشاركة زمالء ما بعد الدكتوراه والطلبة اخلرجيني‪.‬‬

‫طلبة برنامج جامعة امللك عبد اهلل املوهوبني واملبتعثون إىل جامعة فريجينيا للتقنية ( حممد‬ ‫الوزرة‪ ،‬عبداهلل با راس‪ ،‬فيصل الشاكر‪ ،‬محد الرومي‪ ،‬وليد احلداد‪ ،‬يوسف العويض‪ ،‬أمل طاشكندي)‬ ‫‪KGSP Virginia Tech Foundation Students (Mohammad Alwazrah, Abdullah Baras, Faisal‬‬ ‫)‪Alshaker, Hamad Alroomi, Waleed Alhaddad, Yousef Alowayed, and Amaal Tashkandi‬‬

‫األساتذة املرشدون‬ ‫يف جامعة امللك عبداهلل‬ ‫األساتذة حسام الشريف وأرام أماسيان وعثمان بكر وكرستيان كلوديل وجورج إيبنجر وعامر‬ ‫فاروق ونينا فيديروف وكرستوف حيهرنج وسامر محدان وسوك هو تشونغ وكو‪-‬وي (آندي) هوانغ‬ ‫وحممد حسني وركزابري إيرجيوين ونيفني خشاب وجورغن كوسيل ‪،‬جيلز لوبينو وجامسني مريزبان‬ ‫وكلوس‪-‬فيكتور بينمان وفيفيك بولشتيوار وإميان روقان وياسكال سيكايل ورافندرا سامتاين‬ ‫وأودو شوينجنشلوجل وعاطف شامني وأولرييك ستينجل وكازوهريو تاكانايب وكرستيان فولسرتا و‬ ‫سيشيانغ زهانغ واملدير املشارك ملركز أحباث العلوم الببيولوجية احلسابية‪ ،‬جون آرشر‪.‬‬

‫واشتمل الربنامج على عروض ملصقات ألعمال الطلبة وحفل ختريج يف يوليو مما أتاح للطلبة الفرصة‬ ‫لالجتماع والتفاعل مع نظرائهم يف برنامج اجلامعة لرعاية املوهوبني يف حفل التخريج‪.‬‬

‫اإلحتفاء باملواهب السعودية‪ :‬يوليو ‪2012‬‬

‫اجتمع أكثر من ‪ 200‬من أفراد برنامج رعاية املوهوبني و‪ 40‬من طالب معهد علوم األحباث السعودي‬ ‫لالحتفال باالجناز الباهر لربنامج العام ‪ .2012‬وقد رحبت اجلامعة مبعايل وزير البرتول والثروة املعدنية‬ ‫رئيس جملس األمناء املهندس علي النعيمي وصاحب السمو األمري فيصل بن عبداهلل وزير الرتبية‬ ‫والتعليم وغريهما من املسؤولني‪ .‬كما حضر االحتفال أول مخسة خرجيني من الربنامج مع آبائهم‪.‬‬ ‫وكان شعار األمسية "تغري أمة"‪ .‬وحتدثت الدكتورة جناح عشري‪ ،‬نائب الرئيس للمبادرات السعودية‬ ‫قائلة أنه يتعذر على الشباب السعودي حتقيق التحول يف عزلة عن ما يدور حوله‪ .‬وتناولت الفرص‬ ‫املمتازة يف العلوم وحرية الوصول إىل والتفاعل مع املدربني والنماذج القدوة للشباب الذين ميثلون يف‬

‫عبداهلل العبدالغين‪ ،‬عبداهلل الرتكي‪ ،‬أسيد عبده‪ ،‬و علي احلداد‪.‬‬

‫‪Abdullah Alabdulghani, Abdullah Alturki, Osayd Abdu, and Ali Alhaddad‬‬

‫‪Raif Aseeri‬‬ ‫رائف عسريي‬

8

Community

September 2012

CURIOSITY ON MARS: INTERVIEW WITH CHARLES ELACHI

KAUST- global peers, roots in Saudi Arabia The Faculty Dinner on May 14 was an occasion for President Shih to thank Prof. Mohamed-Slim Alouini following completion of three years as interim Dean of the Physical Sciences and Engineering (PSE) Division.

“Dean Slim,” as he had become known, had not allowed the tasks of administration to take his attention from scholarship. As President Shih noted, “Slim has remained focused on his research, even while carrying all the heavy bur-

When the rover Curiosity landed on Mars August 6, many

successfully landed in a mission “both bold and challeng-

den of Dean’s responsibilities. As Associate Dean of the Division of Physical

of the KAUST community watched. Thousands meanwhile

ing.” “Seven minutes of terror” began when Curiosity,

Sciences and Engineering for the past three academic years, Slim has done a

gathered in Times Square to witness this extraordinary

inside its heat-shielding capsule, entered the Mars

truly outstanding job. He has worked with good humor and steely determi-

event. KAUST has a special connection to the Red Planet

atmosphere at 21,000 km an hour before its parachute

nation in the best interests of the Division and has been a strong advocate,

landing through the Director of the NASA Jet Propulsion

deployed and the heat shield jettisoned. Curiosity and its

in his own quiet way, for faculty concerns. He has done all this on top of his

Laboratory, Professor Charles Elachi, a member of

sky crane, cradling the rover from above, then dropped

responsibilities for supervising and mentoring his students. Slim, I’m sure

President Shih’s International Advisory Council.

out of the capsule completely. Next, the sky crane’s

you all will agree, has gone far beyond the call of duty. As Slim steps down

In an interview with The Beacon, Prof. Elachi gave

braking rockets fired to turn a free fall into a controlled

as Dean, we owe Slim a big debt of gratitude.“

his reaction to the successful landing, which followed

descent. In the final seconds, the hovering crane gently

a journey of eight months and 350 million miles. Gale

lowered the car-sized, 900-kg rover on nylon cables until

Crater, site of the landing, is one of the deepest spots on

its six wheels touched the Martian soil.

Presenting Prof. Alouini with a traditional college chair as a token of recognition, Prof. Shih doubted that it would be used to take a rest.

Later, Prof. Shih presented faculty members with specially-commissioned

Mars. At the center of the crater is a mountain, Aeolis

The key question, said Prof. Elachi, is “why Earth and

KAUST ties and foulards of a tessellation of bird and fish. At KAUST, the birds

Mons, over five km (18,000 ft) in height of stratified

Mars, two planets formed at about the same time four

are seen as falcons – known in Arabic by their now familiar name of Shaheen.

sedimentary rocks that has recorded the evolution of the

billion years ago, should be so different now. The mis-

The falcon is strong, fast and flies high in the sky. It ascends to great heights

Mars environment over billions of years.

sion will compare the geology of Mars with that of Earth,

on its own. Fish thrive in community – in their schools and in symbiosis with

just as two samples exposed to differing conditions are

the rich, self-sustaining environment of the ocean depths.

Prof. Elachi spoke of the “tension in the team of hundreds that turned to jubilation” as the rover Curiosity

compared in a lab.” 

“A fitting depiction of KAUST, both as a university and as a community, we aspire to run with our global peers while growing roots in Saudi Arabia,” he commented. 

my university Bingmu xiao “I’m about to start the second year of my master's in Earth Science. My specialty is in seismic exploration which has applications in the oil industry, and in the study of earthquakes. It’s a field which can be beneficial to people generally.” Bingmu is also a certified interpreter and before coming to KAUST studied at Jilin University, the biggest campus in China. “KAUST is like a very big family. And the St. Gallen Symposium was a great opportunity. It has shaped my outlook in so many ways; for this I have to thank Career Counselor Ann MacDougall and the Professional Development Office for so much help. And I have to thank KAUST.” Bingmu

KAUST students featured in programming contest shortlist

has also developed leadership skills. “The Cornell Entrepreneurship Program during WEP was a

A KAUST student, Amin Allam, is a member of a team that won top honors

great opportunity: very intensive, several consecutive 14-15 hour days. Members of the faculty from Cornell and many

in a prestigious programming contest, results of which were announced by

entrepreneurs who have been engaged in startups worked with us and gave us the benefit of first-hand experience.

the Association for Computer Machinery (ACM).

Students were able to apply their own research in creation of technology startups. It was an incomparable opportunity to bridge the gap between academia and industry in a way I hadn’t seen before.” 

Badr A Attiah Badr Attiah joins the University as a master’s student in Electrical Engineering. Studying

The shortlist for the ACM SIGMOD Programming Contest consisted of five teams, three of which featured KAUST students. In addition to Amin Allam (team Puruguramingu), KAUST students in the shortlist were Fuad Jamour, Lie Yan, and Islam Al Masri (team SYR); and Han Liu (team GDCHL).

The task was to implement a multidimensional high-throughput in-mem-

for his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering - Communication & Electronics at

ory indexing system. Results of the contest were announced following the

King Abdulaziz University in his home city of Jeddah, Badr enthusiastically followed

conference of ACM’s SIGMOD (The Special Interest Group on Management

news of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Badr was sufficiently

of Data) in Scottsdale, AZ in May 2012. 

captivated to accept an opportunity to visit the University with a group of students from his bachelor’s program. Touring the Campus, Badr’s interest deepened—and not only in surround the academic campus, offer a unique environment for a balanced student life. Several months after

Top honors in an international desertification contest

his first visit to KAUST, Badr says, “Now I am a KAUST student. My dreams are coming true.” Although Badr

KAUST researchers have come first and second in the interna-

has been at KAUST only a short time, he has already become an active member of the community. He served

tional “Help to Avoid Desertification” idea contest. Both teams

as a volunteer during student orientation and is looking forward to joining some of the community-led clubs,

come from the Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC)

including the photography group. 

and have a common goal: to tackle desertification in Africa

the academic offering. Badr realized further that the activities and community, which

Cameron MacPherson Bioinformatics PhD student Cameron MacPherson is to become KAUST’s first PhD graduate.

and the Middle East. The teams proposed innovative ideas on how to remove salt from seawater by using energy from renewable sources.

The contest winner was PhD candidate Noura Shehab with her research pro-

Cameron is from Johannesburg, South Africa. He studied genetics, microbiology, and medical cell

posal entitled “The End of Desertification – A Novel & Sustainable Technology

biology at undergraduate level. He gained his bioinformatics MSc with Professor Vladimir Bajic

for the Middle East and North Africa Arid Lands”. Noura’s research was supported

in Cape Town before Prof. Bajic’s group relocated to KAUST. During his PhD studies, Cameron

by Professors Pascal Saikaly and Gary Amy.

collaborated with a plant biology laboratory at Rockefeller University, USA. His research focused

The second place went to a team of engineering specialists represented by

on small RNA biology in plant-stress, mainly on molecular response of Arabidopsis thaliana to

Rodrigo Valladares Linares and Muhannad Abu-Ghdaib, and postdoctoral fellows

various stress conditions. Cameron has published a first-author paper in BMC Plant Biology, and

Zhen-Yu Li and Chun-Hai Wei. The team’s proposal was entitled “Hybrid mem-

co-authored notable papers in Nature, Cell, and Neuron. He has another first-author paper in press.

brane system for impaired water recovery, energy production, and salt-tolerant

After graduating in December, Cameron will join the renowned Institut Pasteur in France. He sees his post-doctoral

crop harvesting in water-scarce regions”. The team was supported by Prof. Amy.

fellowship as an opportunity largely catalyzed by connections nurtured at KAUST. Cameron says, “I came to the

The competition was sponsored by Bayer MaterialScience. The first and second

Kingdom expecting only a degree, and I depart with ties that run much deeper. My plans grew beyond my original

place teams received €7,000 and €4,000, respectively, and were invited to visit the

expectations and provided possibilities I never knew existed.” 

company’s German headquarters this September. 