2016 September/October Beacon

September/October 2016 Muharram, 1438 Volume 7, Issue No. 11 ‫جامعة الملك عبداهلل للعلوم والتقنية‬

‫ المملكة العربية السعودية‬،‫ثول‬

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

www.kaust.edu.sa

‫يرحب بالطلبة‬ ‫حفل‬ ّ ‫التخرج السابع‬ ّ ‫الجدد في رحاب حرمهم الجامعي‬

Celebrating the KAUST journey at seventh Convocation ceremony Page 6 All the right elements Page 8

Food for all Page 14

Step into the white light for faster communication Page 10

KAUST and Boeing renew MRA Page 16

Crafting technology from nature's darkest secrets Page 12

KAUST and SABB launch multi-university startup accelerator Page 17

Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Second Saudi Chapter Meeting Page 18 KAUST celebrates Eid with Thuwal neighbors Page 19

In brief

The KAUST School (TKS) recently launched a special edition of their newsletter The Wave to help KAUST families understand the school's leadership changes. Read about all of the changes at https://issuu.com/ thekaustschool/docs/wave_leadership_ edition_2016.

The University Library is offering a variety of trainings and classes designed to help researchers and students get the most from the Library’s wide array of resources and to improve their research skills. Sessions are available to all members of the KAUST community. To reserve your seat, visit libguides.kaust.edu.sa/libtraining.

The Beacon Volume 7, Issue No. 11 PUBLISHED BY Marketing Communications King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Beacon Staff Managing Editor: Nicholas Demille Arabic Editor: Salah Sindi English Editor: Caitlin Clark Designer: Mahjubeh R. Mashhadi Writers: David Murphy, Meres J. Weche Translator: Adel Alrefaie Photographers: Ginger Lisanti, Lilit Hovhannisyan The Beacon is published monthly. Š King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

2

THE BEACON | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

A KAUST delegation attended the 252nd American Chemical Society Meeting & Exposition in Philadelphia, U.S., from August 21 to 24. A recruitment team led by David Yeh, KAUST director of Strategic Academic Initiatives, was on hand to talk to prospective students, staff and faculty. Also in attendance were Dean Yves Gnanou and Professors Nikos Hadjichristidis, Suzana Nunes, Valentin Rodionov and Yu Han.

The University's student chapter of the Materials Research Society (MRS) hosted the "Science as Art" competition on August 23 in the University Library from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The competition was designed to promote the importance of images in scientific research.

The research community submitted scientific images taken at KAUST that represented research work in an interesting artistic fashion.

The images were judged by a panel of KAUST faculty and awarded prizes from the KAUSTMRS student chapter.

A Boeing senior delegation visited KAUST on September 1 to attend a signing ceremony for the renewed Master Research Agreement (MRA). The delegation toured the Clean Combustion Research Center and select Core Labs facilities after a formal signing ceremony and luncheon.

The Office of Enrichment Programs held the Fall Enrichment Program from October 14 to 22 this year, with the event centering around the theme of “Food for All.� Responsible and energetic community volunteers assisted with the program, which included keynote and lunchtime lectures, an interactive marketplace and photo exhibition in the Auditorium (building 20) and a special musical performance by the Pera Ensemble.

Visit https://enrichment.kaust.edu.sa/ to learn more.

A launch event for the 2016 Global Corporate Challenge (GCC) exercise event was held on September 6 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Harbor Sports Club. Teams visited to collect their bags and also found out more about the facilities and activities offered and the events that will run during the 100-day challenge.

KAUST held a campus-wide Falling Walls competition on September 27 and awarded prizes to the top five finalists. Three top winners earned an all-expense paid trip to Berlin for the international competition held on November 8 and 9.

To strengthen ownership and control of the Scientific Computing Architecture and encourage creation and innovation, computational scientist Alain Clo and Research Computing hosted a twoday workshop on October 4 and 5 in the University Library Sea View Room. For more information about the event, email Alain.Clo@ kaust.edu.sa.

Innovation & Economic Development (I&ED) held their annual Open House event on October 4 and 5 in the University's Innovation Cluster. The event showcased how the KAUST community can connect with I&ED and the University's industry partners. A special interactive gaming theme drew visitors to the event, which also featured video games, prizes and free food in a celebration of innovation on campus.

Launch your big idea or startup with the support of KAUST Innovation & Economic Development. The Innovation Fund is financing promising startup projects based on KAUST innovative technologies. All KAUST community members are encouraged to apply. If selected, your startup will receive funding and support to grow it into a sustainable business. The application deadline is October 12, 2016. For more information, email KIF@kaust.edu.sa.

Iain McCulloch, KAUST professor of chemical science and the newly appointed director of the KAUST Solar Center, will host a research conference from October 31 to November 2 entitled "Emerging concepts and materials in solar energy conversion." Find the complete details at https://ksc.kaust.edu.sa/Pages/ KAUST-Research-Conference-2016.aspx.

Tadeusz Patzek, KAUST professor of Earth science and engineering and director of the University's Upstream Petroleum Engineering Research Center (UPERC), will host a research conference from November 7 to 9 entitled "Advances in well construction with focus on near-wellbore physics and chemistry."

Learn more at https://uperc.kaust.edu.sa/ Pages/2016-Advances-In-Well-ConstructionConference.aspx.

Vladimir Bajic, named professor of applied mathematics and computational science and director of the University's Computational Bioscience Research Center, will host a research conference from December 5 to 7 entitled "Computational systems biology in biomedicine." Visit the Center's website for more information at www.cbrc.kaust.edu.sa.

www.kaust.edu.sa

3

1

Accolades

1. NOMADD won the

2016 Innovation Award from the Association of University Research Parks (AURP). Photo courtesy of NOMADD.

2. Carlos Santamarina, associ-

ate director of the University's Upstream Petroleum Engineering Research Center (UPERC), recently won the C. A. Hogentogler Award. File photo.

3. Takashi Gojobori, KAUST

distinguished professor of bioscience and the associate director of the University's Computational Bioscience Research Center, co-authored a paper with Akihito, the 125th Emperor of Japan.

File photo.

KAUST startup NOMADD wins 2016 Innovation Award

Santamarina wins Hogentogler Award

KAUST-based startup NOMADD (NO-water Mechanical Automated Dusting Device) won the 2016 Innovation Award from the Association of University Research Parks (AURP), a professional organization of university-related research and science parks. AURP announced the winners on September 29 during an awards luncheon at the organization's 2016 International Conference held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (U.S.). Other award categories included the Outstanding Research Park Award, the Emerging Research Park Award, the Career Achievement Award and the Leadership Award.

Carlos Santamarina, associate director of the University's Upstream Petroleum Engineering Research Center (UPERC), recently won the C. A. Hogentogler Award from the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM).

AURP's Innovation Award honors university research park companies that have worked to produce excellent products and services of worldwide significance.

NOMADD was recognized for its novel smart and ecologically friendly technology system that cleans desert solar panels using only three moving parts.

The system, which has eight patents pending, removes 99.6 percent of dust with a cost-effective daily clean, is fully automated, remotely controlled and monitored, has waterless operations and can survive harsh conditions.

"NOMADD is a system designed, developed and tested in Saudi Arabia for the harshest conditions. It is a local solution designed to suit local conditions and to solve a local problem," said the NOMADD development team, which includes founder and current Chief Technology Officer Georg Eitelhuber and CEO Jos van der Hyden.

The Hogentogler Award is given annually to the author or authors of an exceptional paper focusing on soil and/ or rock for engineering purposes that has been published

by ASTM. The award was established in 1953 and is named after the first chairman of the ASTM's Committee D18 on Soil and Rock. According to ASTM's website, the award functions to "stimulate research, to encourage the extension of knowledge of soil and rock, and to recognize meritorious effort."

Santamarina received the award along with his coauthors G. Viggiana, E. Ando and D. Takano for their paper "Laboratory X-Ray Tomography: A Valuable Experimental Tool for Revealing Processes in Soils," which was published in the January 2015 issue of ASTM's Geotechnical Testing Journal.

ASTM was established in 1898 and leads worldwide in the development and delivery of consensus standards, with over 12,000 ASTM standards in use today to improve health and safety, enhance the quality of products, create consumer confidence and strengthen market access and trade. More than 30,000 top business professionals and technical experts from 140 countries contribute to standards development in ASTM, which the organization views as "passports to a successful global trading strategy."

Santamarina and co-authors will receive the award on January 30, 2017 at the Main Meeting of Committee D18 in Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.

Scan here to watch a video about the technology and innovation behind NOMADD.

4

THE BEACON | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

2

3

Gojobori publishes with royal co-author In February of this year, Takashi Gojobori, KAUST distinguished professor of bioscience and the associate director of the University's Computational Bioscience Research Center, authored a paper published in the journal Gene with a high-profile co-author: Akihito, the 125th Emperor of Japan. The paper focuses on the speciation of two species of gobioid fish, as determined by nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analyses.

The paper in Gene is one of three Gojobori is publishing with the Emperor of Japan, whose son, Fumihito Akishinono-miya, is also involved as a co-author. Gojobori is also a co-editor in chief of the Elsevier journal.

"Interestingly, the Emperor and his family do not have a family name—they only have a first name, so his papers only feature his first name, which is very unique," Gojobori said.

Gojobori has a longstanding relationship with both the Japanese royal court and the gobioid fish. He is a former professor and Ph.D. advisor to the Emperor's son, and he was regularly asked to consult on the Emperor's research endeavors.

"For a time, I was called up to the main palace every two to three months. At that time the Emperor had three researchers in his own institute within the palace, and he had the world’s largest collection of gobioid fish. Most were preserved, but many were alive. At first he asked me, ‘Why would such a huge number of species be distributed across the world in spite of the fact that they do not swim?’

The KAUST social media presence is growing.

To help you keep up, we've created a list of the latest accounts that are making social waves on and off campus.

UPERC Facebook – The Upstream Petroleum Engineering Research Center (UPERC) produces scientific knowledge of fluid flow in complex geologic formations and educates future science and industry leaders. https://www.facebook.com/ UPERCKAUST/ WDRC LinkedIn – Researchers at the University's Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC) develop and optimize methods to improve water desalination processes to provide potable water to drought-stricken areas. https://www.linkedin.com/ company/water-desalination-and-reuse-center CBRC Twitter – Visit the official Twitter account of the Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC). https://twitter.com/CBRC_KAUST

CEMSE YouTube – The Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering Division (CEMSE) team have just begun posting videos on their YouTube account. Visit, follow, like and share content to help them build a following. https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCTroAPeYOp2opzQQipN_m0g

/KaustOfficial

kaustofficial

@KAUST_News

/kaust

/kaustedu

/company/kaust

kaustofficial

KAUST Official

"There are over 3,000 species of gobioid fish distributed all over the world. According to the Emperor, there has not been a clear classification of these fish. In particular, he wanted to understand how the fish diverged into such a variety of different species. Also, because of this, he was interested in the speciation process—how one species can be separated into two species. He is a famous morphological taxonomist, and before I met him, he published a number of papers," Gojobori said.

Access Gojobori's paper at: http://www.sciencedirect. com/science/article/pii/S0378111915012226.

www.kaust.edu.sa

5

Celebrating the KAUST journey at seventh Convocation ceremony

1

By Caitlin Clark Faculty and student speakers Jasmeen Merzaban, assistant professor of bioscience, and Itsikiantsoa Randrianantenaina, a Ph.D. student from the University’s Communication Theory Lab, welcomed over 200 new master’s degree and Ph.D. students from 39 countries to the University’s seventh annual convocation ceremony held on August 23. The event capped off two weeks of orientation activities held on campus for the new students.

Although Merzaban and Randrianantenaina are at different stages in their scientific careers, the two speakers emphasized their journeys have been full of taking plenty of chances, going outside their comfort zones and learning along the way—all things they urged the new students to do during their time at KAUST.

A different path “I wasn’t born wanting to be a scientific researcher,” said Merzaban, who aimed to become a medical doctor.

Instead, life took a different turn for her, and she found it necessary to “identify another window of opportunity for me,” she said. A summer spent working in a lab at the University of British Columbia during her undergraduate degree paved the way to her completing her Ph.D. studies in the same lab.

“Looking back now, I can clearly see that it is when things didn’t work out, I was compelled to think more creatively and critically,” she said.

“While medical research wasn’t what I had envisioned for myself, in retrospect, our desires are not necessarily achieved through the most predictable path. Sometimes we just have to trust the journey…and learn to not be afraid of failure. It is the dose of fear that keeps us humble and cautious while the bursts of excitement recharge our curiosity, confidence and commitment to our journeys.”

‘Big steps’ to seek knowledge Randrianantenaina told the students her dream at 5 years old was to “study until there was nothing left to study anymore,” leading her to complete her undergraduate degree in engineering from the Institut National des Postes et Télécommunications (INPT) in Rabat, Morocco. After an internship at KAUST, she decided to stay on for her master’s and Ph.D. degrees at the University.

“I never imagined studying in Saudi Arabia, but when I came to KAUST for my internship, I was amazed” by the work environment and the friendly professors, she said.

But Randrianantenaina was also overwhelmed during

6

THE BEACON | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

her first few days at the University, arriving in “a whole new place, a whole new world. I took a big step and left my family to seek knowledge,” she added.

Randrianantenaina then realized she should be excited and proud of herself for deciding to continue her studies at KAUST, because she had become part of a “special journey. At KAUST, you get to work and become friends with people from all around the world, exchange ideas and see things from different perspectives.

KAUST gives me an excellent academic education and has educated me as a person by helping me to discover more about myself and others,” she said.

A special journey “You are now part of this special journey, and being in KAUST is now part of your story,” Randrianantenaina told the new students. “You have the power to write your story every day you spend here, so make sure it is a great one. Make every moment count and make the most of the resources KAUST offers you. Share with others what you have…your ideas, your talents, and also your smile.”

Merzaban summed up these thoughts, adding, “Seize the opportunities [at KAUST] before you, have faith in and value yourselves, and remember there is no greater aim than the pursuit of knowledge. Trust the journey, wherever it may lead.”

1. KAUST President Jean-Lou Chameau speaks to the audience of faculty, staff and new and returning students at Convocation on August 23. Photo by Helmy Al Sagaff.

2. Convocation 2016 faculty speaker Jasmeen

Merzaban, assistant professor of bioscience, talks to the audience about her academic and career journey.

Photo by Helmy Al Sagaff.

3. Brian Moran, KAUST dean of Graduate Affairs (left), Convocation 2016 faculty speaker Jasmeen Merzaban (second from left), KAUST President JeanLou Chameau (center), student speaker Itsikiantsoa Randrianantenaina, a Ph.D. student from the University’s Communication Theory Lab (second from right), and James Calvin, KAUST vice president for academic affairs (right), stand together before the event. Photo by Helmy Al Sagaff.

4. Convocation 2016 student speaker Itsikiantsoa

Randrianantenaina talks to the audience about her academic journey at KAUST. Photo by Helmy Al Sagaff.

‫‪3‬‬

‫‪2‬‬

‫التخرج السابع‬ ‫حفل‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫يرحب بالطلبة الجدد في‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫رحاب حرمهم الجامعي‬ ‫ألقت عضوة هيئة التدريس‪ ،‬البروفيسورة ياسمين ميرزابان‪ ،‬األستاذة المساعدة‬ ‫في العلوم البيولوجية‪ ،‬والطالبة إتسيكيانتوسوا راندريانانتيناينا‪ ،‬طالبة الدكتوراه‬ ‫رحبتا فيها بأكثر من ‪ 200‬طالب‬ ‫في مختبر نظرية االتصاالت في الجامعة‪ ،‬كلمتين ّ‬ ‫مؤخ ًرا لنيل شهادة الماجستير والدكتوراه‪ ،‬قادمين من ‪39‬‬ ‫جديد التحقوا بالجامعة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ً‬ ‫بلدا‪ ،‬وذلك خالل مراسم حفل التخرج السنوي السابع للجامعة‪ ،‬الذي ُعقد في ‪23‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫تتويجا ألسبوعين من األنشطة التوجيهية التي‬ ‫أغسطس‪ .‬وقد جاء هذا االحتفال‬ ‫ً‬ ‫استقباال للطالب الجدد‪.‬‬ ‫ُعقدت في الحرم الجامعي‬

‫وعلى الرغم من أن ياسمين ميرزابان وإتسيكيانتوسوا راندريانانتيناينا تنتميان إلى‬ ‫مرحلتين مختلفتين في مسيرتهما المهنية العلمية‪ ،‬فقد ّ‬ ‫أكدتا في كلمتيهما على‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫والتعلم‬ ‫أن مسيرتيهما كانتا مليئتين بالكثير من المغامرات والخروج عن المألوف‬ ‫يتعين برأيهما أن يحرص الطلبة الجدد عليها أثناء دراستهم‬ ‫المتواصل‪ ،‬وهي أمور ّ‬ ‫في جامعة الملك عبداهلل‪.‬‬

‫يتغير المسار‬ ‫حين ّ‬ ‫علمية"‪ .‬فقد كانت‬ ‫قالت ياسمين ميرزابان‪" :‬لم أولد وفي ذهني أن أصبح باحثة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ياسمين تحلم في الواقع بأن تصبح طبيبة‪ ،‬لكن الحياة أخذت منحنى آخر معها‪،‬‬ ‫لتلمس فرصة أخرى"‪ ،‬على‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫فوجدت أن من الضروري أن تنظر "باتجاه نافذة أخرى ّ‬ ‫حد تعبيرها‪ .‬وقد استطاع عملها طوال صيف كامل في مختبر بجامعة كولومبيا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫يمهد لها الطريق إلكمال دراسة الدكتوراه‬ ‫البريطانية‪ ،‬خالل دراستها الجامعية‪ ،‬أن ّ‬ ‫في المختبر نفسه‪.‬‬ ‫وأضافت‪" :‬حين أنظر إلى الوراء اآلن أرى بوضوح أنني عندما وجدت أن األمور لم‬ ‫تسر على ما يرام اضطررت إلى زيادة التفكير اإلبداعي والنقدي"‪.‬‬ ‫واستطردت‪" :‬لم أكن أجد نفسي في البحوث الطبية‪ ،‬ولكن عندما أنظر إلى‬ ‫ً‬ ‫توقعا‪.‬‬ ‫األمر اليوم‪ ،‬أرى أن ليس بالضرورة أن تتحقق رغباتنا من خالل المسار األكثر‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ولعل جرعة‬ ‫أحيانا أن نثق بالرحلة‪ ...‬وأن نتعلم أن ال نخاف من الفشل‪.‬‬ ‫يتوجب علينا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫شحن‬ ‫تعيد شرارات اإلثارة‬ ‫الخوف هي التي تبقينا متواضعين وحذرين‪ ،‬في حين‬ ‫َ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫فضولنا وثقتنا والتزامنا بمسيرتنا"‪.‬‬

‫‪7‬‬

‫‪www.kaust.edu.sa‬‬

‫‪4‬‬ ‫"خطوات كبيرة" في طلب العلم‬ ‫تحدثت إتسيكيانتوسوا راندريانانتيناينا للطلبة عن حلمها حين كانت في‬ ‫ومن جهتها‪ّ ،‬‬ ‫الخامسة من عمرها‪" :‬أن تدرس وتدرس حتى ال يبقى شيء لم تدرسه"‪ ،‬وكيف أن‬ ‫هذا الحلم قادها إلى نيل درجة البكالوريوس في الهندسة من المعهد الوطني‬ ‫للبريد والمواصالت في الرباط‪ ،‬بالمملكة المغربية‪ .‬وكيف قررت‪ ،‬بعد فترة تدريب‬ ‫في جامعة الملك عبداهلل‪ ،‬البقاء لدراسة الماجستير والدكتوراه في الجامعة‪.‬‬ ‫وقالت‪" :‬لم أكن أتصور أنني سأدرس في المملكة العربية السعودية‪ ،‬ولكن عندما‬ ‫جئت إلى جامعة الملك عبداهلل للتدريب العملي شعرت بالدهشة" من بيئة العمل‬ ‫ً‬ ‫أيضا بالضغوط‬ ‫ومن لطف األساتذة‪ ،‬على حد قولها‪ .‬لكن إتسيكيانتوسوا شعرت‬ ‫خالل أيامها القليلة األولى في الجامعة‪ ،‬فقد ّ‬ ‫حلت في "مكان جديد‪ ،‬عالم جديد‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫طلبا للعلم والمعرفة"‪.‬‬ ‫كليا‪ .‬لقد اتّ خذت خطوة كبيرة‪ ،‬وتركت عائلتي‪،‬‬ ‫ثم أدركت إتسيكيانتوسوا أن عليها أن تكون سعيدة وفخورة بنفسها مع قرار‬ ‫حد قولها‬ ‫مواصلة دراستها في جامعة الملك عبداهلل للعلوم والتقنية‪ ،‬ألنها على ّ‬ ‫ً‬ ‫جزءا من رحلة خاصة‪ .‬ففي جامعة الملك عبداهلل يعمل المرء ويبني‬ ‫"أصبحت‬ ‫صداقات مع أشخاص من جميع أنحاء العالم‪ ،‬ويتبادل األفكار‪ ،‬ويرى األمور من زوايا‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ممتازا‪،‬‬ ‫أكاديميا‬ ‫تعليما‬ ‫مختلفة‪ .‬لقد منحتني جامعة الملك عبداهلل للعلوم والتقنية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وعلمتني على المستوى الشخصي‪ ،‬حين ساعدتي على اكتشاف المزيد عن نفسي‬ ‫وعن اآلخرين"‪.‬‬

‫رحلة خاصة‬ ‫وقالت إتسيكيانتوسوا راندريانانتيناينا للطلبة الجدد‪" :‬أنتم اآلن جزء من هذه الرحلة‬ ‫ً‬ ‫جزءا من حكايتكم‬ ‫الخاصة‪ .‬وكونكم طلبة في جامعة الملك عبداهلل سيكون‬ ‫أنتم‪ .‬لديكم القدرة على أن تكتبوا قصتكم في أي يوم تمضونه هنا‪ ،‬لذلك حاولوا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫استغلوا كل لحظة هنا‪ ،‬واستفيدوا ألقصى الحدود من‬ ‫قصة عظيمة‪.‬‬ ‫أن تكون ّ‬ ‫تسخرها لكم جامعة الملك عبداهلل‪ .‬تشاركوا مع اآلخرين لحظاتكم‪،‬‬ ‫الموارد التي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أفكاركم ومواهبكم وكذلك ابتسامتكم"‪.‬‬ ‫لخصت ياسمين ميرزابان هذه األفكار‪ ،‬أضافت‪" :‬اغتنموا الفرص المتاحة‬ ‫وبعد أن ّ‬ ‫وقدروا أنفسكم كما‬ ‫بأنفسكم‪،‬‬ ‫الثقة‬ ‫امتلكوا‬ ‫عبداهلل‪،‬‬ ‫الملك‬ ‫جامعة‬ ‫في‬ ‫أمامكم‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وتذكروا أن ليس هناك هدف أكبر من السعي وراء المعرفة‪ .‬ثقوا برحلتكم‪،‬‬ ‫يجب‪،‬‬ ‫مهما كانت وجهتها"‪.‬‬

All the right elements A team of KAUST faculty, staff and students attended the 252nd American Chemical Society Meeting & Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from August 21 to 24. The multidisciplinary team traveled to the conference to represent KAUST in technical sessions and in a recruitment capacity.

KAUST faculty in attendance included Yves Gnanou, distinguished professor of chemical science and dean of the Physical Science and Engineering Division, Nikos Hadjichristidis, professor of chemical science, Suzana Nunes, professor of environmental science and engineering and associate dean of the Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Valentin Rodionov, assistant professor of chemical science, and Yu Han, associate professor of chemical science.

A number of KAUST students attended the event, including Giada Soldan, Sarah Almahdali, Christopher Beaudoin and Renyuan Li. “I felt lucky to be selected to share my experience with people from all around the world," said Soldan. "Making the decision to move to Saudi Arabia is generally not that easy, so trying to convince people to come to KAUST is definitely a delicate task. I honestly felt lucky and proud to have the possibility to tell people my story.�

8

THE BEACON | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

1 Dr. Heiko Langner, director of the Analytical Chemistry Core Lab, and David Yeh, director of initiatives and student recruitment, were also in attendance. Langner gave a talk about the benefits of adding overseas work to one's resume. Yeh led recruitment efforts at the booth and mobilized student team members for group networking sessions.

"On the first day, a visitor asked if we were hired to represent KAUST," said Yeh. "I turned to our group in the booth and said, 'We all live and work at KAUST, many of us from day one.' The visitor was surprised, and it made me realize that our small group of KAUST students and staff really helped change perceptions about the University and about the Kingdom."

Rodionov attended the conference with two of his students, Tianyou Chen and Sarah Almahdali. Almahdali, who attended technical sessions in between working at the booth, is completing her Ph.D. in the University's Red Sea Research Center. Chen spoke during a session about research he recently published with Rodionov.

"It's not only that we have amazing tools or labs with full support at KAUST, but we also get to do the laboratory analysis ourselves, and there is actually time available to work in the lab facilities," Almahdali noted.

3

2

4

1. A team of KAUST faculty, students and staff attend the 252nd American Chemical Society (ACS) Meeting & Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photo by Nicholas Demille.

2. David Yeh, director of initiatives and student

recruitment at KAUST, speaks with a visitor at the KAUST ACS booth. Photo by Nicholas Demille.

3, 4, 5. Visitors to the ACS Meeting & Exposition speak with KAUST representatives and learn more about cutting-edge chemistry research at the event. Photos by Basil Chew.

5

www.kaust.edu.sa

9

Step into the white light for faster communication A nanocrystalline material that rapidly makes white light out of blue light has been developed

by KAUST researchers.

“VLC using white light generated in this way is limited to about one hundred million bits per second,” said KAUST Professor of Electrical Engineering Boon Ooi.

While Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are now well-established technologies, there are several advantages gained by shortening the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves used for transmitting information.

Instead, Ooi, who is a member of the University's Photonics Laboratory, Associate Professor Osman Bakr from the KAUST Functional Nanomaterials Laboratory and their colleagues use a nanocrystal-based converter that enables much higher data rates.

So-called visible-light communication (VLC) makes use of parts of the electromagnetic spectrum that are unregulated and is potentially more energy-efficient. VLC also offers a way to combine information transmission with illumination and display technologies—for example, using ceiling lights to provide internet connections to laptops.

Many such VLC applications require light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that produce white light. These are usually fabricated by combining a diode that emits blue light with phosphorous that turns some of this radiation into red and green light. However, this conversion process is not fast enough to match the speed at which the LED can be switched on and off.

10

THE BEACON | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

The team created nanocrystals of cesium lead bromide that were roughly eight nanometers in size using a simple and cost-effective solution-based method that incorporated a conventional nitride phosphor. When illuminated by a blue laser light, the nanocrystals emitted green light while the nitride emitted red light.

Together, these combined to create a warm white light.

The researchers characterized the optical properties of their material using a technique known as femtosecond transient spectroscopy. They were able to show that the optical processes in cesium lead bromide nanocrystals occur on a time-scale of roughly seven nanoseconds.

This meant they could modulate the optical emission

2

1

3

We believe that white light generated using semiconductor lasers will one day replace the LED white light bulbs for energy-efficient lighting.”

- Boon Ooi, professor of electrical engineering at a frequency of 491 Megahertz, 40 times faster than is possible using phosphorus, and transmit data at a rate of two billion bits per second.

“The rapid response is partly due to the size of the crystals,” said Bakr. “Spatial confinement makes it more likely that the electron will recombine with a hole and emit a photon.”

Importantly, the white light generated using their perovskite nanostructures was of a quality comparable to present LED technology.

“We believe that white light generated using semiconductor lasers will one day replace the LED white light bulbs for energy-efficient lighting,” said Ooi.

1. A nanocrystal-based material converts blue laser emission to high quality white light for combined illumination and high data rate communication. © 2016 KAUST. 2, 3. KAUST Professor of Electrical Engineering

Boon Ooi (2) worked witha ssociate Professor Osman Bakr (3) to develop a nanocrystal-based material that converts blue laser emission to white light for combinedillumination and data communication. File photos.

www.kaust.edu.sa

11

Crafting technology from nature's darkest secrets Most researchers actively try to suppress disordered states such as background static, as they lead to unpredictable experimental results. However, recent findings from researchers at KAUST reveal that the built-up energy inside chaotic systems can be tapped using optical waves and nanofabrication. This approach has led to producing the darkest material ever seen on Earth—a T-shaped nanoparticle with record-setting potential to store and release light energy.

“Sometimes our research is described as complex, but it is actually quite simple,” explained Andrea Fratalocchi, associate professor of electrical engineering at KAUST. “We just follow the evolution of nature and what we see around us.” In this manner, white beetles of the genus Cyphochilus and natural thermodynamic phenomena became the inspiration behind the discovery of an advanced light trapping material.

Fratalocchi leads a team that seeks to understand and design three-dimensional systems that automatically optimize their energy trapping. As an example, he discussed the problem of delivering a precise microgram quantity of a drug powder.

“Too much and the patient dies, a little less and it has no effect.

If there is no scale capable of weighing such a small amount precisely , what would you do?" he asked.

The answer, he explained, is to dissolve the powder in water and use the natural tendency of molecules to move via random Brownian motion uniformly throughout the liquid. A volume containing the exact dosage can then be extracted.

This diffusion process makes this system’s entropy—a parameter that quantifies thermodynamic disorder—increase irreversibly towards its maximum value.

“This is an extremely powerful effect that works every time regardless of the size and shape of a container,” Fratalocchi noted. “It’s so ubiquitous we think of it as simple, but it is actually based on very complex chaotic dynamics.”

12

THE BEACON | JUNE 2016

Chaotic energy harvesting, he continued, can function the same way. “Think of the powder as being light and the container is an optical resonator, or a cavity that stores light energy,” he said. The team’s resonators make photons move wildly and irreparably so that the system’s entropy increases and condenses the maximum amount of scattered light within a single second.

Fratalocchi and the team combined theoretical simulations and polystyrene microspheres to put their strategy into practice. They discovered that by deforming the microspheres with mechanical pressure, light could scatter chaotically for significantly enhanced energy harvesting—the device held over 600 percent more energy than a similarly sized classical system.

The researchers’ next target was to fabricate a perfect black body, a material that absorbs and emits large quantities of radiation. This technology could lead to new light and thermal energy sources, but the team’s early designs relied on complex structures that were extremely difficult to fabricate.

One day, however, a tennis match between Changxu Liu from Fratalocchi’s lab and Jianfeng Huang, a chemist working with KAUST professor Yu Han, turned out to be more than just a sociable workout. Discussing their research as they played, the students realized that new particles synthesized by Huang consisting of nanospheres attached to nanorods might be used for a simpler bio-inspired approach to creating a black body device.

“We had an idea based on a beetle that uses extremely white scales to reflect light as a form of camouflage,” Fratalocchi said. “By reversing this effect with chaotic structures, we could harvest a lot of energy and create an ultra-dark material.”

1

2

3

Liu’s simulations revealed that the nanosphere–nanorod structures had near ideal scattering behavior, and when the team dispersed them in water the liquid turned completely black—so dark, in fact, that 99 percent of incoming light was captured. The black body turned into a new source of monochromatic light following laser excitation.

Another successful collaboration, although this one a bit more intentionally developed, involves Frederico Capaso from Harvard University. Together, Fratalocchi and Capaso are working on new types of plasmonic materials. The ultimate goal of improved energy harvesting has several applications from solar energy to commercial paint.

Sometimes our research is described as complex, but it is actually quite simple.

We just follow the evolution of nature and what we see around us.”

- Andrea Fratalocchi, associate professor of electrical engineering

Finally, dielectric metamaterials that manipulate light are another target for Fratalocchi’s group.

He and his team developed the concept of rogue wavebased devices that arrange photonic crystals into stadiumshaped arrangements on a microchip. Chaotic waves in these devices can build up until they release a localized waveform with exceptional amplitude, an energy localization akin to natural events such as hurricanes.

"This can permanently change how we look at catastrophic events," Fratalocchi said. "Imagine if we develop a system where we can transport energy in extremely large quantities like a tsunami wave, or where we create anomalous giant amplitude waves localized at the nanoscale for extremely precise micro-surgery or new imaging techniques. These ideas are not fiction but fully possible science."

1. A tennis match between Changxu Liu from Associate Professor Andrea Fratalocchi’s lab and Jianfeng Huang, a chemist working with KAUST Associate Professor Yu Han, produced a unique idea of using new particles synthesized

by Huang that consist of nanospheres attached to nanorods to create a black body device.

File photo.

2. For Andrea Fratalocchi, KAUST associate

professor of electrical engineering, white beetles of the genus Cyphochilus and natural thermodynamic phenomena were the inspiration behind the discovery of an advanced light trapping material. File photo.

3. The wings of Cyphochilus, the whitest known insect, provided the conceptual framework to develop the blackest material in the world.

www.kaust.edu.sa

13

Food for all

By David Murphy and Caitlin Clark

KAUST welcomes the 2016 Enrichment in the Fall program from October 14 to 22 this year, with activities surrounding the theme “Food for All.” This year’s program gives the community the opportunity to explore all aspects of food, ranging from plant science research to fine cuisine and nutrition.

Events kick off on October 16 with the Opening Night Extravaganza, where the community will also celebrate World Food Day. The Auditorium (building 20) lobby will be transformed into a bustling marketplace featuring a photo exhibition of markets of the world. A food hub with engaging and educational booths will entertain visitors during the night’s events and throughout the rest of the week, and a baroque oriental music concert by the Pera Ensemble will bring an inspirational closure to the day.

Can we feed the world?

The program will feature a number of keynote and brown bag lectures, including a talk entitled “Can we feed the world?” by speaker Fred Davies, regents professor from the Department of Horticultural Science, Texas A&M University. Lewis Dartnell, astrobiology professor at the University of Westminster, will explore the knowledge needed to rebuild our world from scratch, and John Bedbrook, executive chairman of DiCE Molecules LLC, will talk about the role of genetic technology in global food security. Ryan Lefers, environmental and agricultural engineer and Ph.D. candidate from the KAUST Water Desalination and Reuse Center, will present a talk on urban agriculture as one tool to help the world achieve future food security.

Biology and nutrition Bettina Berger, scientific director of the Plant Accelerator at the Australian Plant Phenomics Facility, KAUST Professors Jasmeen Merzaban and Peiying Hong and Ashwag Albukhari, assistant professor of medical oncology at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, will lead a discussion on women in biology, sharing their job experience and providing insight into their personal triumphs and struggles as they have built successful and meaningful careers. Amna Malik, a dietician from Jeddah, will lead a workshop entitled “Be friends with calories” to help community members improve their diets.

Cook up something delicious German chef Bernd Arold will be the culinary guest star in attendance at this year’s program, offering cooking demonstrations at the Island Recreation Center’s Pure Restaurant and holding a discussion after the screening of the movie “Chef” at Discovery Theater. Four other food-related movies and documentaries will also be shown, including “Ratatouille” and “Just Eat It.” This year’s program is shaping up to be one of the “tastiest” so far—don’t miss it!

Register for the Enrichment in the Fall program from September 20 at: enrichment.kaust.edu.sa.

Fascinating plant research This year’s program will also showcase the University’s fascinating plant science research, with scheduled visits to the KAUST greenhouse as one of the highlights of the program. A Sci-Café focusing on “Food for all: How do we make it work?” will also exhibit the expertise of the University’s plant scientists and molecular biologists, including KAUST Professors Mark Tester and Salim Al-Babili.

14

THE BEACON | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

1. This year’s Enrichment in the Fall program will include a photo exhibition featuring marketplaces of the world. Pictured here is a man in traditional attire selling goods at the marketplace in Abha, Saudi Arabia. Photo by Linda Polik.

2. The University’s plant science research

features in this year’s Enrichment in the Fall program. Photo by Linda Polik.

‫‪1‬‬

‫‪This year’s Enrichment in the Fall‬‬ ‫‪program is shaping up to be one of‬‬ ‫!‪the “tastiest” so far—don’t miss it‬‬

‫‪2‬‬

‫الغذاء للجميع‬ ‫تستضيف جامعة الملك عبداهلل برنامج "اإلثراء في الخريف ‪ "2016‬في الفترة من‬ ‫‪ 14‬إلى ‪ 22‬أكتوبر‪ ،‬مع أنشطته المرافقة التي تتمحور حول ثيمة "الغذاء للجميع"‪.‬‬ ‫وسيتيح برنامج هذا العام فرصة أمام مجتمع الجامعة الستكشاف مسائل الطعام‬ ‫ً‬ ‫بدءا من األبحاث العلمية المتعلقة‬ ‫والمواد الغذائية من شتى وجوهها وجوانبها‪،‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫وصوال إلى عالم الطهي واألطعمة الفاخرة والتغذية‪.‬‬ ‫بالنباتات‪،‬‬ ‫تنطلق فعاليات البرنامج في ‪ 16‬أكتوبر‪ ،‬مع أمسية افتتاح كبرى‪ ،‬يحتفي من‬ ‫المدرج الكبير (في‬ ‫ويتحول بهو‬ ‫خاللها مجتمع الجامعة بيوم األغذية العالمي‪.‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ً‬ ‫معرضا للصور الفوتوغرافية عن مختلف أسواق‬ ‫المبنى ‪ )20‬إلى سوق صاخبة تضم‬ ‫توفر‬ ‫منصة خاصة للغذاء مع أكشاك جذابة وتعليمية‪ ،‬بحيث ّ‬ ‫العالم‪ .‬كما ستخصص ّ‬ ‫للزوار فرصة الترفيه في أمسيات الفعاليات وخالل باقي أيام األسبوع‪ ،‬فيما تسهم‬ ‫فرقة "بيرا إنسامبل" لموسيقى الباروك الشرقية بوضع لمساتها العذبة على يوم‬ ‫االختتام‪.‬‬

‫هل يمكننا إطعام العالم؟‬ ‫ً‬ ‫عددا من الكلمات والمحاضرات التي تلقى على مائدة الطعام‪،‬‬ ‫يتضمن البرنامج‬ ‫منها كلمة بعنوان "هل نستطيع إطعام العالم؟" يلقيها البروفيسور فريد ديفيس‪،‬‬ ‫من قسم علوم البساتين في جامعة تكساس إيه آند إم‪ .‬فيما سيلقي لويس‬ ‫دارتنل‪ ،‬أستاذ البيولوجيا الفلكية في جامعة وستمنستر‪ ،‬الضوء على المعارف‬ ‫الالزمة إلعادة بناء عالمنا من نقطة الصفر‪ ،‬وسيتحدث جون بدبروك‪ ،‬الرئيس‬ ‫المورثات في‬ ‫التنفيذي لشركة دايس مولكيولز المحدودة‪ ،‬عن دور تكنولوجيا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أما ريان ليفرز‪ ،‬المهندس البيئي والزراعي‪ ،‬والمرشح‬ ‫مجال األمن الغذائي العالمي‪ّ .‬‬ ‫لنيل شهادة الدكتوراه من مركز تحلية المياه وإعادة استخدام المياه في جامعة‬ ‫الملك عبداهلل‪ ،‬فسيقدم محاضرة حول الزراعة الحضرية بوصفها أداة لمساعدة‬ ‫ً‬ ‫مستقبال‪.‬‬ ‫العالم على تحقيق األمن الغذائي‬

‫أبحاث ودراسات نباتية مبهرة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫سيسلط برنامج هذا العام الضوء على أبحاث رائعة أجرتها الجامعة في مجال‬ ‫كما‬ ‫علوم النبات‪ ،‬مع برنامج زيارات للمختبر الرئيسي للمستنبتات الزجاجية في جامعة‬ ‫فعاليات البرنامج‪ .‬كما ستجري جلسة على‬ ‫الملك عبداهلل‪ ،‬بوصفها واحدة من أبرز ّ‬

‫‪15‬‬

‫‪www.kaust.edu.sa‬‬

‫نمط مقهى العلوم تتناول موضوع "الغذاء للجميع‪ :‬كيف نحقق الشعار؟" تستعرض‬ ‫ً‬ ‫أيضا خبرة علماء النبات واألحياء الجزيئية في الجامعة‪ ،‬بما في ذلك خبرات‬

‫البروفيسور مارك تستر والبروفيسور سالم البابلي‪ ،‬األستاذين في جامعة الملك‬ ‫عبداهلل للعلوم والتكنولوجيا‪.‬‬

‫علم األحياء والتغذية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫العلمية لمختبر مسرع النبات في "بالنت‬ ‫ستتولى بيتينا بيرغر‪ ،‬المديرة‬ ‫ناحيتهن‪،‬‬ ‫من‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫فينوميكس فاسيليتي" في استراليا‪ ،‬والبروفيسورة جاسمن ميرزبان والبروفيسورة‬ ‫بينغ هونغ األستاذتان في جامعة الملك عبداهلل‪ ،‬والبروفيسورة أشواق البخاري‬ ‫األستاذة المساعدة في علم األورام الطبية بجامعة الملك عبدالعزيز في جدة‪،‬‬ ‫ويقدمن‬ ‫العملية‬ ‫خبراتهن‬ ‫إدارة نقاش حول النساء في علم األحياء‪ ،‬حيث يستعرضن‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ونضاالتهن من أجل بناء حياة مهنية ناجحة‬ ‫وانتصاراتهن‬ ‫إنجازاتهن‬ ‫رؤاهن بخصوص‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وهادفة‪ .‬فيما ستقود آمنة مالك‪ ،‬اختصاصية التغذية من جدة‪ ،‬ورشة عمل بعنوان‬ ‫"تصادقوا مع الحريرات"‪ ،‬ترمي إلى مساعدة أعضاء مجتمع جامعة الملك عبداهلل‬ ‫الغذائي‪.‬‬ ‫على تحسين نظامهم‬ ‫ّ‬

‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫لذيذا‬ ‫طعاما‬ ‫اطبخوا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫نجما على برنامج هذا العام‪ ،‬حيث‬ ‫ضيفا‬ ‫وسيحل الطاهي األلماني بيرند آرولد‬ ‫سيقدم عروض طهي في مطعم "بيور" في مركز الجزيرة الترفيهي‪ ،‬وسيعقد‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫مناقشة بعد عرض فيلم "شيف" في مسرح "ديسكفري"‪ .‬كما سيتم عرض أربعة‬ ‫أفالم وثائقية أخرى ذات صلة باألغذية‪ ،‬بما في ذلك "راتاتوي" و"جست إيت ات"‪.‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫مميزا‪ ،‬بل سيكون من "ألذ" الفعاليات‬ ‫فإن برنامج هذا العام سيكون‬ ‫بكل تأكيد‪ّ ،‬‬ ‫التي شهدها مجتمعنا حتى اآلن‪ ،‬لذلك ال تدعوه يفوتكم!‬ ‫ً‬ ‫بدءا من ‪ 20‬سبتمبر على العنوان التالي‪:‬‬ ‫سجل في برنامج "اإلثراء في الخريف"‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫‪.enrichment.kaust.edu.sa‬‬

KAUST and Boeing renew MRA KAUST and Boeing renewed their Master Research Agreement (MRA) on September 1 on the University's campus.

The renewal of the MRA marks a significant milestone for Boeing and KAUST as they seek to boost collaborative research on next-generation aerospace technologies.

“KAUST is an important strategic partner to Boeing, and our goal is to facilitate both local and international industrial collaborations while working with the professional and research community,” said Ahmed Jazzar, president of Boeing, Saudi Arabia. “Boeing’s partnership with KAUST is aimed at undertaking cutting-edge research and to support the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to establish knowledgebased programs aligned with its vision and objectives.”

“I think KAUST has evolved over the last six years, and these facilities have also advanced quite a bit. Today I think we have many activities that overlap with some of the interests of the company,” said Jean M. J. Fréchet, KAUST distinguished professor of chemical science and the University's vice president for research.

Boeing Research & Technology (BR&T), the company’s central advanced R&D organization located on the KAUST campus, currently collaborates with the University on a number of major research projects in advanced materials, combustion quenching, solar power optimization and industrial water treatment.

Fréchet said, “As a founding member of the KAUST Industry Collaboration Program (KICP), Boeing has partnered with KAUST on a number of projects since 2009 that have helped establish advanced research laboratories and robust facultyindustry initiatives. We look forward to strengthening our joint commitment to the growth and innovation of aerospace research within Saudi Arabia."

“We are active in research, but of course research is only one little step, and development is much more. We would like to collaborate with Boeing as we do with other companies. I hope that in the future we will find much common ground, and it is always a pleasure to have you come here. The fact that you came shows that us that you are interested and you care.

We are interested and we care,” Fréchet added.

16

THE BEACON | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

1

Boeing’s partnership with KAUST is aimed at undertaking cutting-edge research and to support the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to establish knowledge-based programs aligned with its vision and objectives.”

- Ahmed Jazzar, president of Boeing, Saudi Arabia

Boeing technology leaders are currently working with KAUST researchers on purifying manufacturer water and the development of unique mechanisms for the analysis of flame quenching physics.

“We are all proud of our research partnership with KAUST and pleased to continue to deepen our relationship with this new agreement,” said Dr. Bill Lyons, director of Global R&D Strategy for BR&T. “KAUST is a world-class research institution, and together we are working one some of the most important technology challenges facing the aerospace industry and our society this century.”

2 3

KAUST and SABB launch multi-university startup accelerator The Saudi British Bank (SABB) and KAUST are launching the KAUST-SABB University Entrepreneur Accelerator “TAQADAM.” The program aims to help early stage university student and faculty entrepreneurs at Saudi universities develop their concepts into high-potential startups.

1. Senior representatives from KAUST and Boeing

renewed the Master Research Agreement on September 1. Photo by Ginger Lisanti.

2. Members of KAUST senior leadership and

representatives from Boeing, including Ahmed Jazzar, president of Boeing, Saudi Arabia, at KAUST on September 1. Photo by Ginger Lisanti.

3. KAUST President Jean-Lou Chameau (left) and SABB Managing Director David Dew sign an agreement on September 27. Photo by Lilit Hovhannisyan.

“We believe this will significantly support the ongoing work at Saudi universities for the commercialization of inventions and ideas by students and faculty, with a particular focus on financial technology startups, given the rapid development of financial technology around the world and its potential applications for millions of consumers and corporates,” said David Dew, managing director of SABB. “Partnering with KAUST to create a competition to seed fund and accelerate innovative ideas from Saudi universities is an investment in our country’s youth, with many benefits for the Kingdom.

TAQADAM represents one of SABB’s major initiatives toward supporting the Kingdom's 2030 vision and our aspirations to aid and support the SME sector of the Saudi economy.”

The intensive six-month program will provide 20-30 startup teams with grant funding as well as Saudi-based and international mentor-led support from the KAUST Entrepreneurship Center. The most promising startups will be eligible for additional seed funding from SABB and the KAUST Innovation Fund.

“This collaboration is a significant and proactive step to ensure that valuable new technologies in the Kingdom are given a platform to move from the lab to the marketplace,” KAUST President Jean-Lou Chameau said. “We are excited to join with SABB on this new University Entrepreneur Accelerator and to help startups achieve their full potential.”

TAQADAM is open to students, faculty, staff and recent graduates of Saudi universities. Applicants should have a commercial idea that could be turned into a new company or enterprise, and in particular a knowledge base, technology, product or service. The startup accelerator aims to produce the next big idea in areas such as Fintech, smart city solutions, sensors, internet technologies, new materials, and sustainable technologies in solar, oil and gas and water.

www.kaust.edu.sa

17

Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Second Saudi Chapter Meeting As part of its sustainability awareness program, KAUST recently hosted the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Saudi Chapter meeting. The second meeting for 2016 for the newly established chapter was jointly organized by Saudi Aramco's Engineering Services and KAUST Sustainability Programs, part of the University's Facilities and Community Department, and was attended by energy professionals from a wide spectrum of private and public organizations from across the Kingdom.

Antonio Valenzuela vice president of Facilities and Community, delivered the event's welcome note, emphasizing the University's commitment to sustainability and supporting professional organizations in advancing the cause.

Mohammad Al Wathaifi, vice president of the chapter and an energy optimization specialist with the Saudi Aramco Process & Control Systems Department, presented a brief about AEE and the role of the local chapter in helping to grow the energy efficiency industry and developing the profession Kingdom-wide.

Al Wathaifi also presented the chapter’s operational plan, which aims to create a professional networking platform for energy engineers from across the Kingdom to meet regularly, share knowledge and stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies. The chapter’s objective is to increase the level of awareness and build up the local technical capacity in the dynamic fields of energy efficiency, energy management, renewable energy, sustainability and related areas.

Muna Khris, the head of Sustainability Programs at KAUST, presented an overview of the KAUST campus's LEED platinum certification features, the ongoing energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives at KAUST and community engagement in these initiatives. The presentation also highlighted the role of the KAUST Sustainability Committee.

The event’s program included a tour of the campus facilities, showcasing highlights of sustainable design features.

A technical presentation on the Daikin newly launched High Ambient Variable Refrigerant Volume Technology, VRV 4 was presented by Daikin KSA consulting sales manager Stefaan Segers, who spoke about the background of the development of the technology and its potential applications in the Kingdom.

18

THE BEACON | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

AEE is a non-profit organization consisting of 17,500 members in 98 countries with a network of 96 local chapters. AEE’s mission is to promote the scientific and educational interests of those engaged in the energy industry and to foster action for sustainable development. AEE offers a broad width of professional certification programs, and the training for its widely recognized Certified Energy Manager certification program is delivered in the Kingdom through the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center's (SEEC)-capacity building and accreditation.

The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Saudi Chapter’s objective is to increase the level of awareness and build up the local technical capacity in the dynamic fields of energy efficiency, energy management, renewable energy, sustainability and related areas.

1

2

KAUST celebrates Eid with Thuwal neighbors In June, Saudi Initiatives and the KAUST Social Responsibility team launched the Sharing is Caring program for the University's neighboring town of Thuwal. This year's inaugural campaign supported 60 orphans from ages 1 to 18, engaging the KAUST community in giving back to its neighbors in the spirit of the season of Ramadan.

The newest initiative is modeled on the successful Back to School program, and brought together KAUST volunteers to contribute gift boxes filled with educational books and tablets, toys, healthful seasonal food, and greeting cards. Thirtysix volunteers generously gave their time to promote the campaign, select books, install educational apps on the tablets, assemble boxes and transport the gifts to Thuwal.

3

1. KAUST recently hosted the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Saudi Chapter meeting. Photo by Abdulghafoor Alhaleem.

2. KAUST volunteers and the University's Social

"I was lucky enough to work with the team and meet Thuwal parents and children to wish them a happy Eid,” said KAUST volunteer Mohammed. “The smiles on the children's faces while they were unpacking the gifts were worth it all. It is amazing how a simple act of kindness can be so rewarding.”

Through its Social Responsibility department, Saudi Initiatives is dedicated to advancing the University’s mission to be a good neighbor and responsible citizen, ensuring that the University’s intellectual and social capital is used to sustainably improve the quality of life for individuals and communities in our neighboring villages.

If you would like to volunteer for these important programs, please send an email to volunteer@kaust.edu.sa.

Responsibility team distribute gift boxes to children andteens in the neighboring village of Thuwal for the Sharing is Caring campaign. Photo by Felix Chun Pong Lau.

3. A KAUST family volunteers to promote the Sharing is

Caring campaign at the University's Harbor Sports Club.

Photo by Felix Chun Pong Lau.

www.kaust.edu.sa

19

My University Shawkat Ali

By Sid Samtaney Shawkat Ali was born in Shalpin Swat, Pakistan, and came to KAUST from Quebec, Canada, where he completed his postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Biology at the University of Sherbrooke. Ali has a Ph.D. in botany from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and currently works as a postdoctoral fellow Professor Mark Tester’s Salt Lab group in KAUST. “My research interests involve understanding the role of signaling molecules in salinity tolerance in the model plant Arabidopsis, as well as in tomato and barley,” Ali said. Ali is a member of the Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists, the Canadian Society of Plant Pathology, the International Society for Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions and the American Society of Plant Biologists.

“I choose to come to KAUST because the research facilities here and the infrastructure for the research at KAUST are some of the most unique in the world. Coming to KAUST has helped me to hit my career goals and has also given me the chance to explore this part of the world,” he said.

Ali also enjoys activities outside of his career, such as hiking, reading books and enjoying the fabulous family life at KAUST. The things that pleasantly surprised Ali about KAUST were the safe community and the multicultural environment.

Where do you read The Beacon?

Losing weight, having fun and competing well at the University's annual 5K fun run

By Sid Samtaney The most fundamental way to lose weight is to reduce caloric intake and increase your amount of exercise. Running is one of the best ways to take part in an active lifestyle and finally attain your fitness goals. KAUST has hosted its annual 5 kilometer (5K) Fun Run race as part of the University's Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) since 2009, providing a way for community members to have fun, run competitively and test their endurance skills annually. ”Running the 5K was a goal I worked toward all year," said Basel Abukalaf, a graduate of The KAUST School (TKS) and former TKS president. "Training for the 5K made getting into shape easier than if I had tried to get into shape on my own without an end race in mind. Remember that the feeling you get from a good run is far better than the feeling you get sitting around wishing you were running."

Although there is a "family fun" vibe to the 5K event, a subgroup of serious runners compete hard against each other every year in the race and run to win. The 5K is a unique event because it's a race that KAUST community members can train for by becoming fit, and it therefore changes lives through regular exercise every year. Those racing to win also create lasting memories for themselves of fun competition.

This month's submission comes from Carlos Duarte, KAUST professor of marine science and the Tarek Ahmed Juffali research chair in Red Sea ecology. Duarte read The Beacon on the shore next to Arctic Station, a research facility that is part of Denmark's University of Copenhagen.

Arctic Station is near the small town and port of Qeqertarsuaq located on Disko Island, which is off the west coast of Greenland.

Duarte completed his second expedition at Arctic Station, where he conducted research alongside Danish colleagues to examine the role of kelp in carbon sequestration in Greenland. He was joined on his expedition by KAUST Professor of Marine Science Susana Agusti and Ivan Gromicho, a scientific illustrator from the Office of Academic Writing Services.

"Disko Bay receives the highest iceberg discharge in Greenland," explained Duarte. "The bay is covered in ice on average nine months per year, but this year it has only been covered for one month. This year is poised to set a new and dramatic historical low in Arctic ice. The Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation may or may not have been too little, but it certainly has arrived too late.

"Our research focused on understanding the impacts of climate change on the ocean ecosystem. Ice loss in the Arctic is responsible for onefourth of the global heat increase and 50 percent of the sea level rise on the shores of KAUST."

20

THE BEACON | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Sid Samtaney, a TKS graduate, noted, “My memories of the 5K involve both winning the race and being miserable about losing it. I began the 5K running journey at KAUST when I was in the 10th grade at TKS. The first time I raced the 5K at KAUST, my ego as a runner was crushed. I came in third place and was beaten by David Evans, an Ironman triathlete. I remember that was a deeply motivational moment for me. I went home and sat in my room, thinking hard over the details of the race and wondering how I could I have been faster and won. I knew that I would train as hard as I could to beat David the following year. In 11th grade, I had my chance to redeem myself against David, and I beat him. In 12th grade, I gave distance running everything I had, and took home the win in the 5K." “Whenever I speak to people about their memories of KAUST, these normally include socializing with friends, hanging out or studying. I honestly didn't relate to that very much—my mind was and still is constantly thinking over how to run faster for my next race," Samtaney added.

"My memories of KAUST involve training for the big Saudi Arabia-wide national high school cross country race, training for the annual 5K and preparing myself for college. The 5K was an integral part of my positive experience at KAUST, and it helped shape my great memories of being here. The experience competing also helped prepare me for college life, which I'm now enjoying at Adams State University in Colorado in the U.S."

KAUST community members enjoy the University's annual 5 kilometer Fun Run race, which gives them the opportunity to have fun, run competitively and test their endurance skills.

File photo.