Hosting a Global Initiative to Save Coral Reefs

SHARING IMPACTFUL & CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH

KAUST showcases its science and engineering research at the inaugural KAUST Research Open Week

The university opened its doors to schoolchildren, scientists, diplomats, ministry staff and the general public for the inaugural KAUST Research Open Week (KROW). Held across ve days in November and December 2021, KROW featured a range of activities, including keynote speeches by external guests, scienti c talks by KAUST researchers, a Women in STEM panel, laboratory open days, poster sessions and scienti c demonstrations, to increase collaboration internally, celebrate excellence in science, and share cutting-edge research with valued partners and the wider Saudi community.

KROW is a new initiative of the Of ce of the Vice President for Research aimed at showcasing science and engineering excellence at KAUST. This year’s theme, “Sustainability: Science for the Future”, was chosen to provide a positive outlook in the post-pandemic context that resonates across all research areas and is of signi cant relevance to the Kingdom. The 2022 KROW program featured 27 booths, as well as dozens of talks on science and engineering research across KAUST’s major focus areas of energy, the environment, water, food and health, and the digital domain. The 13 keynote speakers included Professor Lord Ara Darzi, Co-Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London and member of the UK House of Lords; Manohar Paluri, Director of Arti cial Intelligence at Meta, formerly known as Facebook; Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, President of Iceland from 1996 to 2016; Dr. Yasmeen Najm, Innovation and Technology Lead at NEOM; and Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing. Formula One driver Lando Norris also spoke to KROW attendees about the importance of the relationship between KAUST and McLaren, and how it is helping to advance cleaner and more powerful technologies in racing.

In addition to thought-provoking talks and panel discussions, attendees were treated to interactive and engaging tours showcasing the front-line research undertaken in KAUST’s core labs and research centers. This behind-the-scenes look at KAUST research facilities and interdisciplinary programs was hosted by technical experts who shed light on the instrumentation, processes and

DONAL BRADLEY Vice President for Research

KAUST RESEARCH WEEK IS A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHOWCASE WHAT WE DO IN OUR RESEARCH AT KAUST. THE INITIATIVE CELEBRATES THE EXCELLENT SCIENCE AT KAUST AND PROVIDES A FORUM TO EXPLORE THE OUTSTANDING RESEARCH OF KAUST ACADEMICS.

research activities that support and enable the insights, innovations and discoveries fostered at the university.

As part of KAUST’s commitment to inspire the next generation of scientists in the Kingdom, KROW 2022 also included scienti c demonstrations involving underwater robots, solar panels, drones and other robotics tools, as well as a series of interactive activities organized under the banner of “Science on the Spine”. Schoolchildren and other community members took part in a variety of scienti c experiments, including identifying endangered turtles.

The inaugural event, led by Dr. Naadiya Carrim, was a major success, attracting more than 1,150 visitors, including 412 from government entities, 274 business visitors, 245 diplomatic representatives and 86 general visitors. It provided a unique forum for a broader discussion on sustainability in the Kingdom, as well as networking for faculty, research staff, and representatives from industry and government.

MCLAREN RACING

“The KAUST campus is amazing. The knowledge, know-how and technology that is being created and developed here is impressive. The KAUST partnership is very important to us.”

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing

BRINGING SCIENCE TO THE COMMUNITY

KAUST brings its annual Science Festival to the communities of Thuwal and Jeddah

TONY CHAN President of KAUST

THE KAUST SCIENCE FESTIVAL HAS BECOME A HIGHLIGHT IN SAUDI ARABIA’S SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CALENDAR. IT IS FAST BECOMING A PRIMARY PLATFORM TO INSPIRE AND PROMOTE YOUNG SCIENTIFIC MINDS, AND UNLEASH THE POWER OF SCIENCE TO ACHIEVE THE UNITED NATIONS’ SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

In January 2022, KAUST hosted its annual Science Festival in the neighboring town of Thuwal, bringing the university’s latest scienti c insights and research to the local community. Marking the rst time KAUST held the annual event outside of its campus, the event saw the university’s scientists, researchers and campus community come together with the Thuwal and Jeddah communities to explore, innovate and celebrate all things science.

As part of an expanded program, people of all ages enjoyed three days of vibrant and diverse activities, including a variety of science exhibits, daily evening science shows, inspiring talks from faculty members, STEM challenges for kids, and science projects that were on display from The KAUST School’s students. Overall, the festival welcomed 7,000 visitors. Local schools also took part in numerous challenges and competitions that celebrated the potential of the next generation of Saudi scientists and innovators.

Thuwal’s secondary school for boys won rst place in the Make a Difference Challenge, where students presented unique engineering solutions to assist people with disabilities. Saabar Intermediate School took rst place in the Bridges Challenge, for which students designed small, aesthetically pleasing, sturdy bridges. Thuwal’s elementary school for girls won the Science Poster Competition based on their research of a STEM topic and design presentation.

The festival showcased a number of exhibits relating to KAUST’s work, including the Core Labs, Startup Fair, Museum of Failed Scienti c Attempts and interactive robots that roamed the site. There was also an exhibition on the Red Sea coast to preview the area’s project to re-write the rules of sustainable tourism. The exhibition featured whale sharks, shura trees, coral reefs and marine-simulation ponds.

The festival was part of KAUST’s efforts to inspire the next generation of scienti c talent in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region. The university is working to capitalize on innovation as a basis for discovery and invention, and unlock the power of science to cement the Kingdom as a knowledgebased economy in line with Vision 2030. Events such as the KAUST Science Festival help to catalyze local talent and further position the university as a leader in science and technology in the Kingdom.

MAYOR OF THUWAL

“This event had a positive impact on the people of Thuwal, especially students and our children, who were left inspired as a result of interacting with scientific experiences and learning about discoveries that serve humanity in energy, water, the environment and digital technology.”

BUILDING NEW ROADS FROM PLASTIC WASTE

KAUST launches its Green Roads initiative in support of the circular carbon economy

KAUST has launched a new initiative in collaboration with Dow Chemical Company and Napco National to use plastic waste as a raw material for new road infrastructure. Known as the Green Roads initiative, the project will demonstrate the potential of an innovative technology that allows plastic to be made into a sustainable bitumen using a conventional modi er. The new material will be used to construct a proof-of-concept road on the KAUST campus, with the goal to build roads in other locations across the Kingdom.

As part of the initiative, hundreds of volunteers from KAUST and the broader community in Thuwal participated in a clean-up campaign in April 2022, removing waste along a stretch of the KAUST-Jeddah highway. The plastic waste collected will be used as raw material for the new road. The road is expected to sustain prolonged exposure to tough external factors such as high temperatures and traf c loads, reducing the need for road maintenance.

The effort aligns with the Kingdom’s growing focus on environmental protection, sustainability and the circular carbon economy that encompasses the “four Rs”: reduce, remove, reuse and recycle. In 2021, the Kingdom launched a whole-of-government and whole-of-society environmental program called the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), which aims to grow the green economy and protect the environment. With more than 60 initiatives under its umbrella, SGI focuses on a range of priorities, including reducing carbon emissions, planting millions of trees throughout the country and region, and implementing biodiversity protection plans.

DR. NAJAH ASHRY Vice President for Strategic National Advancement

WE ARE PROUD TO BE ENGAGING AND EMPOWERING LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO PLAY THEIR PART IN THE TRANSITION FROM A LINEAR ECONOMY TO A CIRCULAR ONE, AND ADDRESS THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE OF WASTE AND POLLUTION.

The initiative comes at a time when KAUST is launching a range of programs to bring its sustainability research focus in line with its campus sustainability practices. The university has appointed Ana Margarida Costa as Head of Sustainability to oversee KAUST’s sustainability drive. A primary aim is to position KAUST as one of the most sustainable universities in the world. The Green Roads initiative is just one example of KAUST’s many sustainability projects in action, and illustrates the university’s corporate social responsibility.

DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY

“I am proud to seethiscollaborationbetween our two institutions. KAUST’s Green Roads initiative is a great opportunity for Dow to engage with KAUST on a sustainability initiative in a region with significant growthpotential. Together, we are paving the way to a more sustainable future for Saudi Arabia.”

Moosa Al Moosa, Country President of Dow Saudi Arabia