2014 September Beacon

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

BEACON ‫املنـارة‬ at Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

September 2014 / Thul Qedah - Thul Hijjah 1435 Volume 5, Issue No. 1

the

www.kaust.edu.sa

USING SCIENCE TO FEED THREE BILLION PEOPLE

“The world’s population stands at 6.5 billion people right now. By the year 2050, we will be 9.5 billion. So we will have a gap of about 3 billion people to feed in the next 35 years,” said Heribert Hirt, Associate Director of KAUST’s Center for Desert Agriculture. An upcoming international

MORE PLASTIC THAN EXPECTED IN THE OCEAN

conference at KAUST, titled Desert Rhizosphere Microbes for Future Sustainable Agriculture, to be held on November 3-5,

“These are the times of dreamy quietude, when beholding the

2015, will focus on examining ways to help plants and crops

tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean's skin, one forgets

survive and thrive in extreme environmental conditions.

the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly

“We try and understand how these plants can actually

remember, that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang.”

live under these extreme conditions and determine how

Perhaps the following interview with Dr. Xabier Irigoien,

we can use this knowledge from these plants,” Hirt said.

Director of the Red Sea Center, isn’t quite as dramatic as Herman

“We are looking into the microbes that are living with these

Melville’s “Moby Dick,” but it is true that the world’s oceans

plants and help them to establish themselves under these

are not as beautiful, nor as clean as they once were. Irigoien’s

conditions of heat, drought and salt which are the three key

findings were recently published in a paper titled, “Plastic Debris

factors in agriculture.”

in the Open Ocean,” in the Proceedings of the National Academy

As we face the growing reality of global warming, this

of Science (PNAS).

knowledge is of primal importance. We will have more heat

We recently sat down with Dr. Irigoien for a face-to-face

and resulting droughts. So our agricultural system will need

interview. Candid and insightful, he detailed the findings of

USING SCIENCE TO FEED | Continued on p7

PLASTIC | Continued on p3

‫اكتشف الباحثون ارتفاع كمية املواد البالستيكية‬ ‫يف املحيطات أكثر مما كان متوقعا‬ ‫توصل فريق عمل البروفيسور زابير إريجوين مدير مركز أبحاث البحر‬ ‫ الى معرفة أن كمية المواد البالستيكية في المحيطات مرتفعة‬،‫األحمر‬ ‫ وتم نشر نتائج هذا البحث أخيرًا في ورقة بحثية‬.‫بصورة غير متوقعه‬ ‫” في مجلة األكاديمية‬Plastic Debris in the Open Ocean " ‫بعنوان‬ .)PNAS( ‫الوطنية للعلوم‬ .‫وفي ما يلي جانب من حوارنا مع البروفيسور زابير إريجوين‬ ‫ هل يمكنك أن تتحدث لنا بإيجاز عن هذا البحث؟‬،‫دكتور اريجوين‬ ‫أجرينا في هذه الورقة دراسة مفصلة عن مدى انتشار المواد البالستيكية‬ .‫الدقيقة في محيطات العالم المفتوحة خالل رحالتنا االستكشافية‬ ‫حيث قمنا بعمل بعض االختبارات وجمع العينات من محيطات العالم‬ ‫ األولى أن البالستيك‬: ‫ وتمكنا من الخروج بنتيجتين رئيسيتين‬.‫المختلفة‬ ‫ والثانية أن معدل البالستيك الذي عثرنا عليه أقل‬، ‫منتشر في كل مكان‬ 3 ‫تتمه صفحة‬

HIGHLY CITED RESEARCHERS

DIVERSITY HELPS TEAM DISCOVER NEW PARTICLES Sometimes what it takes to discover something new is a team with a diversified vision and a lot of patience. At least, this was the case with the latest biomimetic block copolymer particle research conducted by KAUST professors Dr. KlausViktor Peinemann and Dr. Suzana Nunes, along with postdoctoral fellows Dr. Haizhou Yu and Dr. Xiaoyan Qiu. “For me, the most interesting thing with this experiment, is that when most people reach a point in the results when they think this is not what is expected, they will stop. But Haizhou Yu and Xiaoyan Qiu didn’t stop. They are the type DIVERSITY | Continued on p5

INSIDE:

News 1-5

‫التنوع يساعد فريق االحباث على‬ ‫اكتشاف جسيمات جديدة‬ ‫أحيانا كل ما تحتاجه الكتشاف أشياء جديدة هو القليل من الصبر‬ ‫ال في آخر أبحاث‬ ً ‫ وهذا ما حدث فع‬.‫وفريق أبحاث برؤية متنوعة‬ ‫) التي‬copolymer( ‫المحاكاة البيولوجية لكتلة جسيمات كوبوليمر‬ ‫أجراها مجموعة أساتذة من جامعة الملك عبداهلل هم الدكتور‬ ‫ إضافة الى زمالء‬،‫كالوس فيكتور بينيمان والدكتورة سوزانا نونيس‬ ‫ ونشرت‬.‫ما بعد الدكتوراه الدكتور هايشياو يو والدكتور زياويان كوي‬ Nature Communication ‫نتائج هذا البحث في ورقة بحثية في مجلة‬ .‫في شهر مايو الماضي‬ 5 ‫تتمه صفحة‬

Research 6-7

Four KAUST faculty members were recently acknowledged in “Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researchers 2014.” Congratulations to KAUST researchers Dr. Jean M.J. Frechet, Dr. HIGHLY CITED RESEARCHERS | Continued on p8

Community 8

2

News

September 2014

The Beacon

A great university is defined by its people. As we enter our fifth academic year, I would like to thank you

professionals and staff who arrive at KAUST ready to embrace the opportunity before us. Together,

for your collective dedication to building a world-class research university and a vibrant community.

we are exploring the world’s most difficult problems in an environment that motivates us to think

Like you, each year, I enjoy welcoming our new students to campus—they come with fresh ideas, new

big. My good friend Dean Pierre Magistretti recently told our new students “as a scientist you have to

perspectives and the drive to succeed. This fall we welcome 284 new students to KAUST, as well as

like uncertainty. You have to like to be in unchartered territory and you must not be unsettled by the

11 new faculty, 30 new post docs and 64 staff members. Since last summer, 27 faculty, 175 post docs

unknown. Actually, you have to be driven by the unknown.”

and over 300 staff members have agreed to join our ranks. They and their families join you to bring

I believe this applies to all of us, in every corner of KAUST. After five years we are still navigating

forth the best ideas from all over the world. Our international DNA makes us truly unique, with over

unchartered territory, but to our advantage we have the brightest minds in the world and our shared

100 nationalities confidently working together to advance innovative research and education that will

passion for a good challenge. King Abdullah gave us this opportunity by intentionally creating a

benefit humanity.

university “where faculty, students and staff would have the freedom to aim high and explore risky

Collectively, we share the same passion for curiosity, adventure and creativity—simply put, we love challenges. This is why we attract some of the world’s best scientists, engineers, scholars, administrators,

ideas without constraints.”

Welcome to the new academic year and let’s continue our journey as a Great University!  Jean-Lou Chameau

The Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 1, September 2014. 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 Nicholas Demille nicholas.demille@kaust.edu.sa © King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Printed on partially recycled paper.

ESTABLISHING LONG AND SHORT-TERM GOALS

I really underscore, extremely self-critical. At every moment of your journey in science you

Defining what “the big question” is, however,

have to question what you have found. Is this

is only the first step. Equally important is

really true? Is this an artifact maybe? Or is

devising a sustainable strategy to stay on track.

this something that is only marginal and you

Short-term goals have to be very rigorous, very

kind of blow it up thinking that it’s a big and

concrete, very down-to-earth and integrated in a

important observation. So here again you need

long-term vision. But at the same time students

to have a balance.”

“should think long-term and a vision about the

The path to a Ph.D. isn’t always easy. A

big question that they want to answer. It’s a

student may have an idea which he or she thinks

THE BIG QUESTION: ADVICE FOR NEW STUDENTS

juggling act every day,” Magistretti explained.

is the greatest concept since Leonardo DaVinci.

“I really think that for science to be an inspiration,

is about science,” he said. Highlighting the fact

for science to be exciting, you have to address a big question,” said Prof. Pierre Magistretti, Dean

While having their research published in a

But, on occasion, the mentor will advise against

great journal is an ambition of any graduate

it when they think it will not work. “I would say

student as they embark on their academic career,

that 90 percent of the time the mentor would be

that their academic mentors have in most cases

it should not be their only goal. The BESE Dean

right,” said Magistretti.

10 to 30 years experience in their field, and thus

said, “your goal should be to find something

“So again it’s a matter of balance,” he adds.

of KAUST’s Biological and Environmental Science

may be inclined to be less critical of received

important, to ask an important question and to

“You have to trust the knowledge that your

and Engineering Division and Bioscience Professor,

hypotheses, he pointed out that “graduate

find something significant—especially if you’re in

mentor has acquired over the years and let

during a recent orientation speech to new students.

students have some kind of ignorance about the

a place like KAUST. And at the same time, as you

him or her orient you towards an important

The guiding principles Magistretti focused on

field. This ignorance can be sometimes helpful

go to the lab everyday to conduct experiments

question and you can bring an important

in his talk were: curiosity, passion, establishing

because it provides an unbiased, fresh eye

and try something, you must be conscious of the

contribution to a bigger picture that the

a short and long-term vision, and balancing

toward a question.”

fact that most of the time it won’t work. You must

mentor has developed over time. But I think,

keep on persisting.”

particularly as you progress in your Ph.D., as

the requirements of being both self-critical and self-confident.

Expressing his confidence that the students must possess that curiosity fiber to have been

Having the passion and the vision to address

As he reminded the incoming master's and Ph.D.

accepted at KAUST, Magistretti said that those

big questions will help overcome the frustrations

candidates that they are in “one of the best places

traits of curiosity and passion represent the

of the short-term goals that sometimes

in the world,” Magistretti said it’s really up to them

bedrock of a scientific career.

inevitably occur.

to follow their curiosity and identify important

“When you do experiments, when you do

questions—with the help of their mentors. Stressing

research, don’t let your creativity be constrained

the importance of applying themselves to learning

by your knowledge,” Magistretti cautioned.

you read more and acquire more knowledge, you gain a fresh eye also.”

Conducting original research always entails a measure of self-confidence when questioning existing knowledge. This

THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-CONFIDENCE

comes hand-in-hand with being extremely

“In addition to being curious, driven and

self-critical. To illustrate this point, Prof.

proven and accepted scientific knowledge, he

“As a scientist you have to like uncertainty. You

passionate, you have to be very self-confident

Magistretti referred to a quote by pioneering

cautioned students, especially the ones doing

have to like to be in unchartered territory and you

when you do science,”

Magistretti told

scientist, Sir Isaac Newton, who said he “made

original research, to not be afraid of questioning

must not be unsettled by the unknown. Actually,

the incoming students. “You really have to

discoveries because he was standing on the

prevailing paradigms.

you have to be driven by the unknown. And that’s

believe in yourself. This is important. Okay,

shoulders of giants.”

“If you want to advance science you have to

a matter of passion. So this is really an engine

the experiment didn’t work, you’ll try another

“We have to acknowledge the truth and

tackle, as I said, a big question for which there

to move ahead in your quest for knowledge and

one and modify this but you go ahead. And at

validity of existing knowledge but at the same

is not yet an answer. And that’s everything there

discovery. You need passion,” he said.

the same time you have to be extremely, and

time we have to be ready to question it.” 

KAUST PROFESSOR ELECTED MEMBER OF AGYA

DR. BLANCA AYUSO DE DIOS NAMED VISITING SCHOLAR

KAUST’s Osman Bakr, Assistant Professor of Materials Science and

Dr. Blanca Ayuso de Dios, KAUST Visiting Researcher of Stochastic Numerics

Engineering, was elected one of the first 50 members of the Arab-German

Research Group, has been named the 2013 Romberg Visiting Scholar by the

Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA) this June.

Heidelberg Graduate School of Mathematical and Computational Methods for

The first 50 AGYA members were selected after two calls for membership

the Sciences. The official notification was made in February, 2014.

in 2013 and 2014. From these calls, the organization chose 25 Arab and

After receiving her Ph.D. in Mathematical Sciences from Universidad

25 German outstanding researchers to represent their community. The

Autonoma de Madrid (Spain) in October 2003, de Dios took a postdoctoral

selected members came from universities and research institutions across

position at the Istituto di Matematica Applicata e Tecnologie Informatiche in

the Middle East including Egypt, Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia as well

Pavia, Italy. In 2007, she returned to Madrid as an Assistant Professor. Several

as Germany.

To celebrate the announcement, Bakr and his fellow members gathered for the opening conference in Germany at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities

years later, her work led her to the Centre de Recerca Matematica in Barcelona, as a Ramon y Cajal Researcher. On January 2014, she joined KAUST and the Stochastic Numerics Research Group as Visiting Researcher.

(BBAW) in Berlin to discuss topics around education, energy, water and environment, cultural

Her research is mainly concerned with the development and analysis of numerical methods (mainly of

heritage, innovation and transformation processes. They also attended AGYA’s opening

finite element type) for partial differential equations. She is also active in the analysis and development

ceremony on June 21.

of fast solvers for the algebraic systems that arise from numerical discretization, in particular domain

AGYA began in 2013 at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities in

decomposition and multilevel methods. Her more recent interests include uncertainty quantification,

Germany and the Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain as the first bilateral young academy in the

and the applications of her work are most directly related to continuum mechanics and plasma physics.

world. Its goal is to promote cooperation between Arab and German researchers who are in the first ten years of their career following their Ph.D. AGYA also support interdisciplinary projects across various fields of research, scientific policy and education, and see their members as ambassadors of science and culture. 

The Romberg Visiting Scholarship is for up to six months, while spanning an eligible period of three years. During visits, de Dios will contribute to the training and research program of HGS MathComp.

In doing so, she will work closely with Prof. Guido Kanschat and other members of the IWR, the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing of Heidelberg University. 

News

www.kaust.edu.sa

SAUDI RESEARCH SCIENCE INSTITUTE HOSTS WORLD-RENOWNED MIT PROF. WOODIE FLOWERS

September 2014

3

which encourages nondestructive competition,

the evolution of the course, from something simple and low-profile,

knowledge-sharing and mutual respect among

to a campus-wide event, and finally to an internationally-recognized

peers for the betterment of all.

course. He noted that the course is intended to inspire students to

At lunch and dinner prior to the lecture,

tackle increasingly challenging problems each year.

young SRSI scholars flocked to Flowers to

Flowers then described the FIRST LEGO League robotics

discuss the future of modern technologies and

competitions, which he helped to create, and his work to engage

share their experiences participating in the

younger audiences in the rewards and challenges of robotics. Now

LEGO League. Students also tried their best

spanning nearly 60 countries, these efforts have enjoyed increasing

to find out in advance from Flowers all they

success, and an award in his name celebrates advances in effective

could about topics in his upcoming lecture,

communication in engineering and design.

which they eagerly awaited.

The reason for Flowers’ broad international appeal to young people was immediately

The lecture concluded with a long Q & A session, in which SRSI participants had the opportunity to continue the discussion with Flowers.

apparent in his lecture. A captivating and

“It was both exciting and gratifying to see the students’

creative speaker, he began by telling the

overwhelming response to Prof. Flowers’ talk,” said Debra Carlson

LAST MONTH, as part of its Distinguished Speakers lecture series,

students about his first steps into technology as a teenager from

Wood, Manager of Young Talent Development for Saudi Initiatives.

the Saudi Research Science Institute (SRSI) hosted world-renowned

a poor family in Louisiana, USA. Now one of MIT’s most beloved

“Clearly, his topic and his approach resonated deeply.”

MIT Professor Woodie Flowers—one of the most recognizable faces

researchers, he said his goal is to create a passion for technology

in modern robotics.

in his students.

The SRSI program hosts 45 top high school students from throughout the Kingdom for six weeks of intensive research

Flowers is perhaps best known by young international students

Indeed, Flowers’ course, Introduction to Design and Manufacturing,

under world-class KAUST faculty mentors. Now in its fourth

who compete in the FIRST LEGO League—a robotics program

is one of the most popular and influential engineering courses at

year, SRSI inspires the next generation of young Saudi leaders

designed to engage secondary and high school students in science

MIT. In it, students are given kits containing parts, and must compete

in science and research. SRSI is administered by KAUST’s Saudi

and technology—for coining the phrase “gracious professionalism,”

throughout the semester to design robotic devices. Flowers described

Initiatives organization. 

:‫تتمة الصفحة األولى‬

PLASTIC | Continued from p1 the expedition’s research, spoke of what

by humans – via barges and so forth -that

Is there a risk of these microplastics

worries him and talked about what’s next

then travels into the open ocean?

getting back into human water supplies?

in the global battle to clean up our oceans.

Yes, it’s coming out from the rivers, from the coast, wherever.

Dr. Irigoien, could you please give a brief synopsis of this latest research?

No. Although the microplastics are very tiny, they are still much larger than anything that could pass through water treatment

OK. So let’s just take a plastic milk container,

facilities. But, the real concern would be the

This is a paper where we studied the

for example. When you’re referring

plastics that enter the food chain, when fish

distribution of microplastics in the open

to microplastics, you’re talking about

eat them.

ocean around the planet. This was done

something that, when traveling out into the

with an expedition crew that went around

open ocean, it is being deteriorated by salt

Was there anything that surprised you

the planet collecting samples. There are two

water, so it ends up in tiny pieces?

in these findings?

main messages and findings that we got.

Yes, what happens is the weathering

The fact that there are plastics everywhere.

The first is that there is plastic everywhere.

effect. You have the sun, the salt, the water

Perhaps that was naïve on our part. You’re

There are microplastics as far away from dry

– so the plastic starts breaking down. Any

used to going to the open ocean and seeing

land as one can travel. The second finding is

large piece will break into smaller pieces.

clean, clear water everywhere so you don’t

that much less plastic was found than what

Those smaller pieces break down to even

expect to find as much as we did. The other

should be there. We know the amount of

small sizes, and so on - eventually to sizes

surprise is that so much plastic is missing, is

plastics that are produced, and the number

less than one millimeter. We found that

unaccounted for. The question then is where

of plastics that are entering the ocean. This

in the centimeter sized ranges, there is

has it gone?

means the plastics are either sinking or

an amount of plastics that we expected.

going into the food chain of ocean species.

When we looked for sizes in the one to

What’s the next step in the research?

two millimeter range, we found that they

The next step is to find out where the

So that’s the crux of it? You have a pretty

are, and have been, disappearing. And our

microplastics are going, with certainty. Our

good bead on the quantity of plastics that

main hypothesis is that they are being

main hypotheses are that they are being eaten

are leaving dry land and going out into the

eaten by fish.

or that they sink.

quantity, but that quantity is not there.

Are there studies that have caught fish

What’s the most important message for

Then, it’s a question of where it has gone,

and checked their digestive systems to

the average person on the street?

and is it then harmful in some fashion?

see if plastics are present?

oceans. You’re expecting to find a certain

Plastics have been around for a long

Yes. The exact estimation of how much

There are studies looking at fish in the

time, and they are a large part of our

plastic is going out into the oceans is not

open ocean, and they have found that

daily lives. Eliminating plastics from our

absolutely precise, but we are finding 100

they do eat the plastics. There are a limited

lives is not practical. But the issue of the

times less plastic than expected. So even if

number of these studies, but they do find that

management of the plastic trash, any trash,

the outgoing plastic estimation is slightly

the fish do have plastics in their stomachs.

is something that needs to be addressed. 

off, the discrepancy between what plastic is being found is a lot less…a lot less. So, the plastic is entering the ocean, and then breaking down into microplastics – but then much of it is disappearing.

Another interesting observation is that for the larger-sized plastic materials, we are finding the expected amounts. But for the smaller-sized plastics, the microplastics- they are disappearing. There is a range of smaller sizes that are disappearing. In 88 percent of the water samples we pulled from the world’s oceans, we found plastics.

That is a significant percentage. To clarify, when you’re referring to plastics, you are talking about trash? Trash that is dumped

‫ ألننا نعرف مقدار المواد البالستيكية التي‬.‫بكثير من ما يفترض أن يكون‬ ‫ وهذا يعني‬.‫ ونسبة المواد البالستيكية التي تصل للمحيطات‬،‫يتم إنتاجها‬ ‫أن هذه المواد البالستيكية إما أنها وصلت إلى قاع المحيط أو دخلت‬ .‫ضمن السلسلة الغذائية لكائنات المحيطات‬ ‫أين اختفى البالستيك وهل هو ضار للبيئة؟‬ ،‫تقديرنا عن كمية البالستيك التي تصل إلى المحيطات ليس دقيقًا كفاية‬ ‫ولكننا الحظنا أن كمية البالستيك التي وجدنها هي أقل بمائة مرة عن‬ ‫ حيث أننا نعلم أن كثير من البالستيك يصل الى المحيط‬.‫ما كان متوقعا‬ ‫ثم يتحلل الى مواد بالستيكية دقيقة – ولكن جزء كبير منها يختفي‬ .‫بصورة محيرة‬ ‫وثمة مالحظة أخرى مثيرة لالهتمام وهي أن كمية المواد البالستيكية‬ ‫الكبيرة الحجم مماثلة تمامًا لما كان متوقع بحسب الدراسات التي‬ ‫أجريت في هذا المجال ولكن الموضوع مختلف تماما بالنسبة للمواد‬ ‫البالستكية الصغيرة الحجم و الدقيقة والتي لوحظ أنها تختفي بنسب‬ ‫ من‬88% ‫ وخالل هذه الدراسة عثرنا على مواد بالستيكية في‬.‫متفاوتة‬ .‫عينات المياه التي جمعناها من مختلف محيطات العالم‬ ‫هل هناك خطر في أن تصل هذه المواد البالستيكية الدقيقة الى مخزوننا‬ ‫من مياه الشرب؟‬ ‫هذه المواد البالستيكية دقيقة جدًا ولكنها أكبر من أن تتجاوز عملية‬ ‫ لكن الخطر الحقيقي هو أن تدخل هذه المواد‬.‫معالجة وتحلية المياه‬ .‫ضمن السلسلة الغذائية في حال تناولتها االسماك‬ ‫ما هو أكثر ما فاجأك في هذه النتائج؟‬ ‫ حيث أننا اعتدنا على الذهاب‬.‫حقيقة وجود البالستيك في كل مكان‬ ‫ ولم‬،‫إلى المحيطات المفتوحة ورؤية المياه نظيفة ونقية في كل مكان‬ ‫ والمفاجأة‬.‫يخطر ببالنا العثور على هذه الكمية الكبيرة من البالستيك‬ ‫ وال يمكننا‬،‫األخرى هي أن الكثير من هذه المواد البالستكية تختفي‬ ‫معرفة أين اختفت؟‬ ‫ما هي الخطوة التالية في هذا البحث؟‬ ‫الخطوة التالية هي معرفة مسار هذه المواد البالستيكية الدقيقة‬ ‫ والفرضيات الرئيسية لدينا هي أنها إما تنتهي كطعام‬.‫في المحيطات‬  .‫لألسماك أو انها وصلت إلى قاع المحيطات‬

4

Research

September 2014

The Beacon

sense this is a simplified version of life. I mean, life is a random

pattern. “The averaging process is based on complicated individual

process with a drift and football is likewise,” Markowich explained.

behavioral patterns. It may not be a world-changing thing to

The drift is there because the better team should win, but this

describe the Ola wave in a soccer stadium, but it is interesting that

doesn’t always happen and the “not always” is when the randomness

using mathematics you can describe such a social phenomenon,”

becomes too strong and takes over the drift. “In a football match, you

said Markowich.

have 11 players on each side – the more players the more complexity

While the wave equation is interesting, crowd motion is a

you have to the game. You have external factors and internal factors

practical and serious mathematical problem. Crowd motion in a

and it’s all random, but in many cases the drift beats the randomness,”

stadium is an unusual case as it is three dimensional. A stadium has

Markowich said.

different entrances and levels and of course, an important question

Take a look at the world champions in the last 30 years. It wasn’t always the favorites that won, but it was always good teams and that

“We have examples in football stadiums where people were killed

is what Markowich says is the drift. There may be some consistency

like in the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985. It was a catastrophic

overall, but in a single match anything is possible.

event in the crowd started by the follow the leader behavior that led

“I think that’s what makes football so exciting. It is just not predetermined. You never know when you get in the game what will

WHY FOOTBALL IS A RANDOM PROCESS WITH A DRIFT

is how do you evacuate a stadium in a fast and organized manner?

to the deaths of 39 people and 600 more injured,” said Markowich.

“Managing an evacuation is a complicated mathematical process.“

happen. If you compare it with tennis, which is a game that I like

Using simulations, mathematicians try to come up with ways to

very much, there are only two players so it’s much less complex,” said

organize the behavior of people. One idea is to put a column in the

Markowich." There is still some randomness, but most often in tennis

middle of exits. “You might think this is going to be detrimental as

the favorite wins. With 11 players many more things can happen.”

it decreases the area of the exit, but in many cases it leads to the organization of the crowd,” said Markowich.

MATH is in everything including football, but it takes a mathematician like Dr. Peter Markowich to explain how football equates to life.

AND THEN THERE’S THE CROWDS

He says when watching simulations, you can see that crowds

Crowds are another mathematical issue. Take for example, the

exit faster when there is an obstacle in the middle or a double

“I really love football. I actually grew up with football. My father

motion created when spectators do the Ola-wave through the

door. In these cases, an obstacle has a positive effect in organizing

took me to the pitch when I was a young boy and even my mother

stadium. There is an interesting mathematical model that goes

the crowd motion.

came along. It was a family thing, and since that time I’ve gone to

along with it which was developed by Gueant, Lasry and Lions

see matches,” said Dr. Peter Markowich, Distinguished Professor of

in their “Mean Field Games and Applications” framework. The

Applied Mathematics at KAUST.

ADDING PANIC TO THE EQUATION

idea begins with a large number of players—in this case 80,000

Panic in crowd modeling is an important factor, as when setting

But while the game is fun to watch, there are various aspects of

spectators and a few control aspects. “The model is based on the

up the model equations, you have to discard other strategies and

football where mathematics are involved. The first example is one that

idea that you want to behave similar to your neighbors. So if

predefined patterns. Markowich says you may begin with a model

Markowich says is a more philosophical concept.

they get up, you also tend to get up. On the other hand, when

based on averages, but in a crisis, patterns change catastrophically

you sit, you are comfortable and when you stand you are also

and these can be described by so-called mathematical panic models.

comfortable. You don’t want to be in the middle position with

“It’s not based on physics and the principles that are written in

“If you think of football as a whole—any football match that is 90

bent knees and uncomfortable, but at the same time you want to

stone, but based on our behavioral instincts which are much more

minutes—it is really a great example of a very complicated random

be coordinated with what your neighbor does,” said Markowich.

complicated,” he explained. “In the end we still write equations

The Mean Field Game developers have written down a

which are physics-based, although the constitutive equations come

FOOTBALL AND THE MEANING OF LIFE

process. I would say it’s a random process with a drift,” he said.

The randomness Markowich is talking about comes from everyone

mathematical equation for the Ola-wave and have tested it and

involved in the game. It includes the physical shape of the players, how

it does the job. Markowich says the reason it works is because

Which brings us back to football and why the game is so exciting

the leading players slept during the night, how the referee sees things

these models are based on an averaging principle. In other words,

to watch. “We are enticed by the game because it’s a small model

and the quality of the pitch. Even the weather plays a role. “Maybe it

you have a large number of people. What each one does is not

of life. It is full of random processes just like life,” Markowich said.

rains; maybe it doesn’t. It depends on very minor things—so in some

really relevant, but what is relevant is the emerging, averaged

KAUST ALUMNI CELEBRATION IN BEIJING HOSTED BY PRESIDENT JEAN-LOU CHAMEAU In May 2014, President Jean-Lou Chameau,

their significant accomplishments in the few

Vice President James Calvin, Dean Brian Moran

short years since graduation. Some of the Alumni

and several professors led a KAUST delegation

have become entrepreneurs and formed their

to China. A highlight of the trip was a special

own companies, while others have joined the

gathering, hosted by President Chameau, in

professorial ranks at universities.

Beijing of Alumni (graduates and former post-

It was also exciting for new students to meet

docs), as well as students from China who will be

KAUST Alumni from China and see how proud

joining KAUST in August.

the Alumni are of KAUST and the opportunities

This was the first formal gathering and

KAUST has provided them. In recognition of

celebration of KAUST Alumni outside of the

the strong and enthusiastic cohort of Alumni in

Kingdom. It was especially exciting for President

China, KAUST will be forming a working group

Chameau and the faculty to meet with the

on the establishment of an Alumni chapter in

enthusiastic Alumni in China and to learn of

China in the very near future. 

from non-physical considerations like how do humans behave.”

It’s a random process with a drift. 

‫لو شامو يلتقي خرجيي جامعة‬-‫الرئيس جان‬ ‫امللك عبداهلل يف بكني‬ ‫وأعضاء الوفد بالطلبة والخريجين في الصين وتعرفوا على‬ ‫أعمالهم وإنجازاتها الملموسة والتي إستطاعوا تحقيقها‬ ‫ كما تم خالل هذه الزيارة‬.‫في سنوات وجيزة بعد التخرج‬ ‫اإللتقاء ببعض الخريجين الذين أصبحوا روادًا لألعمال‬ ‫ بينما البعض اآلخر فضل‬،‫ويمتلكون شركاتهم الخاصة‬ .‫االنضمام إلى صفوف األساتذة في الجامعات‬ ‫وكانت هذه المناسبة فرصة رائعة لطالب الجامعة الجدد‬ ‫كي يلتقوا بالخريجين حيث عبروا عن فخرهم بانتمائهم‬ ‫إلى جامعة الملك عبداهلل التي وفرت لهم هذه الفرص‬ ‫ وتشجيعًا لروح الحماس لدى خريجي الجامعة‬.‫الكبيرة‬ ‫ فقد قررت جامعة الملك عبداهلل تشكيل‬،‫في الصين‬ ‫مجموعة عمل إلنشاء فرع محلي لخريجي الجامعة في‬  .‫الصين في المستقبل القريب‬

‫قام وفد من جامعة الملك عبداهلل للعلوم والتقنية‬ ‫لو شامو رئيس الجامعة وعضوية‬-‫برئاسة الدكتور جان‬ ،‫كل من نائب الرئيس للشؤون األكاديمية جيمس كالفين‬ ‫وعميد شؤون الطالب براين موران وعدد من أعضاء هيئة‬ .‫التدريس بزيارة للصين خالل شهر مايو الماضي‬ ‫وتهدف هذه الزيارة إلى اإللتقاء بخريجي الجامعة الذين‬ ‫حصلوا على درجتي الماجستير والدكتوراه التي تمنحها‬ ‫ وكذلك اإللتقاء بباحثي ما‬،‫جامعة الملك عبداهلل‬ ‫ باإلضافة إلى اإللتقاء بالطلبة‬،‫بعد الدكتوراه السابقين‬ ‫الصينيون الجدد الذين سينضمون الى جامعة الملك‬ .‫عبداهلل في شهر أغسطس الحالي‬ ‫ويعتبر هذا اللقاء هو األول رسميًا بخريجي جامعة‬ ‫الملك عبداهلل خارج المملكة حيث إلتقى الرئيس شامو‬

News

www.kaust.edu.sa

September 2014

5

Founding President of Ozyegin University in Seed Fund spring 2014 winners pose with members of the Seed Fund team during the Spring Gala 2014.

Istanbul, Turkey. Prof. Erkut discussed the mission of the world’s new “global universities,” which are “third-generation” universities that must focus on commercializing technology produced through their education and research.

“Universities are breeding grounds for entrepreneurs,” Erkut said, “and universities today must make a point of producing and encouraging entrepreneurs. Through this, economic value, new companies, and employment opportunities will be created.” All these, he noted, are essential in the global economy today, as the world has an increasing need for more and better jobs for an ever-growing workforce.

SEED FUND SPRING GALA 2014 UNVEILS THREE WINNING STARTUP PROJECTS

Erkut also stated that he believes KAUST has many of the characteristics of a third-generation university, and has the potential of becoming a fully-fledged third-generation institution. This, he

New Ventures & Entrepreneurship hosted the 2014 Spring Seed Fund

The winning teams’ project titles and members were: “I3-Waste CO2

said, will be essential to fostering economic growth and creating new

Gala on June 4 to recognize and honor this spring’s winning Seed

to Commercial Products” (Dr. Jeremie Pelletier, Laboratory Manager

employment opportunities in Saudi Arabia, which is as essential for

Fund teams.

at Catalysis Research Center; Dr. Valerio D’Elia, Research Scientist

the Kingdom today as it is for his home country of Turkey. “There is

The KAUST Seed Fund functions as a product development funding

at Catalysis Research Center; Mr. Blake Ashwell, Center Manager

the important need,” he stated, “to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem

mechanism that helps budding entrepreneurs move their ideas

at Catalysis Research Center); “ONCOGENOMICS - Highly Accurate

in our respective countries.”

through the commercialization process and ultimately form them

Test for Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer” (Prof. Vladimir Bajic,

The event concluded with the Seed Fund winning teams presenting

into new businesses. The University aims to provide the Kingdom

Director of the Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC); Dr

their innovative business ideas through a series of short videos and

with innovative startup companies leading to new jobs, and present a

Roberto Incitti, Bioinformatician at the CBRC; Dr. Hicham Mansour,

presentations. The teams then had a chance to network with event

successful startup model that may be used Kingdom-wide.

Research Scientist in Biosciences Core Lab; Dr. Claude Hennion,

visitors from academia and industry.

As Amin Al-Shibani, KAUST Vice President for Economic

external member; Dr. Jean-Pierre Roperch, external member); and

The Seed Fund is led by Nicola Bettio, who has recently joined

Development, noted during the event: “The Seed Fund program

“ZAD - Microbes to improve agriculture under drought, heat and

KAUST and who has been managing a venture capital fund in Europe

is geared at empowering interested faculty, research scientists,

salinity” (Prof. Heribert Hirt, Biological Sciences and Engineering

for the last 13 years. Saifuddin Tajuddin Mohamed, another new hire

postdoctoral fellows and students, and providing them with the space

Division (BESE); Prof. Daniele Daffonchio, BESE; Dr. Axel de Zelicourt,

with long experience in entrepreneurial ventures in North America,

needed as well as the seed capital to turn their ideas into successful

postdoctoral fellow, Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA); Dr. Feras

is managing the Fund portfolio. Other members of the team include

businesses. We recognize they are working in deep science with real

F. Lafi, Research Scientist, CDA; Dr. Ramona Marasco, postdoctoral

Osman Sayeed, Award Financial Administrator; Amal Dokhan, Project

business potential.”

fellow, Red Sea Research Center).

Coordinator; and Ozden Yurtseven, Pre-Award Specialist.

The Seed Fund hosts two rounds of applications for funding during

“It is just the beginning of the teams’ journeys,” Al-Shibani noted.

The Seed Fund team is always ready to meet people with novel

the year, one in the spring and one in the fall. This spring’s three

“The teams will face incredible pressure, the need to make difficult

business ideas to discuss their projects and investigate how to

winning teams were drawn from a pool of 37 applications, and were

decisions, and take risks – and all of this in addition to honoring their

commercialize them. For further information and to schedule a

selected by a panel of judges from academia to industry. A final

dedication to their current professional and scientific engagements.”

one-on-one meeting, contact the Seed Fund team at seed.fund@

selection was made by the Seed Fund Oversight Committee.

The event featured Keynote Speaker Professor Erhan Erkut,

kaust.edu.sa. 

:‫تتمة الصفحة األولى‬

DIVERSITY | Continued from p1 of people who will take the results and be curious

With this particular project, they took a powder

enough to go forward and find the real beauty of

from a polymer and stirred in it different organic

Xiaoyan saw things differently. When she looked at

it,” said Nunes, Professor of Environmental Science

solvents. As they stirred it, the structures formed

Qiu’s knowledge gave the chemistry and

and Engineering.

and changed over time. “In the end, we made quite

membrane team insight from a new perspective. She

it, she said it looked like biomaterials,” said Yu.

Using their combined experience with block

interesting particles. We are trying to learn from

noted when looking at the pore size, that it might

copolymers and self-assembly, the team utilized

nature and are using the principle of self-assembly

be suitable to separate something like proteins. And

what they knew to learn something they didn’t.

like nature does,” Peinemann said.

because the pores were so regular, they were not only

When the initial results were not as planned, they

The particles the team found contained attributes

continued to explore to see what happened. Taking

that could be useful in biotechnology, medicine and

the chance on waiting was worth it. “They found

catalysis applications. They were able to separate

a nice biomaterial application. Then investigated

specific proteins by electrostatic interaction or by

why this structure is that way and not in the way

size. The particles were also able to absorb these

we expected it to produce,” Nunes said.

able to separate proteins, but ones with almost equal molecule weight.

LOOKING TO NATURE FOR FUTURE MEMBRANE SOLUTIONS

proteins. “Another potential application for the

Currently, many groups are looking at natural

Their results were published in Nature

particle is the control and release of certain proteins.

structures and trying to mimic what they can do.

C o m m u n i c a t i o n i n M a y ( D O I 10 . 10 3 8 /

For example, they may perhaps be loaded with a

Nunes says their case is unique as the structure is

ncomms5110). The paper explains how they found

drug and injected into the body that then slowly

completely porous. It can absorb the protein similar

a simple way to fabricate microspheres through

release the drug,” Peinemann said.

to how it would work in nature. “It’s the way many

block copolymer self-assembly. The particles they

But this discovery might have not occurred

of our own organs work. We, ourselves, are in a way

found are able to act as pH-responsive gates and

without the dynamics of the team involved. They

a self-assembly. This is amazing to get this structure

have a highly porous infrastructure, which allows

say without their mix of expertise, they may not

just by mixing without a planned specific design

them to have ultrahigh protein sorption capacity.

have immediately seen the potential in the initial

or probing. You have an order that is happening

It was the first time this simple strategy to fabricate

structures. Nor would they have realized how time

spontaneously,” she said.

micrometer-sized spheres with complexed porous

would have changed the shape of the particles.

order and gated nanopores by BCP self-assembly had been reported.

A WINNING DIVERSIFIED TEAM

The team said they are trying to learn from these

As members of KAUST’s Advanced Membranes

biological channels as they are much more effective

& Porous Materials Center and Water Desalination

than artificial channels. This research was one of

and Reuse Center, Peinemann has decades of

their ways to approach it, but other groups around

experience creating large-scale membranes,

the world are trying different things.

For over a year, the team had been working on this

while Yu is experienced in block copolymers and

“We—and I mean the scientific groups around

block copolymer research with an interest in self-

Nunes’ specialty is in membranes and polymer

world—are in a state of development where we can

assembly. “We always want to develop structures

thermodynamics. But it was Xiaoyan Qiu’s

afford to explore much more complex mechanisms of

which can do new types of polymer separations –

expertise in proteins and biology that gave them

transport,” said Nunes. “I think with all the knowledge

separations that are difficult to do. This is our main

the breakthrough they needed.

we now have on membranes, it’s time to go a step

goal,” explained Peinemann, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering.

“When I looked at the structure, I looked at it as a chemist. But because her background is in biology,

forward and mimic some of the special biological channels that allow for complex separation.” 

‫ أستاذة العلوم‬،‫تقول الدكتورة سوزانا نونيس‬ ‫ "أكثر ما شدني في هذه‬: ‫والهندسة البيئية‬ ‫ هو حقيقة أن معظم الباحثين عندما‬،‫التجربة‬ ‫يصلون إلى مرحلة متقدمة في أبحاثهم ثم‬ ‫يكتشفون أن النتائج مغايرة تماما عن ما هو‬ ‫متوقع فإنهم في معظم الحاالت يتوقفون‬ ‫ولكن األمر لم يكن‬. .‫عن البحث والمحاولة‬ ‫كذلك بالنسبة للدكتور هايشياو يو والدكتور‬ ‫ فهم من العلماء المجتهدين‬.‫زياويان كوي‬ ‫الذين ال تثنيهم غرابة النتائج عن مواصلة‬ ‫ال يكفي‬ ً ‫ال علميًا جمي‬ ً ‫البحث ويمتلكان فضو‬ ‫لدفع نتائج البحث إلى األمام والخروج بأشياء‬ ."‫جديدة منه‬ ‫وتمكن الفريق باستخدام خبراتهم في مجال‬ ‫المحاكاة البيولوجية لكتلة جسيمات كوبوليمر‬ ‫من التعرف على أشياء لم يكونوا على علم‬ ‫ فعندما كانت النتائج األولية مخالفة لما‬.‫بها‬ ‫ استمر الفريق في البحث‬،‫كان يتوقعه الفريق‬ .‫واالستكشاف لمعرفة ما يمكن أن يحدث‬ ‫وكان قراره في المواصلة واالنتظار يستحق كل‬ ‫ "اكتشفوا‬:‫ قالت الدكتورة نونيس‬.‫هذا العناء‬ ‫ ثم‬.‫جسيمات مادة بيولوجية ذات تركيب فريد‬ ‫قاموا بدراسة بنية هذه الجسيمات ولماذا هي‬ ."‫مغايرة عن ما كانوا يتوقعونه‬ ‫ووجد الفريق أن هذه الجسيمات تمتلك خصائص‬ ‫مفيدة و لها تطبيقات عديدة في مجاالت مختلفة‬ ‫ كما استطاعوا‬.‫مثل التقنية الحيوية والطب والحفز‬ ‫فصل بروتينات محددة بالتفاعل الكهربائية‬ ‫الساكن وتبين أن هذه الجسيمات قادرة على‬ ‫ يقول الدكتور بينيمان‬.‫امتصاص هذه البروتينات‬ ‫ " إحدى تطبيقات هذه الجسيمات هو قدرتها‬: ‫ حيث‬.‫الكبيرة على التحكم بإطالق البروتينات‬ ‫يمكنها حمل العقاقير الطبية وإطالقها في مجرى‬  ."‫الدم داخل الجسم بفاعلية‬

6

Research

September 2014

The Beacon

“In order to get a local model at the level of Jeddah, we first

The group has, for instance, observed that the currents of

go from very large-scale MENA-wide models all the way down to

the Red Sea turn differently in the summer than they do in

a few hundred meters on Jeddah,” Hoteit outlined. To obtain the

the winter. “This has a very important impact on the biology,”

MENA (Middle East & North Africa) region data, his team used

Hoteit explained. “It regulates and changes the food supply and

data from satellites and international sources.

nutrients for the fish and corals. You cannot study the biology

As they eventually zoomed in over the Jeddah region, the local

without the currents. There is no way.”

data was sourced from PME (Presidency of Meteorology and

KAUST scientists also observed that, due to heat and wind, the

Environment). The data collected is then used to complement and

Red Sea experiences a lot of evaporation. It loses around two

guide the atmospheric and weather models employed to forecast.

meters of water per year. It’s actually supplied back by water from

“We can predict these events one or two days in advance. So

the Indian Ocean—a process known as overturning.

we can greatly improve the prediction of these events and issue appropriate warnings,” said Hoteit.

KAUST SCIENTISTS DEVELOPING MODELS TO PREDICT EXTREME EVENTS

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

It’s important however to keep in mind that these models are

Detailed information about the Red Sea’s current circulation and

not certain. They are estimates of probability. “The question is

atmosphere is not only important for purely scientific reasons—it

how good the estimate is,” said Hoteit. Many variables come

has direct applications for industry. One specific example offered

into play such as seasonality and various other observable

by Hoteit is an oil company wanting to consult real-time current

variables.

circulation models in order to determine optimal drilling areas

“What can be done is to form a database from simulations based on known data,” Hoteit clarified. By assimilating known

for the purpose of mitigating the risk of spill propagation in the event of an accident.

data from various sources, the simulations are made to be as

Using KAUST’s visualization and supercomputing resources,

accurate as possible, with an estimate of uncertainty. “The data

Hoteit can produce a real-time model of the sea currents, before

pushes the model toward the truth,” he emphasized.

the design is complete, to inform the company on where to drill.

As KAUST prepares to celebrate its five-year anniversary, the

These sophisticated models, taking into account uncertainties,

The company may have certain conditions such as water speed

community has a plethora of milestones to celebrate, not to mention

are achieved through highly multidisciplinary work involving

of less than 1 meter per second. Through the clicking or hovering

more than a few infamous events to look back on. Interestingly, a

various teams at KAUST. Hoteit relies heavily on his

of a mouse, the computerized model can offer various points in

natural disaster is the basis for ongoing, interdisciplinary research

collaboration with the visualization and supercomputing teams.

the sea map offering these specific conditions, as informed by the

at the University. Shortly after the University’s inauguration, over

“Visualization is important for us because people usually don’t

underlying data sets.

140 millimeters of rain flooded much of the Jeddah region within a

understand these things. But when you show them visually, they

mere eight hours, causing more than 100 fatalities and over $100M in

start appreciating what we do,” explained Hoteit.

damage to area property and infrastructure.

An important project at KAUST, led by Burton Jones (Marine Science), is a Marine Environmental research center. Jones’ group

Working with data sets collected from Saudi Aramco, from

is developing an observatory for the Red Sea. In partnership with

“All this rain coming at the same time, in a matter of few hours,

PME, as well as from satellite data, KAUST was able to develop

Saudi Aramco, their goal is to facilitate long-term monitoring

meant the water had nowhere to go; so it went into the streets,” said

a 14-year model (from the years 2000 to 2014) of atmospheric

of the Red Sea. This strategic partnership also serves to help

KAUST’s Ibrahim Hoteit, Associate Professor of Earth Sciences and

conditions over the Red Sea at a 10-kilometer resolution—one of

minimize environmental impact in the areas of the Red Sea where

Engineering and Principal Investigator of the Earth Fluid Modeling

the highest of its kind in the world.

Saudi Aramco operates and aims to increase the sustainability of

and Prediction group. Flash floods present a particular challenge in arid areas with limited sewage systems.

This atmospheric model also allows Hoteit’s group to work

the energy sector in the Kingdom.

on mapping the history of the waves in the Red Sea. “Once you

Hoteit’s team works closely with this project, providing vital

“When it rains the water remains and it doesn’t get absorbed,”

have the atmosphere, you can go down and simulate the rest.

models for the operation of autonomous robotic gliders deployed

said Hoteit. “We’re trying to reconstruct the rain event that happened

We want to trace the history of everything that happened in

in the Red Sea on observational survey missions. Since these

during the 2009 flood using modeling.”

the Red Sea from both the oceanic and atmospheric points of

gliders operate at a speed of one meter per second, real-time

view” said Hoteit.

data about the speed and direction of Red Sea currents is vital. If

He points to an impressive computerized model of Jeddah on his monitor, capturing over 60,000 buildings, complete with

Understanding the behavior of ocean currents is also of vital

water is moving past the glider in the opposite direction it will go

surrounding mountains and estimated paths taken by the water as

importance to develop a comprehensive picture to predict the

backwards, stalling operational progress. To help mitigate these

it flooded the city.

Red Sea’s physics and even biology. By assimilating data, Hoteit’s

challenges, the center could be provided with a 10-day forecast accessible on the web in real-time.

In an effort to build forecasting models meant to predict extreme

group seeks to provide real-time “nowcasting” and forcasting

marine and weather events, Hoteit and his group observe the ocean

models for the Red Sea. This involves the long-term monitoring

“It’s thanks to a combination of high-performance computing,

and the atmosphere. For any model to be effective, it’s important to

and studying of fundamental processes in the Red Sea such as

visualization and physics,” said Hoteit. “Really, no other

complement it with actual data from the whole region.

cyclonic recirculation.

institution has access to this type of technology.” 

Jean-Lou Chameau in his remarks at the ceremony.

President Chameau noted the graduates had seen many successes—and some failures—while completing their research, but that this journey was essential, adding to their character, ingenuity and creativity.

“Through all of this,” he said, “you deepened your knowledge, contributed to new research and extended KAUST’s influence in the world. You deserve our gratitude and our highest accolades for your achievements.”

A number of KAUST professors added their congratulations during the ceremony, advising the graduates to aim high and always search for opportunities to grow in their personal and professional lives.

“You should always strive to set the bar high so everyone not only recognizes you, but also the fact that you are from KAUST,” said Dr. Muhammad Mustafa Hussain, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering.

SPRING 2014 GRADUATION CEREMONY HONORS 31 GRADUATING STUDENTS

“We look forward to hearing from you in the coming years and celebrating new achievements and milestones as you take the values of KAUST into the world,” President Chameau said at the conclusion of the ceremony. He thanked King Abdullah Bin

THE UNIVERSITY celebrated the Spring 2014 graduation of 11

including Saudi Arabia, China, Mexico, Pakistan and France, and

Abdulaziz Al Saud for his generosity in giving the graduates

Ph.D. and 20 master’s degree candidates at a special graduation

were joined by members of their families for the ceremony in the

the “great gift” of their educations, and noted that “through

luncheon on June 7.

University Library.

his vision, you are now empowered to be great scientists,

The graduating students came from nine different countries,

“We are all here to celebrate you,” said KAUST President

engineers and leaders.” 

Research

www.kaust.edu.sa

7

the same connectivity as the RE clusters. The

Image credit: Prof. Mohamed Eddaoudi and Dr. Vincent Guillerm.

MATERIALS BEYOND: KAUST SCIENTISTS PUT SOLID STATE MATERIALS DESIGN MYTH TO REST

September 2014

metal-organic polyhedra act as supermolecular building blocks, or SBBs, when they form gea-MOF-2.”

“This required the challenging synthesis

“SOLID-state materials that have been designed and constructed in

of a very specific, asymmetric, trefoil

a made-to-order manner may provide potential solutions to many

organic ligand,” noted Dr. Łukasz Weselinski,

present-day challenges in energy and environmental sustainability,”

postdoctoral fellow in the FMD3 group and

explained Dr. Mohamed Eddaoudi, KAUST Professor of Chemical

second author of the paper.

Science and Associate Director of the University’s Advanced

“The discovery of a (3,18)-connected MOF

Membranes and Porous Materials Research Center. “However, it is

followed by the deliberate transposition of

very difficult to design these materials, as their assembly is done in

its topology to a predesigned second MOF

a one-step synthesis.”

with a different chemical system validates

Eddaoudi’s Functional Materials Design, Discovery and Development

the prospective rational design of MOFs,”

(FMD3) research group concentrates on developing strategies to

Eddaoudi said. “Here we have shown that the

permit the design of solid-state materials and the control of their

rational design of MOFs is indeed a reality,

functionality. In particular, the researchers focus on introducing

thanks to the SBB approach.”

certain specific properties and functionalities at the design stage prior to assembly in pre-selected molecular building blocks (MBBs).

The research team also examined the catalytic activity of gea-MOF-1 and found Vthat it is

The group's research concentrates on metal-organic

catalytically active and has great potential for

frameworks (MOFs), a promising class of modular solid-state

hydrocarbon separation. “We found that it can

materials, because MOFs can be constructed by the assembly-of-

serve as an excellent recoverable catalyst for

predefined-MBBs approach.

the solvent-free synthesis of carbonates under

“It is possible to mutually control the porous structure of MOFs

mild conditions,” explained Dr. Valerio D’Elia,

and their composition and functionality,” said Dr. Vincent Guillerm,

Research Scientist from the KAUST Catalysis

a post-doctoral fellow in Eddaoudi’s FMD3 group. “In our group,

Center (KCC) and a co-author of the paper.

we look for novel, highly connected MBBs and their transposition into nets with high connectivity.”

“Our work also revealed that gea-MOF-1 can be employed as a C3H8/CH4 and n-C4H10/CH4

“Targeting high-connectivity MBBs will reduce the number of

separation agent for natural gas upgrading

possible outcome nets and will therefore be of great help on the

because of its high affinity for C3H8 and

road to the rational design of porous materials,” noted Eddaoudi.

n-C4H10 versus CH4 and CO2,” Dr. Youssef

In a paper recently published in Nature Chemistry (DOI: 10.1038/ NCHEM.1982), the group discovered and isolated highly connected polynuclear clusters which are used as MBBs in the synthesis of

Belmabkhout, co-author of the paper and research scientist in the FMD3 group, noted.

The researchers state that finding new

Prof. Mohamed Eddaoudi’s Functional Materials Design, Discovery & Development group

MOFs. In particular, they discovered and formed a new rare earth (RE)

nets that can be used as blueprints is (FMD3) discovered a special minimal edge transitive net with high connectivity, pictured here.

nonanuclear carboxylate-based cluster ([RE]9(μ-OH)8(μ2-OH)3(O2C)18],(RE=Y, Tb, Er, Eu)), which was then used as an 18-connected

becoming increasingly rare today, as many frameworks (MOFs). The (3,18)-connected blueprint and the supermolecular building block nets have already been predicted. “Our (SBB) approach enabled the deliberate design and synthesis of a novel MOF.

MBB to form a gea-MOF (gea-MOF-1) based on an unprecedented

novel (3,18)-connected gea net has a great

(3,18)-connected net. “gea” stands for “Guillerm, Eddaoudi net A.”

potential to be systematically targeted through the MBB or SBB

solid-state materials design. “Use of this is critical if one wants to

approach for the synthesis of made-to-order MOFs for specific

achieve made-to-order materials for specific applications,” he said.

applications,” says Dr. Guillerm.

In addition, he notes that the group’s work “also highlights the great

“We then utilized the gea net as a blueprint to design and assemble another MOF, called gea-MOF-2,” explained Dr. Guillerm. “In gea-

The image illustrates its use as a blueprint for the design and construction of metal organic

MOF-2, the 18-connected RE clusters are replaced by metal-organic

Eddaoudi hopes that through the team’s research, others will

potential of MOFs for hydrocarbon separation, a feature which has

polyhedra which have been peripherally functionalized to have

realize the use of geometry and topology is often underestimated in

barely been explored so far.” 

to adapt to these new realities. The plants and crops currently

more and more interested, also through this technology, in the use

said Hirt. So he thought that KAUST would be an ideal place

produced will have a hard time surviving.

of microbes to help plants grow,” Hirt explained.

to pursue desert research. The Desert Rhizosphere Microbes

USING SCIENCE TO FEED | Continued from p1

“The problem is that meeting our future challenges will require that we increase food production by about 50%. With the current

Conference is the kickoff for an international collaboration,

MAKING CURRENT PLANTS BETTER

helmed by Hirt and his colleague—extreme environments

crops that we have we cannot do that. So the question is how can

Drought conditions alone are responsible for up to 60% of

microbiologist Dr. Daniele Daffonchio—to go into different

we achieve this?” As Hirt further elaborates, “We need to actually

harvest losses, according to Hirt. “Our concept is not to have plants

deserts of the world. With the collaboration of KAUST's Center

improve their performance under these heightened drought and

that grow bigger and faster, it’s actually to preserve the capacity

for Bioinformatics (CBRC), this program will foster transnational

heat conditions.”

of current crops to fruitfully produce without dying off due to a

collaborations among several institutions in Oman, the United

drought period.”

Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Jordan, as well as African and South

COUNTERING ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WITH NATURAL MICROBES

We have evidence right here at KAUST of plants growing in the

American states.

seawater with the surrounding mangroves and other vegetation

Aiming to become a global knowledge base of desert rhizosphere

There are two ways to do this. One way is to experiment with

growing along the shores of the Red Sea. “They are basically

microbes, the DARWIN21 project was inspired by the scientific

genetic engineering to improve crops. The other way is to promote

drinking seawater,” said Hirt. “So the question is how do they do

voyages undertaken by Charles Darwin, aboard the HMS Beagle,

the use of natural microbes. Hirt is exploring answers that can

that? How can they live on that?”

in the 19th century. This project now aspires to complete a similar

be found through the capabilities of microbes. The upcoming conference will particularly focus on rhizosphere microbes.

Environmental conditions, even more than the negative impact

Since this vegetation proves that it’s possible to actually use

voyage of discovery in the 21st century. The DARWIN21 project will

seawater to grow crops, it means that we might be able to help

go about exploring the various deserts on the planet and study the

current crops to do the same.

plants and microbes that grow there.

of insects or bad microbes eating up the plants, is in fact the major

“I’ve been working on plant stress biology for 25 years, with a

Saudi Arabia is an ideal place for prospecting different types of

limiting factor in plant productivity. The particularity of rhizosphere

focus on abiotic stress,” said Hirt. In recent years, he came across

deserts since, as Hirt pointed out, “we already have very different

microbes is that they can increase plants’ abiotic stress tolerance

an example of a remarkable fungus from a desert in Pakistan with

types of deserts in Saudi Arabia: inland deserts, salty ones, less

(caused by heat, drought, and salt). All plants can adapt at some

the unique ability to interact with any kind of plant species—crops,

salty ones—so there are very different conditions.”

level to environmental changes but the more they are associated

cereals, and others to make them strongly resistant to drought

with these rhizosphere microbes, the greater their stress tolerance is.

stress.

His group of international scientists, many of whom will be present at KAUST for the conference, are seeking answers as to how

The rhizosphere (from the Greek word “rhiza”, meaning root), is

This discovery gave Dr. Hirt the strong impression that there must

these desert plants are able to survive. Are there different microbes

a soil area around a plant’s roots where microorganisms directly

exist other microbial organisms around the world that can do this.

that help them do that? What are the distinguishing factors tied to

interact with secretions or chemicals released by the plant’s roots.

As Hirt explained, in the past 15 years, thanks to sequencing technologies, scientists have come to realize that the soil is the richest source of microbes in the world. “People now have gotten

these microbes?

AN INTERNATIONAL PROJECT TO DISCOVER THE DESERTS OF THE WORLD “Nobody has really gone in-depth to identify those microbes,”

“We’ve got the tools to analyze spots on Earth that are yet to be discovered,” said Hirt. “I think KAUST can be a great incubator to make this happen.”. 

8

Community

September 2014

The Beacon

KGSP STUDENTS CONDUCT INSPIRING SUMMER RESEARCH AT KAUST For Jawaher Almutlaq, Abdulmohsen AlBelushi,

are used in many applications, including solar

Shahd Bawarith, and Yousef Alowayed, conducting

cells and biosensors. “I previously worked with

research at KAUST this summer as part of the

metal alloys at my home university, Pennsylvania

KAUST Gifted Student Program (KGSP) has been

State University, so my research at KAUST was a

an unparalleled opportunity for academic and

good opportunity to explore a different class of

personal growth.

materials,” she said.

KGSP sponsors academically gifted Saudi

Jawaher will complete her bachelor’s degree in

students earning undergraduate degrees in science

Materials Science and Engineering next year, and

and engineering subjects at universities in the

plans to study Nanotechnology at KAUST for her

United States and prepares them for eventual

master’s degree.

matriculation at KAUST. A major component of the

Shahd, who studies Bioengineering at

made me interested in a new area, computational

program is the opportunity for students to conduct

George Mason University, has been working

fluid mechanics,” he explained. He will be a senior

research at KAUST during their undergraduate

with Professor Klaus-Viktor Peinemann in the

in the autumn at Johns Hopkins University, where

studies. This year, 43 students are carrying out

Advanced Membranes & Porous Materials Center

he is majoring in Mechanical Engineering.

summer research at KAUST.

(AMPM), where she has learned how to produce

“My summer has certainly been enjoyable,” said

composite membranes.

“I am definitely excited to return to KAUST for my master’s degree,” he said. “In the future, I hope

Yousef, who will be a junior at MIT in the coming

“I don’t think I could have done this kind

to go for a PhD so I can work in the research field.”

academic year, and who has been working with

of cutting-edge research with such amazing

“Knowledge gained from textbooks and in

Assistant Professor Osman Bakr on developing

professors and so much support anywhere else,”

classrooms is important,” noted Jawaher, “but it

solar cells. “It has been great to get a feel of the

said Shahd, who will be a sophomore in the next

is not enough. My summer research at KAUST

different kinds of research going on at KAUST

academic year. “I originally wanted to study law

has enabled me to understand my major better,

before coming back here for my master’s degree.

in university, but now I definitely feel a future in

and I feel that opportunities like this provided

And I have really learned a lot.”

science is worthwhile.”

through KGSP will make it easier to contribute

“KAUST is wonderful,” agreed Jawaher, who

Abdulmohsen says he discovered a new field to

to the advancement of science and technology

worked with Assistant Professor Iman Roqan

explore during his summer working with Associate

in the development of my country. That is my

Initiatives organization. Now in its fifth year, the

to study the optical properties and structure of

Professor Ravi Samtaney in the Fluid and Plasma

greatest motivation.”

program cultivates the next generation of Saudi

gadolinium (Gd)-doped zinc oxide thin films, which

Simulation Laboratory. “My research at KAUST has

KGSP is administered by KAUST’s Saudi

leaders in science, research, and innovation. 

HIGHLY CITED RESEARCHERS | Continued from p1 Victor M. Calo, Dr. Mohamed Eddaoudi, and Dr. Heribert Hirt.

“Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researchers 2014” is an authoritative listing of the world’s preeminent scientific minds and noteworthy intellects. Those who appear have passed a

rank among the top 1% of most cited researchers for their subject

Materials, Dr. Mohamed Eddaoudi, was also recognized in

field and year of publication.

Chemistry. His work with the Advanced Membranes and Porous

KAUST Vice President of Research, Dr. Jean M.J. Frechet was noted for his contributions in Chemistry.

Materials Center team was also honored in Thompson Reuters’ book, “The World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds 2014.”

stringent set of criteria. Researchers who are considered and

Dr. Victor M. Calo, an Associate Professor of Earth Sciences and

Dr. Heribert Hirt, Professor of Bioscience and the Associate

evaluated have written the greatest number of reports found to

Engineering, was honored in the Computer Science classification.

Director of the Center for Desert Agriculture, was honored for his

be highly cited by their peers. Those who make the final listing

Associate Director of Advanced Membranes and Porous

work in the category of Plant and Animal Science. 

MY UNIVERSITY MARÍA FERNANDA

to stay on to pursue her Ph.D., also in Bioscience. As she notes,

Engineering Lab of The University of California at Davis (U.S.),

Ph.D. candidate María Fernanda Contreras

“I did my bachelor’s thesis in biophysics and my bachelor’s

and at the Laboratory of Materials and Low Temperatures at

Gerenas has fully embraced all that KAUST

degree was in physics. I wanted to learn biology, which I did

the University of Campinas (Brazil). A recipient of the KAUST

has to offer in her five years here. Active

during my masters. Now during my Ph.D., I am combining the

Academic Excellence Award, Maria’s research is profound in both

in many pursuits, she is a former member

two disciplines in a potential biomedical application.” Working

complexity and in its potential.

of the KAUST female football club. “It was

under the guidance of Timothy Ravasi and Jürgen Kosel, Maria

“KAUST has been more than just a university to me. Here

a nice experience. I got to share with the girls, participate in a

now finds that she is often the mentor, affirming, “My Ph.D.

I have found life-long friendships, and I found the love of

tournament, and improve my football skills,” she notes. Maria

research topic has drawn the attention of master’s students who

my life - to whom I got married around year and a half ago.

hasn’t stopped with football, however. In addition to frequently

are doing their theses in topics related to it. I taught them the

Being at KAUST has also allowed me to travel to locations

playing tennis and swimming, she earned her PADI diver’s

basics of cell culture, and then they were able to be independent

that previously seemed unreachable, and that I have never

certification, and then completed the advanced diver’s course.

in their own lab work.”

thought I would visit at my young age. Last but not least,

“KAUST offers a pretty high life quality. In terms of recreational facilities and travel opportunities, it is a nice place to be.”

Maria received her master’s in Bioscience, and then decided

Born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, Maria earned her

KAUST has provided me with everything I need to fulfill my

bachelor’s degree in physics from the National University of

professional goals - nice research facilities, personnel, and

Colombia (Bogotá), and has done internships at the Membrane

working environment.”. 

NATHANIEL ROBINSON

Nate (as he prefers), has lived across the United States from

education, engineering, business development, and management,

Alaska to Florida, and spent time in Peru, Mexico, and Oman –

it provides me a variety of angles to solve problems, establish

Texas-born Nathaniel Robinson has been

before making it to KAUST. “I enjoy being able to expand my

processes, and so on.”

around – including some ups and some

views, approaches to projects and challenges, and a diversity of

In his spare time, Nate enjoys all types of music and enjoys

downs, noting, “I’ve been fortunate to

experiences. KAUST offers the opportunity for each of those. I’d

reading. However, it doesn’t sound like he spends too much time

survive a series of events - from cancer to

like to see more of the world and learn more languages, which is

on the couch. As fit as any man half his age, Nate used to train in

sinking a kayak in the Artic Sea and then

also something KAUST can help to achieve,” he said.

mixed martial arts (MMA), and now works at boxing, plyometrics

swimming for my life to the shore. Interesting things seem to

With degrees in engineering, technology management,

and strength training. He loves competitive sports, adding, “I

happen to me. So if I’m on your snorkeling trip you may want

economics and finance, Nate brings his considerable resume and

used to play goalkeeper in football/soccer in college, then later

to think about rebooking; but on the positive side, I’ve made it

experience as manager of the Advanced Engagement and Support

in city leagues in the USA and Mexico.” At KAUST, Nate offers

through all of them with memories to hold.” And many stories to

Department, within Saudi Initiatives, asserting, “I like to think

his expertise to anyone up for the challenge, providing physical

tell, it sounds.

that I bring a nice diversity to any position. Having worked in

training, strength training and conditioning.. 