Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) wrap up 20122012

InSIDe: Winter enrichment program 4–5 electrical engineering 6–7 Community 8news 1–3

“The unknown is part of life,” said physician-scientist-adventurer Bertrand

Piccard, the man who set the world record for balloon flight, during his key-

note lecture for the 2012 Winter enrichment Program (WeP). “Ballooning

is a beautiful metaphor, because in a balloon, like in life, we go very well

in unforeseen directions… but as long as we fight horizontally against life,

against the winds, against what is happening to us, life is a nightmare.”

Moving from this metaphor to give some pragmatic advice, Piccard, a mem-

ber of the first two-person team to circumnavigate the earth non-stop in

a hot-air balloon in 1999, counseled, “In the balloon, it is easy. When we

drop ballast, we climb. I think life should be exactly like this,” he continued,

“Throw overboard the ballast, the habits, certainties, convictions, paradigms,

and dogmas… and embrace a pioneering spirit.”

Piccard explained that he had realized that the traditional definitions of

"exploration" and "pioneer" were now defunct. “I thought, what was left in

the world for pioneers to explore? What could we do for adventure? The last

millennium had been great for exploration. humanity had conquered the

North Pole, the South Pole, the Mariana Trench, Mount everest, space, and

the Moon. everything had been conquered. I came to the conclusion that there

is nothing left to conquer, but there is much left to explore and achieve. We

now have to think in terms of pioneering and adventuring for sustainability

and better quality of life," said Piccard, who believes that the individuals who

successfully demonstrate the energy potential of clean technologies such as

solar power, wind power and biofuel, will define the future.

Piccard comes from a family of adventurous, record-breaking engineers and

scientists. In the 1930s, his grandfather Auguste, a peer of Albert einstein and

friend of Marie Curie, made modern aviation a reality through his invention

of the pressurized air cabin and stratospheric balloon. In 1931, he became

the first man to enter the earth's stratosphere after successfully ascending

16,000 feet.

his father, Jacques, was an oceanographer who developed underwater vehi-

cles vital to the study of ocean currents, and holds the world record jointly with

Don Walsh for the deepest underwater dive. In 1960, the two used a submers-

ible, developed by Auguste Piccard, to travel seven miles beneath the Pacific

Ocean to explore the Mariana Trench – the deepest undersea area in the world.

Continuing this legacy, Bertrand Piccard announced the Solar Impulse pro-

ject in 2003. In collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology,

Lausanne (ePFL), Piccard’s team designed and engineered a plane powered

solely by the sun and after eight years of grueling modeling, simulation, and

testing, completed the first overnight manned-flight.

The recent crude oil spills off the coast of New Zealand and in

the Gulf of Mexico highlighted just how primitive our methods

for separating oil and water continue to be and the need there

is for novel technology to help prevent the environmental dis-

asters that result from such accidents.

In a recently accepted paper in NPG Asia Materials, a journal

from the Nature Publishing Group (NPG), Peng Wang, Assistant

Professor of environmental Sciences and engineering in Water

Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC) together with Lianbin

Zhang (first author) and Zhonghai Zhang, both postdocs in

Prof. Wang's group, describe how they turned household mate-

rials including textiles and sponge, into something that could

effectively separate oil and water. Considered by the NPG editor

as making a significant contribution to the field, the extraordi-

nary thing about their functionalized materials is that they can

reverse their oil attraction or repulsion on demand, which makes

them selective and re-generable materials for oil-related applica-

tions. The KAUST Technology Transfer & Innovation (TTI) Office

has already protected these newly discovered scientific concepts

under a US patent.

PROFeSSOR Pierre Magistretti,

n e w l y a r r i v e d D e a n o f

Chemical and Life Sciences and

engineering, looks to bring his

knowledge, expertise and lead-

ership to consolidate the rich

environment of the division so

allowing the academic commu-

nity to further flourish. In his

thirty years in academia, he has

repeatedly drawn people and

projects together by listening

carefully to the scientists under-

taking the research, and then

providing the vector that aligns

the various particles in a spirit

of collaboration across disci-

plines, ensuring coherence and

direction. Attracted to KAUST by

both the people and the resources

that this young institution offers,

Dean Magistretti sees a unique

and important opportunity to

unite technology with the life

sciences to promote “engineer-

ing-inspired biology” in line

with King Abdullah’s vision for

a knowledge-based economy in

Saudi Arabia. Dean Magistretti’s

arrival is part of the ongoing aca-

demic restructuring underway

under the leadership of Provost

MAGISTRETTI | Continued on p. 3

PENG WANG | Continued on p. 2

ProFessor Pierre Magistretti

“ Magic” Materials “ Magic” Materials

DroPPing ballast anD eMbracing the sPirit oF aDventUreDroPPing ballast anD eMbracing the sPirit oF aDventUre

turn to pages 4 – 5

PICCARD | Continued on p. 2

to seParate oil anD Waterto seParate oil anD Water

The creator of Tintin, Hergé, used Auguste Piccard as his inspiration for the character

of Professor Calculus.

www.kaust.edu.sa

BeAConthe

february 2012 / Rabi Al-Awaal 1433 Volume 2, Issue no. 6

King Abdullah University of Science and technology at thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

FuNCTIoNAlIzED MATERIAlS: TExTIlE AND SPoNGE

NoN-TREATED

AIR DRIED

ACID TREATED

ACID-TREATED

IT is sometimes difficult in the press of the day’s minutiae, the ordinary stresses of life as well as those

unique to building an institution and its culture and community from scratch, to remember some of the

values which unite us all. Dr. Bertrand Piccard’s extraordinarily motivating remarks during WEP 2012

helped us to do so. For after all, every one of us dropped ballast and thought out of the box when we

came to KAuST – as do they who join us daily on this journey of exploration and adventure. Whether

it’s Professor Pierre Magistretti coming to us as new Dean of the ClSE division from his accomplished

roles at EPFl and the International Brain Research organization, or student Jessica Masterman persis-

tently making her way from her landlocked homeland and an undergraduate degree in chemistry and

geology to the shores of the Red Sea and a graduate degree in marine science – Piccard’s metaphor of

allowing our balloon of life to embrace unforeseen directions, throwing overboard the ballast of our

habits, certainties, paradigms, and dogmas captures the commitment all of us engaged in when we

joined the KAuST adventure.

We owe a deep apology to our dear Commencement Student Speaker Ali Al-Dawood for mistakenly

publishing a photo of one of his classmates instead of him in the last edition. We have rectified our

mistake in the digital edition and provided him with corrected print copies as well. We are very grateful

for his graciousness in accepting our regrets.

— THE BEACON Editorial

The Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 6, February 2012. Published by The Communications Department,

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.

Contact Salah Sindi salah.sindi@kaust.edu.sa, or Michelle D'Antoni michelle.dantoni@kaust.edu.sa

| © King Abdullah university of Science and Technology. Printed on partially recycled paper.

CorrECTion: The Commencement 2011 article on page 1 of the January issue

incorrectly identified a photo of Albara AlAuhali (the Qur’an verse speaker) as

Ali Al-Dawood (student speaker). We sincerely apologize for the erroneous

photo selection.

in brieF STUdEnT And PoSTdoC

PoSTEr diSPlAy And

All-CAmPUS rECEPTion

To celebrate the opening of

Spring Semester and to recog-

nize research accomplishments

by graduate students and

postdoctoral fellows, President

Choon Fong Shih will host a

Student and Postdoc Poster

Display at the university library

from February 13 - 17, 2012.

The student and postdoc par-

ticipants have been selected

by their deans to present

their research results to the

full KAuST community. The

SABIC postdoctoral fellows

will also present posters on

their projects.

President Shih invites all mem-

bers of the KAuST community

to a reception for the students,

postdocs, and their advisors

on February 13 at 4:3o p.m. in

the library.

SEPArATion And mASS

SPECTromETry SEminAr

oN Monday, February 13, the

Gulf Scientific Corporation and

the Waters Corporation will

present a half-day seminar on

campus, featuring two paral-

lel sessions: Environmental

and Petroleum Focus; and

Proteomics and Imaging.

PArAdE of nATionS

ThE KAuST Schools will be cel-

ebrating International Week

from February 11–15. The

week-long celebration of cul-

tural activities will culminate

with a Parade of Nations on

February 15. You won’t want to

miss this colorful display of tra-

ditional costumes and national

flags with over 70 nationalities

represented.

AmPm CEnTEr oPEning

ThE Advanced Membranes

and Porous Materials (AMPM)

Research Center will officially

open with a ribbon cutting by

President Shih at midday on

Tuesday, March 6.

The mission of the KAuST

Advanced Membranes and

Porous Materials Center is

the development of novel,

cutting-edge technologies to

provide efficient and sustain-

able separation processes. The

center will play a prominent

role in the search for advanced

polymeric and inorganic mate-

rials and membrane structures

and devices for the economic

and environmentally benign

processing of natural gas, pet-

rochemical and oil resources;

carbon capture; the more effi-

cient desalination of seawater;

and wastewater treatment

technologies. In collaboration

with KAuST’s academic and

industrial partners, the cent-

er will strive for excellence

in the development of novel

membranes and porous mate-

rials products for commercial

domestic and international use.

“Particularly noteworthy is the

opening of the ‘Gas Permeation

Suite’ - a facility unique in the

world,” Center Director Ingo

Pinnau told The Beacon. “This

custom-designed, in-house

built laboratory will enable

the AMPM Center to perform

world-leading research in

natural gas and petrochemical

gas purification and separation.

We look forward to working

with Saudi Aramco and SABIC

to contribute to the Kingdom’s

prosperity.”

A two-day symposium on

M e m b r a n e s a n d Po r o u s

Materials to be held on March

6–7 is open to the KAuST com-

munity and will bring together

leading researchers from

universities and companies

worldwide.

PICCARD | Continued from p. 1

"MAGIC" MATERIAlS | Continued from p. 1

“Our idea is inspired by a natural exam-

ple: fish scales, which exhibit a remarkable

oil-repellant ability and thus allow fish

to survive in oil-polluted water – a phe-

nomenon called superoleophobicity,” Prof.

Wang said. “But in our work, we extended

the fascinating ability of fish scales to

achieve artificial smart surfaces that can

selectively switch from repelling oil to

attracting it (superoleophilicity) and vice-

versa.” Such surfaces have the potential to

play a critical role in many practical appli-

cations apart from the separation of oil

and water, including droplet manipulation

in microfluidics, cell and protein adhesion

control on surfaces, and the preparation of

electrowetting-based displays. “From the

commercialization perspective, this is not

just a simple discovery but a breakthrough,"

commented Dr. Sami Bashir from the

KAUST TTI Office. “This is the first success-

ful single surface in oil/water-based system

with dual-affinity switching. Quite apart

from its potential for oil spill cleaning, there

are many possible commercial applications

including the design of self-cleaning solar

cells, domestic surface coatings as well as in

medicine and cosmetics.”

The technology makes use of inexpen-

sive and easily available materials such

as non-woven textiles and polyurethane

sponges as the base for the block copoly-

mer grafting strategy to produce surfaces

that can be switched back and forth to

attract or repel oil. Silica nanoparticles

were deliberately deposited onto the sur-

faces to increase the roughness amplifying

the surfaces’ intrinsic wetting behavior.

The particular copolymer comprises ph-

responsive poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2vP)

and oleophilic/hydrophobic polydimethyl-

siloxane (PDMS) blocks which allow

alteration of the materials’ wettability via

protonation and deprotonation of P2vP

in response to the ph of aqueous media,

so allowing controllable and switcha-

ble access of oil by the oleophilic PDMS

blocks on the surface. When in contact

with acidic water (ph≤2), the P2vP chains

on a grafted material become protonated

and so the material acquires hydrophilic

properties allowing it to absorb water

and to repel oil. Remarkably, having

been rinsed in water and dried in air or

with a nitrogen flow at room temperature

(negating the need for extreme heat or sol-

vents), the acidic-water wetted material

easily recovered its superoleophilicity as

the PDMS now dominant on the exterior

surface endows the material with a high

affinity to oil and a high repellency to

water. The reversible cycles of the surface

wettability can be repeated many times.

As a proof of concept, Prof. Wang and

his group demonstrated that the func-

tionalized textiles could be used for the

controllable separation of oil and water via

filtration and the functionalized sponges

for selective and highly efficient oil cap-

ture-and-release. Prof. Wang believes that

their functionalized materials represent a

sustainable and highly cost-effective way

for oil-spill cleanup as the materials can

be regenerated and recycled. There are no

prior reports of a material so versatile in

terms of selective oil and water separation.

Prof. Wang was keen to point out, "We all

know that magic isn't real, but science is!"

The Solar Impulse team plans to build a second plane with

cockpit space for two pilots featuring a lightweight communi-

cations system allowing it to be flown for several days at a time

entirely on solar power and, perhaps, like Piccard’s Breitling

Orbiter balloon, even around the world. In the balloon, Piccard

flew 45,755 kilometers in 19 days, 21 hours and 47 minutes,

breaking seven world records. The Solar Impulse plane, he said,

would be flown from continent to continent and not on a non-

stop flight, at least not at first.

But, Piccard reminded the spellbound audience, “Solar Impulse

is not an airplane, at least not just an airplane.” It is, he reflected,

“a demonstration of what can be achieved if we manage to think

out of the box – if we implement adventure in our daily lives. We

cannot have growth if we push people to use technologies and

energies that they already have. People need clean technologies.

We cannot do more by doing more of the same," said Piccard.

"We have to make paradigm shifts. Solar Impulse was testament

to what can be achieved today with new technologies.”

Piccard further encouraged students and all members of

the KAUST community to continue with their "research with-

out walls" mantra and to use it to bring improved sustainable

technology to the world. "What is entrepreneurship? What is

adventure? It is each time we take a risk or explore new areas of

thinking," said Piccard. “We need to change our mindset and stop

relying on the past, on old habits, on certainties. We should try

to see the future with the eye of the entrepreneur, with the eye of

the pioneer, with the eye of the explorer. This is what our world

desperately needs.”

from top down: Dr. Lianbin Zhang, Dr. Zhonghai Zhang, prof. peng Wang

Ali Al-Dawood

February 2012 The Beaconnews2

First alUMni reUnion

MAGISTRETTI | Continued from p. 1

ON January 19, the very first alumni reunion event took place

on campus when President Choon Fong Shih and other members

of the University’s senior leadership welcomed 75 alumni from

across the Kingdom and the Gulf region as well as those still at

KAUST, to a luncheon in their honor.

Greeting the guests, President Shih reflected, “Now that we

have celebrated two Commencements and have a diverse group

of alumni from all corners of the earth, we have the makings of a

great alumni association, an extended family of culturally curious

and intellectually adventurous young men and young women –

who took the plunge to be part of a very young university, by the

Red Sea, with big ambitions.”

“Alumni, you are our University’s ambassadors in the world.

You share your ideas and values with your families, your friends,

and your communities. Your knowledge, your ideas, and your

values, shaped by your KAUST education, hold the promise to

shape our collective future.”

Following remarks from Associate Provost Brian Moran, three

alumni spoke about their experience as presenters of the 2012

WeP Alumni Series of Lectures.

Jack Cackler, Class of 2011 and a 2010 Graduate Research

Symposium Winner, earned his MSc in Chemical and Biological

engineering. Since graduating, Cackler has been working as a

consultant on the KAUST Nanosatellite Laboratory, a project

based on prior research performed at NASA Ames Research Center

with the goal of establishing KAUST as an international center

for satellite development. Cackler led the four-day Nanosatellite

Development Workshop during WeP, a rapid-prototyping

workshop, building satellites from scratch and testing the equip-

ment to over 30 km in the stratosphere. The workshop culminated

with a launching event of a weather balloon to survey part of the

immediate region.

Noah DesRosiers (‘11) also a 2010 Graduate Research

Symposium Winner, spoke about how he introduced WeP par-

ticipants to the amazing biodiversity of the KAUST beach in his

dramatic and colorful multimedia presentation, Life When You're

Little: the Overlooked World of Marine Invertebrates.

“If you shift your perspective to a smaller size, you open up a

new world of tiny creatures easily overlooked,” said DesRosiers.

his WeP talk was a scientific performance in two acts; act

one examined the KAUST beach habitats from the perspec-

tive of a little marine invertebrate perspective and introduced

the challenges they face; while act two showcased various

creatures from these habitats and how they deal with those

environmental pressures.

DesRosiers also explained that he engaged his WeP audience by

bringing to life the small world of sea slugs (Flabellina rubroline-

ata), skeleton shrimp (Caprellidae), and sea spiders (Pycnogonida).

Insight into the lives of the upside-down jellyfish (Cassiopea

andromeda) that have algae in their tentacles to photosynthesize

sunlight, and sponges that filter bacteria and viruses from

seawater for food, was also shared.

The third presenter in the WeP 2012 Alumni Series of Lectures

additionally played a vital role in WeP’s success this year.

Mustafa Nabulsi (’10), gave the talk, Acadox: a Story of a KAUST

Startup, sharing the ups and downs of his entrepreneurial expe-

rience thus far. Nabulsi, along with the other founding members

of Acadox, Nedhal Mourad (’10) and Mohammad Alhareeqi (a

software engineer from King Fahd University of Petroleum and

Minerals) were among the recipients of the first round of seed

funding. They describe their novel application as the next gen-

eration learning and intelligence platform, which was used for

WeP 2012.

“Being pioneer students of KAUST gave us experiences full of

firsts. Because everything was new, you had to learn how to do

things, make mistakes, and find new ways to solve problems,”

Nabulsi said. he described finding a similar pattern in startups –

that there are always new things to learn, problems to face, and

a continual need to be flexible.

“I have found that one of the biggest advantages of joining

a new university is finding new solutions,” Nabulsi said. “This

setting fosters the creativity required for being a startup entre-

preneur. Not only the setting and experience, but the people here

have been very valuable and we are thankful for all the opportu-

nities KAUST has provided us.”

During the closing remarks Brian Moran, Associate Provost for

Graduate Affairs noted that future alumni reunion events and

developments are being planned for 2012.

Catsicas to further strengthen the integration and manage-

ment of the university’s education and research activities. “One

impressive aspect of Professor Magistretti’s career is his capacity

to focus his own laboratory while at the same time launch-

ing and managing broad academic endeavors. The common

denominator between these two roles has been to always iden-

tify questions of major academic relevance and societal impact,”

Catsicas remarked.

Dean Magistretti’s personal research has focused on brain energy

metabolism and its implications in functional brain imaging and in

neuropsychiatric diseases, in particular neurodegenerative ones. he

has made major contributions to the understanding of the role that

glial cells play in brain function, notably in sustaining neuronal

activity. From the academic and scientific leadership point of view

Pierre Magistretti has been responsible for bringing together two

large multidisciplinary consortia involving several institutions, one

in brain imaging and the other to study the genetic and biological

bases of mental illness including depression and schizophrenia. At

KAUST, he aims to focus on two research thrusts. Firstly he will

build upon the core competencies present on campus in technol-

ogy and in imaging to look at biological processes at the atomic,

molecular, cellular and microscopic level as a key tool to under-

standing the role of genes and proteins in disease. This effort will

be developed in coordination with the well-established research

groups in marine and plant biology as well as with those to be

established as part of an effort to develop cell and systems ani-

mal biology. The aim is to develop a close collaboration between

engineers and biologists around cutting-edge imaging. Secondly,

he will develop opportunities to study the genetic background of

a number of diseases such as diabetes, obesity and psychiatric dis-

orders, as well as the more frequently occurring cancers that are

of relevance to the public health of the Kingdom. In December

a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to allow coopera-

tion between the King Abdullah International Medical Research

Center and KAUST, leveraging the excellence of that health care

system to facilitate the study of population genetics with the aim

of effectively promoting health and preventing and treating disease

in the local population. he hopes that KAUST, with its supercom-

puting and visualization resources and proficiency, will be able to

make an important contribution to the human Brain Project, an

international collaboration which aims to build an accurate simu-

lation of the brain.

Dean Magistretti believes that working at KAUST is a “trans-

formational experience” and sees successful recruitment as his

major priority. To that end, he will be organizing intimate, high

level workshops within the division to ensure that more people

are familiar with all the opportunities the university offers.

“KAUST is a place where bio-scientists think big and chal-

lenge engineers to turn their discoveries into viable technologies,”

President Shih commented to The Beacon. “In turn, our engineers

show what is possible through innovative new technologies, and

inspire bio-scientists to think even bigger. With Dean Magistretti on

board, we have just the person to build up our engineering-inspired

bioscience to reach global eminence.”

At left: Alumni Reunion speakers mustafa nabulsi, Jack Cackler, and noah DesRosiers Clockwise from top left: excutive Vice president of Administration and finance, nadhmi nasr; Vice president for education, James Calvin; provost Stefan Catsicas; and president Choon fong Shih talk with Alumni at the reunion.

Attendees of the first alumni reunion

“I have found that one of the biggest advantages of joining a new university

is finding new solutions”— Mustafa Nabulsi

Photos by Marina Kochetyga

news 3February 2012www.kaust.edu.sa

Winter Enrichment Program (WEP)

Round up20122012rolf-dieter Heuer research at CErn: from the Highest Energies to the Smallest Particles

During his opening keynote lecture, Dr. Rolf-Dieter heuer,

Director General of the european Organization of Nuclear

Research (CeRN), and member of the KAUST Board of Trustees,

noted a distinct similarity between KAUST and CeRN, in that both

are autonomous in deciding their research projects. Additionally,

both bring people together from different cultures and back-

grounds to work together for the advancement of science and

technology. "As with KAUST, CeRN unites people through inno-

vation, education and research," said Dr. heuer.

Read more online! Scan the QR code to visit the University

website. http://www.kaust.edu.sa/media/features/cern.html

Bill BAxTErWebgl and google maps

Bill Baxter, Software engineer at Google Maps paid tribute to

KAUST faculty member and WeP Committee Chair, Professor

Alyn Rockwood for his work on OpenGL. Prof. Rockwood,

involved with computer graphics research for more than 30 years,

developed a method for rendering curved surfaces in real time

while working at Silicon Graphics, Inc. This method is integral to

modern computer graphics software.

Read more online! Scan the QR code to visit the University

website. http://www.kaust.edu.sa/media/features/baxter.html

roBErT SWAnSurviving Antarctica and the importance of Sustainability

"The future heroines and heroes of this next exploration are

here and now," said Robert Swan, referring to KAUST students

and young scholars of the world, "Not people like me walking to

the North and South Poles, that's very outdated now." A polar

explorer, environmental leader, and public speaker, Robert Swan

is the first person in history to walk to both the North and South

Poles. During his keynote lecture he advised students to think

"unconventionally and entrepreneurially" about their futures,

stating that there are "many great opportunities" for careers in

the area of sustainability.

Read more online! Scan the QR code to visit the University

website.

http://www.kaust.edu.sa/media/features/swan.html

TingATingA PAinTingTingatinga is a popular east African contemporary art style and the KAUST community was

fortunate to have renowned Tingatinga painters Juma and Mshana Mzuguno from Tanzania,

and Pascal Bogaert from Uganda as part of WeP 2012 to showcase their art in an exhibit at

the University Library, as well as to lead several workshops introducing this craft to others.

Characterized by exotic and brightly patterned colors, participants had the opportunity to create

their own masterpieces in this distinctive style.

inTErnATionAl rESEArCH PoSTEr ComPETiTion for UndErgrAdUATES

This first annual poster competition for undergraduates received over 300 submissions from

students at national and international universities. From the entries, 50 finalists were invited to

KAUST to present their posters to KAUST faculty and scholars as part of WeP 2012. Finalists

were judged on the novelty of work, clarity of ideas, creativity, and overall impact of the pres-

entations that were made in the University Library, resulting in six winners:

first Place• Willie Neiswanger, Computational Tools for T-Cell Motility Analysis, Columbia University, US

• Rohit Dasgupta, Thread as a Matrix for Biomedical Assays, John hopkins University, US

Second Place• Felipe Massucato, Study of Thermal Stability of Abs Copolymer and its Nanocomposites,

Universidade estadual de Campinas, Brazil

• Shahad Al Saiari, Role of SLIT-2 in Thyroid Cancer, King Adbulaziz University, Saudi

Arabia

Third Place• Gabriellea Coloyan, Optimizing the Design of Carbon Nanotube Aerogels for Thermal

Transport Applications, Carnegie Mellon University, US

• Mohamed Z. Al-Ashwan, Development of a Domestic Solar Air Conditioner for Saudi Arabia,

King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia

do WE rEAlly nEEd To BE AfrAid of SnAKES?Sid Samtaney, the youngest WeP presenter at only 17 years old, is an 11th grade student at

the KAUST School and an accomplished athlete, musician, and aspiring herpetologist. When the

call for proposals was made for WeP 2012 lectures, Sid felt compelled to share his passion and

knowledge about a greatly misunderstood species: snakes.

“Snakes play a vital role in our environment because they are responsible for eliminating dis-

ease-causing pests and if people continue to kill snakes our ecosystem will become imbalanced,”

explained Sid. “It is generally out of ignorance and baseless fear that many people's first reac-

tion is to obliterate a snake the moment they see one, not realizing how much they are actually

damaging the environment. A snake is only a threat to you when you become a threat to it.”

Sid’s interest in reptiles and amphibians began in kindergarten when he started catching wild

reptiles and amphibians, which later led to owning countless pet snakes both wild caught and

captive bred. During middle school, he volunteered at the New Jersey Audubon Society Nature

Center in the US, caring for the center's reptiles and other animals. he has also worked with

many naturalists and received hands-on training with wild animals.

In addition to his WeP lecture, Sid’s participation in this year’s Winter enrichment Program

included competing in the 5K Fun Run and winning first place.

February 2012 The BeaconWinter enrichment program4

WomEn in SCiEnCE lECTUrE SEriES An engineer in the chemical industry, a chair of biochemistry from Italy, and a leading ver-

tebrate paleontologist each shared their rich experiences and professional insight during the

Women in Science Lecture Series.

Maria Claudia Renjifo, Strategy Consultant for Bayer AG’s Corporate Development Department,

built a business case for diversity and inclusion by sharing compelling statistics of the economic

value of women in the workforce and discussing the challenges and opportunities within the

field of engineering based on her own experiences.

Anna Tramontano is a KAUST Global Research Partnership Investigator and the Chair of

Biochemistry at Sapienza University of Rome. Dr. Tramontano is involved with the organization

of specialized joint workshops on emerging issues and methodologies in computational genom-

ics and leading specialized hands-on courses at KAUST on new developments in computational

genomics and proteomics, as well as fostering liaisons with worldwide initiatives in computa-

tional biology.

The third lecturer, Professor Patricia vickers Rich, imparted her passion for discovery and

shared her experiences as a paleontologist, geologist, and the founding Director of the Monash

Science Centre in Australia. The vision of the Centre is to open a window on science that offers

an in-depth look at opportunities to use scientific thought and knowledge in every-

day life—considered by Dr. Rich powerful tools for facing the future realistically

and sustainably.

SAUdi ArT ExHiBiT Over 33 works of art by some 14

artists from all over the Kingdom

were on display in the University

Library as part of the Saudi Art exhibit. The works received enthusiastic reviews from KAUST com-

munity visitors, including a number of students who met with the artists to discuss their art.

The paintings demonstrated the diverse techniques and trends from different art schools while

the sculpture collection showed why these Saudi women had made a name for themselves locally.

In addition to workshops, two evenings of fusion art were presented. These performances featured

the violin for participative painting, giving many people a quite new experience.

The organizer of the exhibit and chairman of the art committee at the Jeddah Chamber of

Commerce, hisham Binjabi, described the design and plan of the exhibit as most successful. Details

about the individual artists as well as each piece of art helped to educate the public about the cul-

tural heritage and diversity of this group, which Mr. Binjabi explained is an important role for these

artists – to be an ambassador for the Kingdom through their participation in both local and inter-

national exhibitions.

The artists who participated in the exhibition included:

• Dr.IffatFadaak

• RadeyahBarqawi

• TaghreedAlbaqshi

• MonaAlqasabi

• AlanoudAlshaibi

• BadiaIshan

• DoaaShaalan

• FatimahWares

• HanaaBanaamah

• HindNusair

• MahaTurki

• MirvatAlamir

• NajlaaAlsaleem

• FatmahEmraan

SUSTAinABlE EnErgy for All SymPoSiUm In December 2010, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2012 the International Year

of Sustainable energy for All, recognizing that access to affordable energy services is essential

for the achievement of sustainable development. To celebrate this initiative, WeP hosted a two-

day symposium, co-organized by Professor Suzana Nunes and Craig Werner, an environmental

Science and engineering PhD student. Bringing together 12 speakers from across the world to

discuss sustainability, Prof. Nunes was especially pleased with the balance of the symposium

in regards to presentations from KAUST faculty and graduate students as well as the caliber of

guest lecturers covering a breadth of relevant topics.

On day one, two students who attended the World Future energy Summit in Abu Dhabi the

week prior shared their experience. Jenna Lloyd-Randolfi, a Chemical and Biological engineering

MSc student was encouraged by what she had heard at the summit as it validated her current

energy focus on developing renewable carbon-neutral transportation fuels from microalgae. “As

far as sustainability goes, I strongly believe that eliminating dependence on non-renewables

such as diesel and gasoline has to be one of the top priorities. Algal biofuels are even possible

to utilize flue gas with high CO2 concentrations as a substrate for growth; thus they function as

a carbon sequestration system,” said Lloyd-Randolfi.

environmental Science and engineering student, Shen Lin, shared one particular comment

made by Dr. Fatih Birol, Chief economist of the International energy Agency, who spoke at the

summit about the latest outlook for the health of the sustainable energy industry: “To succeed,

not only innovation is needed, leadership is also required.” The report given by these two stu-

dents set the stage for the WeP Symposium guest speakers, which included Dr. Paul Lucchese

from the Atomic and Alternatives energy Commission (France), who spoke about the role of

“clean hydrogen” in the transition towards a decarbonized energy system, and Prof. Bruce Logan

(Pennsylvania State University, US), who spoke on the applications possible for bioelectrochemi-

cal technologies to address the water-energy nexus.

Photo by Marina Kochetyga

Symposium speakers

from left: prof. Alyn Rockwood, Dr. najah Ashry, prof. Suzana nunes, Anna tramontano, patricia Vickers Rich, maria Claudia Renjifo

February 2012www.kaust.edu.sa 5Winter enrichment program

electrical engineering at KaUstThe electrical engineering (ee) program at KAUST accepts some

40–50 postgraduate students each year from an applicant pool of

500, the second largest program at the university. ee plays a critical

role in shaping today’s world in many diverse applications including

electricity and power systems, information technology, computa-

tion, communication, audio/video, biomedical instrumentation,

sensors, optics and photonics, sound engineering, and navigation.

The program at KAUST, which currently includes 13 faculty, was

chaired for the first two years by Professor Khaled Salama and has

been led since July 2011 by Professor of ee and Chair of electrical

engineering, Dr. Boon Ooi. It comprises two broadly defined tracks

in Systems and electro-Physics with vibrant research thrusts includ-

ing Communication and Signal Processing, Solid State electronics,

and Optics and electro-Magnetics. “electrical engineering is a broad

and dynamic field,” remarked Prof. Ooi, “and our courses equip stu-

dents for a successful and productive career.”

The research focus of ee faculty can be broadly grouped

into three thrusts that are well aligned with KAUST’s research

vision and objectives. These comprise: (i) energy efficient

electronics and photonics devices and systems, (ii) Microsystems,

and (iii) Information and Communication Systems. Selected

research topics include the fabrication of flexible and print-

able micro-devices on plastic substrate, energy harvesting

structures and devices, biosensors, biomedical imaging sys-

tems, energy efficient cognitive radio, and vision systems. ee

faculty members collaborate not only within the program, but

work with faculty from other programs and divisions in an

interdisciplinary way, as well as with other prominent interna-

tional groups.

All students at KAUST, have unique access to state-of-the-art

research and core laboratories. ee students in particular use the

Nanofabrication Lab, to make devices such as converting wafers

into integrated circuits and making transistors using indus-

try standard technology and equipment. The faculty frequently

involves students in their labs; many of the skills acquired,

such as working with lasers and high tech electronic device

characterization systems, are invaluable in both research and

industry settings.

Already some 55 students have graduated, 18 by writing a the-

sis, and more than 20 of these are continuing their research for

a doctorate. Among the 60 MSc students are 18 Saudi students.

The ee faculty members advise a total of 51 PhD students, the

largest PhD student population at KAUST with 10% of these stu-

dents Saudi. “The tireless efforts of our newly established research

teams have already brought forth several interesting new ideas,

paradigms, and results,” commented Professor of ee and Acting

Associate Dean of the Physical Science and engineering Division,

Dr. Mohamed-Slim Alouini.

The Institute of electrical and electronics engineers (Ieee, read

I-Triple-e) KAUST student branch was formed in February 2010

with founding student Joanna Oommen as the Student Branch

Chair. The current chair is Jhonathan Rojas and the vice-Chair

is hossain Fahad. Ieee's Constitution defines as its core purpose

"to foster technological innovation and excellence for the benefit

of humanity." Alexander Graham Bell is a notable past presi-

dent of Ieee and, with 400,000 members, the organization is the

world's largest technical pro-

fessional association. It does

not usually allow a student

branch to be formed before at

least one group of graduate

students has matriculated, but

Rojas worked with Assistant

P r o f e s s o r o f e e , D r .

Muhammad hussain to pre-

pare the dossier. The case

proved convincing enough

to persuade the Ieee head

Office in the US to grant their

approval.

The branch, par t of a

large, active society in the

Kingdom, i s respons ib le

for promoting ee issues, organizing workshops, and provid-

ing its growing group of 13 graduate students with career

development and networking opportunities. Past activities

at the University include an Ieee Workshop Week, Graduate

Group expos, and a website competition. "I am very pleased to

see the activities conducted by the Ieee student branch and its

continuing growth,” commented Prof. hussain. “Ongoing institu-

tional support and encouragement allow our students to compete

globally and Ieee student

branches play an important

facilitative role. I look forward

to seeing this happen here."

Rojas took his under-

graduate degree in ee at

the Universidad Nacional

de Colombia and having

completed his master’s, is

studying for his PhD. he is

currently involved in two

research projects: one on a

silicon substrate for flexible electronic devices;

the more major venture involves the design and development of

a self-powered system on a chip by integrating power generators

from different energy sources, with active devices that perform a

certain task. Rojas, together with first author Justine Mink, pub-

lished a paper discussing microbial fuel cells in Nano Letters in

January, http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nl203801h. Prof.

hussain has been Rojas’ faculty advisor since he began his master’s

degree and his supervision is integral to this project. "Professor

hussain's mentorship and guidance have been a great inspiration

to me, commented Rojas. “It motivates me to work hard towards

greater goals. I am enjoying my time at KAUST and it makes me

really happy to see that my work is being acknowledged."

ieee stUDent branch

the ee program

Researchers in the photonics lab

Ieee 2011 Workshop participants

Jhonathan Rojas

electrical engineering6 February 2012 The Beacon

LIGhTING consumes over 20% of all electricity produced

globally corresponding to over 25 quads of primary fuel

(with an associated 410 million tons of carbon emissions)

at an annual cost of ~$300 billion. Conventional lighting

sources include incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps,

which are inefficient at converting electricity to light. In con-

trast, solid-state lighting sources in the form of light emitting

diodes (LeDs), that could not only potentially achieve over

80% energy efficiency but also offer an extraordinary field

lifetime (25-50 years), have been identified as the lighting that

will ultimately replace all existing lighting technologies.

In this workshop, the first National Science Foundation workshop

to be held in the Kingdom, KAUST will bring together preeminent

researchers to explore the long-range challenges and opportuni-

ties of the latest advances in solid-state lighting. The objective is to

provide a forum for interaction between US scientists, who are at the

leading edge of solid-state lighting, and the faculty at KAUST and

other institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region.

The outcome of this workshop and the proposed research will be

directed towards the science of LeDs - the lighting of our future.

Prince Dr. Turki Al Saud, vice President of the Research

Initiative of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology

(KACST), will address the research vision and strategy of KSA,

as well as research capability, collaboration, and funding

opportunities of KACST. Another keynote speaker is Dr. Shuji

Nakamura from University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr.

Nakamura is the inventor of the high efficiency LeDs that ena-

bled solid-state lighting technology.

One of only two student speakers at the NSF workshop, KAUST

graduate student Anwar Gasim will be presenting his research

on solid state lighting as

a more efficient lighting

source. Born in Makkah and raised in Jeddah, Gasim stud-

ied for his first degree at the University of Liverpool and was drawn

to KAUST because of the opportunities for hands-on work and

access to the Nanofabrication Core Lab. An introductory course

on partial differential equations with Professor David Keyes rekin-

dled Gasim’s love of math and was instrumental in directing him

toward more theoretical work. After two courses with Professor

Boon Ooi, Dr. Ooi became his academic supervisor for his master’s

thesis and continues to instruct Gasim as part of the Photonics Lab

in both experimental and theoretical work with lasers. “You need

to have experimental ability and you need to refine your theoreti-

cal knowledge to better analyze the results you are getting,” Gasim

told The Beacon.

KAUST has taken the initiative to arrange a series of events in

February with the theme Electrical Engineering for a Sustainable

Future. It aims to highlight the cutting edge research within

the electrical engineering program, to introduce our global

network of world-renowned scientists and researchers, and to

promote the potential economic impact of the work in pro-

gress. Planned events include a research exhibition of both

KAUST and non-KAUST activities, engaging debates on scien-

tific issues, and brainstorming for future collaborative efforts.

Participation by industry representatives facilitated by economic

Development will offer students and researchers the opportu-

nity to get to know the KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program

(KICP) members. At the same time, in-Kingdom industrial part-

ners and investors will be able to share King Abdullah’s vision

of a Saudi Arabian knowledge-based economy. It is hoped that

this event will increase visibility and networking opportunities

for the University’s community of researchers and will help clar-

ify the role of electrical engineering for a sustainable future.

Mechatronics anD MUlti-sensory systeMs WorKshoP February 23, 2012

KaUst ee Days February 20–22, 2012

KaUst-Ucsb-nsF WorKshoP on soliD-state lighting February 13–14, 2012

KaUst-Ucsb-nsF WorKshoP on soliD-state lighting February 13–14, 2012

ABOUT half of the graduate students in the Mechanical

engineering Department at KAUST conduct research in the area

of mechatronics or its related fields. This workshop will com-

plement KAUST courses in the fields of mechatronics, robotics,

control systems, sensory data fusion, and related areas. It

aims to provide a platform for KAUST students and research-

ers to interact with renowned international figures in these

fields. The workshop will be a great opportunity for explor-

ing future avenues for collaboration and potential research

projects of common interest. It aims to raise

researchers’ awareness of the state

of the art in such important

and challenging fields

of engineering and

boost their inter-

est in them.

MICRO- or nanotechnology is rapidly drawing the attention

of the biomedical research and industrial community due to

its many potential benefits including versatility, high sensitiv-

ity, low cost, miniaturization, and reduced power. Applications

include cancer therapy with higher specificity and fewer side

effects, physiological imaging with unprecedented resolution,

and lab-on-a-chip devices that perform complex diagnostic

tasks at a fraction of the current time and cost involved.

This workshop will address the scientific community

working on integrated devices for biological and

medical applications using micro- or nanotech-

nology. A forum for novel ideas, the workshop

is designed to promote contacts between experts

from both academia and industry and provide

KAUST students with insight into the most recent

developments in this field.

Sem image of carbon nanotubes for micro-sized microbial fuel cells.

Sem image of magnetic nanowires fabricated for cancer cell destruction.

international WorKshoP on bioMeDical Micro- anD nanoDevicesFebruary 25, 2012

Anwar Gasim

Sem images of high density Gan nanowires for potential application in LeDs.

February 2012electrical engineering 7www.kaust.edu.sa

photo of the monthThe amazing colors of the sky at sunset were captured

by research scientist Kumaran Mande who took this photo

one evening in November. With such a backdrop, the sil-

houette of the minarets of the Grand Mosque make a

powerful impression.

Do you have a picture to share? every

month The Beacon selects an imaginative

and interesting shot to be published. Only

original photos are accepted. Send in your best

take to thebeacon@kaust.edu.sa.

My University: Why i caMe to KaUst

Winter enrichMent PrograM 2012science FUn Fair

SeveNTeeN interactive demonstrations were a part of this

year’s Science Fun Fair, located at the Discovery Walk Spine.

Almost 30 KAUST scientists, graduate students, faculty, and

staff, as well as secondary and high school students, pre-

sented their engaging experiments as part of the WeP 2012

Science Fun Fair.

“Last year, we organized the first Science Fun Fair in cel-

ebration of the International Year of Chemistry,” explained

WeP Manager Marie-Laure Boulot. “This year, we decided to

increase the scope of this event and invite presenters from the

broader KAUST community, as well as partner universities and

regional institutes such as effat University and the Riyadh-

based Mishkat Interactive Center for Atomic and Renewable

energy who presented their show, The Energy Around Us.”

This year’s fair was attended by over 500 people, includ-

ing KAUST school children, community members, graduate

students, postdocs, faculty, and 60 students from regional

schools. Participants got a close look at the experiments and

had the opportunity to vote for their favorite one, resulting in

two winning teams. Sixth graders, Abdulaziz Al Mubarak and

Abdulrahman Gabbani, won the Under 18 Category with their

demonstration of fuel cells. In the Over 18 Category, a team of

graduate students won for their “Messin’ with Oobleck” pres-

entation that explored viscosity and states of matter. Team

members included master’s students Muhammed Sameed,

Philip Danser, and Daniel Toth, as well as PhD student

Awad Alquaity.

After the outdoor fair, the science fun continued indoors

with an explosive presentation by Tv scientist Dr. Bunhead,

who thrilled audiences by igniting bubbles of hydrogen and

oxygen and performed chemical reactions that literally shook

the audience (and auditorium) with their resonating booms.

Commenting on the success of this year’s science fair,

Boulot said, “I hope this is the beginning of a growing project

that will involve more KAUST participants, partner univer-

sities, and companies that help our university to become a

platform for scientists to inspire curious, young minds.” ONe of six children, brought up in a cash-strapped, single-

parent family in the landlocked Midwest of the US, Jessica

Masterman always dreamed of pursuing a career in marine

science. Forced for financial reasons to transfer from her under-

graduate course in oceanography at the University of Michigan,

she was the first person in her family to graduate — majoring

in chemistry and geology at the University of Wisconsin.

Jessica never relinquished her passion for marine science,

undertaking internships in marine micropaleontology and

marine chemistry and a research project in aquaculture

chemistry.

Always adventurous, Jessica surprised her family when she

announced she would be attending graduate school in Saudi

Arabia to study for an MSc in marine science. having only once

before ventured abroad for an internship in the Netherlands,

she left her often snowy homeland in the fall of 2010 for the

sun-soaked shores of Saudi Arabia, exchanging her all-Amer-

ican culture for one unfamiliar and often more conservative.

The combination of “highly accomplished professors, amaz-

ing facilities, and extraordinary opportunities” served to make

Jessica’s “time at KAUST… undoubtedly the most rewarding

experience of my life,” she told The Beacon. The ambitious

thesis she undertook on the relationship between the nutritional

content of prey coral to the nutrient uptake in corallivorous

fishes has greatly increased her confidence in conducting

independent research with Professor Michael Berumen as her

primary advisor.

Jessica relishes the challenge of making complicated concepts

easy to understand when teaching younger scientists, and par-

ticularly enjoyed mentoring a Saudi high school student last

summer as part of the Saudi Research Institute program.

Quite apart from her academic achievements, Jessica feels she

has grown personally in many ways. extending the voluntary

work she undertook as an undergraduate in Wisconsin encour-

aging young women to explore career opportunities in science,

engineering, and math, Jessica became Girl Scout leader for the

KAUST campus troop, introducing the girls to new ideas includ-

ing careers in science and international travel.

Jessica is currently completing her master's thesis. her goal is

to become a “prominent marine scientist conducting meaningful

and influential research with a particular focus on environmental

applications.” She plans not only to “study the world’s oceans,

but to help protect them so that future marine enthusiasts can

enjoy their wonders.”

Abdulaziz Al mubarak and Abdulrahman Gabbani

muhammed Sameed right "messin' with oobleck"

Phot

o by

KU

Mar

an M

anDe

February 2012 The BeaconCommunity8

www.kaust.edu.sa

Fubruary 2012 / Rabi I 1433 Volume 2, Issue No.6

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

املنارةاستضافت مكتبة جامعة امللك عبداهلل للعلوم

والتقنية معرضًا للفنانات التشكيليات السعوديات أقيم حتت عنوان معرض الفن السعودي خالل الفرتة

30-28 من يناير املاضي وذلك ضمن الفعاليات اخلتامية لربنامج اإلثراء الشتوي لعام 2012.

واشتمل املعرض على ما يزيد عن 33 عماًل ما بني رسم وحنت لـ 14 فنانة من مجيع مناطق اململكة

شدت أعماهلن انتباه الزوار من منسويب اجلامعة خاصة الطالب والطالبات الذين التقوا بالفنانات يف ساحة

العرض اليت خصصت هلن يف املكتبة، وتكونت لدى مرتادي املعرض صورة واضحة حول الرسالة اليت ترغب املرأة السعودية يف إيصاهلا من خالل مشاركتها يف مثل

هذه املعارض.

وكانت هناك جمموعة من اللوحات اليت ُعرضت حتاكي خمتلف املدارس واالجتاهات الفنية، إضافة إىل أعمال

النحت ملجموعة من الفنانات الاليت متيزن يف هذا املجال يف الساحة املحلية.

وبهدف إجياد مساحة للتواصل بني طالب وطالبات اجلامعة مع الفنانات املشاركات ُأقيمت على هامش

املعرض ورشة عمل للرسم شهدت إقبااًل كبريًا وحققت صداها اجليد بني املشاركني من الطالب

والطالبات، فضاًل عن إعحاب الزوار الذين عربوا عن ذلك بشراء لوحات فنية بغرض اقتنائها.

منظم املعرض رئيس جلنة الفن يف الغرفة التجارية يف جدة هشام بنجايب وصف املعرض يف طريقة إخراجه

واإلضاءة املستخدمة وقوائم العرض واليت تعد من املحاور األساسية بأنه من أمجل املعارض اليت

شاهدها، كما أن الختيار الزوايا املناسبة لكل عمل وحجمه وضوئه وبطاقة املعلومات اليت تتم كتابتها عن كل لوحة معروضة تبني هوية اللوحة ومقاسها

واسم الفنانة واخلامات اليت شكلت أساسيات اللوحة ورمسها، أيضًا يتيح العمل فرصة تعريف اجلمهور مبا

وصلت إليه املرأة السعودية من وعي وثقافة على مجيع املستويات. وأكد بنجايب أن الفنانة السعودية سبق هلا أن حصلت على الثقة بأن تكون سفرية متثل اململكة

من خالل املشاركات اليت تقوم بها يف املعارض املحلية والدولية.

والفنانات املشاركات يف املعرض هن:-

• فاطمة وارس • د/ عفت فدعق

• هناء باناعمة • رضية برقاوي

• هند نصري • تغريد البقشي

• مها تركي • مىن القصيب

• مريفت األمري • العنود الشييب

• جنالء السليم • بديعة إيشان

o.فاطمة عمران • • دعاء شعالن

ينتمي إىل عائلة مولعة باملغامرة وحتطيم األرقام القياسيةبيكارد طائر البالون خيرتع طائرة النبض

الشمسي ويدعو إىل أحباث دون قيود

ينتمي إىل عائلة مولعة باملغامرة وحتطيم األرقام القياسيةبيكارد طائر البالون خيرتع طائرة النبض

الشمسي ويدعو إىل أحباث دون قيود

جامعة امللك عبداهلل تستضيف

14 فنانة يف معرض الفن السعودي

أكد العامل الفيزيائي بريتراند بيكارد يف املحاضرة اليت ألقاها ضمن فعاليات برنامج اإلثراء الشتوي أن املجهول ُيعد جزءًا ال يتجزأ من احلياة وأن السفر بالبالون هو مبثابة تشبيه واستعارة لذلك املجهول.

ويعد بيكارد أول رجل حيقق الرقم القياسي للطريان حول األرض دون توقف ببالون يستخدم اهلواء

الساخن وكان ذلك يف عام 1999.

وذكر بيكارد عدة نصائح عملية قائاًل: “إن األمر بالنسبة للبالون يف غاية السهولة، فبعد إسقاط ثقل صابورة املياه فإن البالون يصعد إىل أعلى”، وهلذا

يرى ضرورة أن تكون احلياة بالضبط كذلك من خالل رمي األثقال اليت تعيق والعادات والشكوك

والقناعات والتمسك باحتضان روح الريادة.

ويشرح بيكارد ذلك بقوله إنه أدرك أن بعض املصطلحات التقليدية مثل “االستكشاف”و

“الريادة” قد اندثرت اآلن معتقدًا أنه مل يعد هناك شىيء ميكن استكشافه ألن األلفية املاضية متيزت

بعظمة االكتشافات، والبشرية أحكمت سيطرتها على القطبني الشمايل واجلنويب وأعماق البحار وقمة إيفرست والفضاء والقمر.. وهلذا هو يقرر أنه يتعني على البشرية التفكري من منطلق الريادة واملخاطرة

من أجل استدامة النوعية األفضل للحياة.

ويؤكد املحاضر أن األفراد الذين يثبتون بنجاح إمكانيات الطاقة الكامنة يف التقنيات النظيفة مثل الطاقة الشمسية وطاقة الرياح والوقود البيولوجي

هم الذين حيددون ويرمسون املستقبل.

إرث االبتكار

وينتمي بيكارد إىل عائلة ينتسب هلا عدد من

حميب املغامرة وتتألف من مهندسني وعلماء حطموا الكثري من األرقام القياسية. ففي الثالثينات من

القرن املاضي، قام جده أوقست، وهو ند أللربت إنشتاين وصديق ملاري كوري، جبعل الطريان احلديث حقيقة ماثلة من خالل اخرتاع البالون املزود بكابينة

مضغوطة اهلواء للطريان يف الطبقة الرئيسة الثانية من الغالف اجلوي.

ويف العام 1931، أصبح أول رجل يدخل الغالف اجلوي لألرض بعد أن صعد بالونه بنجاح ملسافة

16000 قدم، مستخدمًا خمرتع الرسوم الكرتونية تننت وهريجي أوقست كمصدر لإلهلام بشخصية الربوفسور

كالكيولس.

أما والده جاك، فقد كان عامل حميطات وقام بتطوير مركبة تسري حتت املاء وكانت حيوية لدراسة تيارات مياه املحيطات وحيتفظ بالرقم القياسي باإلشرتاك

مع دون والش ألعمق عملية غوص. ففي العام 1960، استخدم اإلثنان غواصة طورها أوقست بيكارد للسفر ملسافة 7 أميال حتت املحيط اهلادي بهدف

استكشاف أعماق املحيطات يف العامل.

وواصل بريتراند هذا اإلرث عندما كشف عن مشروع الطائرة اليت أطلق عليها اسم “النبض الشمسي”

“Solar Impulse” يف العام 2003 بالتعاون مع معهد التقنية الفيدراىل السويسري يف مدينة لوزان، حيث قام

فريق بيكارد بعد 8 سنوات من العمل الشاق وعمل النماذج واملحاكاة واالختبار بتصميم وهندسة طائرة تستمد طاقتها من الشمس فقط وأكملت أول رحلة

يقودها طيار استمرت طوال الليل.

وخيطط فريق طائرة النبض الشمسي بناء طائرة ثانية مزودة مبقصورة قيادة مبساحة تكفي لطيارين اثنني

وتشتمل على نظم اتصاالت خفيفة الوزن مما يتيح هلا

الطريان لعدة أيام تعتمد بصورة كاملة على الطاقة الشمسية ورمبا على غرار بالون بيكارد الطريان

حول العامل.

وأثناء رحلته بالبالون، متكن بيكارد من الطريان ملسافة 45755 كيلومرتا يف 19 يوما و21 ساعة

و47 دقيقة وعندها متكن من حتطيم سبعة أرقام قياسية عاملية. ويقول بيكارد إن طائرة النبض

الشمسي ستتمكن من الطريان من قارة إىل أخرى ولكن ليس دون توقف على األقل يف الرحلة األوىل.

تقنية مستدامة

ويوضح بيكارد بأن “النبض الشمسي” ليست طائرة، بل هي برهان ملا ميكن حتقيقه إذا متكنا من التفكري

خارج إطار املألوف وإذا طبقنا روح املغامرة يف حياتنا اليومية. ويعلل ذلك بأنه ال ميكن حتقيق النمو

إذا دفعنا الناس الستخدام التقنيات والطاقات اليت يعرفونها اآلن. ويرى أن الناس حباجة إىل التقنيات

النظيفة وال بد من عمل تغيري مجاعي يف منط التفكري ويف االفرتاضيات األساسية السائدة. مؤكدًا أن طائرة “النبض الشمس”ما هي إال شاهد على ما

ميكننا حتقيقه اليوم بالتقنيات اجلديدة.

وحث بيكارد طالب ومنسويب اجلامعة وشجعهم علي املضي قدما يف تطبيق شعارهم “أحباث دون قيود أو عوائق” واستغالل هذا الشعار من أجل حتقيق وجلب

تقنية مستدامة وحمسنة للعامل، مذكرًا إياهم بضرورة تغيري العقلية والتوقف عن االعتماد على املاضي والعادات القدمية والشكوك وكذلك ضرورة رؤية

املستقبل من منظور االبتكار التجاري والريادة بعني o.املستكشف وهو ما حيتاج اليه عاملنا بشدة

الفنمعرضالسعودي

SAUDI ARTEXHIBIT

الفنمعرضالسعودي

SAUDI ARTEXHIBIT

الرئيس وقيادات جامعة امللك عبداهلل احتفلوا بلم مشلاخلرجيني يف برنامج اإلثراء الشتوي

كاكلر ونوح ونابلسي يستعرضون بناء األقمار وقناديل البحر اهلالمية وحتديات بداية اجلامعة

جرت فعاليات أول عملية تهدف إىل مل مشل للخرجيني يوم 19 يناير املاضي يف احلرم اجلامعي،

عندما رحب الرئيس تشون فونغ شي وقيادات اجلامعة بنحو 75 خرجيا قدموا من مجيع أحناء اململكة ودول

اخلليج العربية يف وجبة غداء أقيمت على شرفهم.

وحتدث الرئيس شي عن االحتفالني بتخريج دفعتني من اجلامعة والتنوع اهلائل يف جمموعة اخلرجيني ممن

حضروا من خمتلف أرجاء العامل، مما يتيح للجامعة تشكيل قطاع وحتالف عريض من اخلرجيني وعائلة ممتدة تتألف من الشباب من ذوى الذهن املتوقد

والتطلعات العظيمة والفضول املستحب لإلطالع على خمتلف الثقافات والذين جازفوا لكي يكونوا جزءًا من

جامعة وليدة جبوار البحر األمحر.

وذكر اخلرجيون بأنهم مبثابة سفراء ميثلون اجلامعة أمام العامل وحتدث عن ضرورة مشاركتهم لعائالتهم

وأصدقائهم وجمتمعاتهم يف أفكارهم وقيمهم ومعارفهم اليت تشكلت من خالل دراستهم يف اجلامعة

واليت تشكل بدورها مستقبلهم اجلمعي.

وباإلضافة إىل الرئيس شي، حتدث الوكيل املشارك برايان موران وثالثة من اخلرجيني عن جتاربهم

كمقدمني لفعاليات سلسة اخلرجيني يف برنامج اإلثراء الشتوي 2012.

ورشة عمل

جاك كاكلر الذي خترج يف عام 2011 والفائز جبائزة ندوة أحباث اخلرجيني يف العام 2010، نال درجة

املاجستري يف اهلندسة الكيميائية والبيولوجية. ظل كاكلر يعمل منذ خترجه كمستشار جلامعة امللك

عبداهلل يف خمترب أقمارالنانو اإلصطناعية، وهو برنامج يقوم على أساس برنامج سابق نفذه مركز أحباث إمييز يف وكالة الفضاء األمريكية. ويهدف هذا الربنامج إىل

ترسيخ وضع جامعة امللك عبداهلل كمركز لتطوير األقمار اإلصطناعية يف الشرق األوسط والعامل قاطبة.

وخالل برنامج اإلثراء الشتوي 2012، قام كاكلر بقيادة ورشة عمل استمرت ملدة 4 أيام عن تطور أقمار النانو اإلصطناعية بعمل مناذج سريعة وبناء أقمار إصطناعية من الصفر واختبار معداتها عند

ارتفاعات تصل إىل 30 كيلومرتا يف الطبقة الثانية من الغالف اجلوي.

العامل املجهول

أما نوح ديزروزير، وهو أيضا من خرجيي العام 2011 واحلائز على جائزة ندوة أحباث اخلرجيني، فقد حتدث

للمستمعني يف استعراضه الشيق متعدد امليديا عن التنوع البيولوجي املذهل الذي يسهل الوصول إليه

عند شواطىء اجلامعة حتت عنوان “احلياة عند الصغر: العامل املجهول اخلاص بالالفقاريات البحرية”.

ويقول إنه إذا نظرنا إىل احلجم األصغر فإننا نفتح عاملا جديدا من الكائنات الدقيقة اليت يسهل

جتاهلها. وكان حديثه عبارة عن أداء واستعراض

علمي من فصلني، أوهلما يتناول بالبحث مستوطنات الشاطىء عند جامعة امللك عبداهلل من منظور

الالفقاريات الدقيقة مستعرضًا التحديات اليت تواجهها وثانيها تعداد ملختلف الكائنات يف هذه املستوطنات

والكيفية اليت تتعامل بها مع تلك الضغوط البيئية.

وقدم ديزروزير عرضا حيا للعامل الصغري يف شكل سبيكة البحر الرخوية والروبيان اهليكلي، كما

استعرض العناكب البحرية وقناديل البحر اهلالمية اليت تتوفر لديها طحالب على قرون استشعار للقيام

بعملية التمثيل الضوئي لضوء الشمس واإلسفنج اليت تتوىل عملية ترشيح البكترييا والفريوسات من مياه

البحر للحصول على غذائها.

وبفضل إلقاء الضوء على هذه الكائنات من خالل االستعراض املمتع حلياتها، حصل احلضور على فهم أفضل هلذه الكائنات الدقيقة اليت تعيش على عتبات

دورنا مباشرة.

اإلخفاقات والنجاحات

أما العرض الثالث من سلسلة عروض اخلرجيني يف برنامج اإلثراء الشتوي 2012، فلم يكن مقدمه جمرد

عارض فقط ولكنه كان أيضا جزءًا من الفريق الذي لعب دورا حيويا يف جناح برنامج اإلثراء الشتوي

هلذا العام وهو مصطفى نابلسي، الذي قدم عرضا لربجمية “أكادوكس: قصة بدايات جامعة امللك

عبداهلل”حيث شارك املشاهدين يف اإلخفاقات والنجاحات اليت رافقت جتربته التجارية املبتكرة حىت

اآلن. وكان نابلسي، إىل جانب العضوين املؤسسني لربنامج أكادوكس: وهما نضال مراد وحممد احلريقي،

من أوائل املستفيدين من اجلولة األوىل من برنامج متويل البذور. وقدموا وصفا للتطبيقات املبتكرة

املستخدمة كمنصة تعليم وذكاء للجيل القادم وهي التطبيقات اليت استخدمت كأساس لربنامج اإلثراء

الشتوي 2012.

يقول نابلسي إنه بفضل كونهم من الرواد األوائل يف اجلامعة، فإن ذلك منحهم التجارب الكاملة من

البداية. ونظرًا ألن كل شىيء كان جديدا، كان يتعني عليهم أن يتعلموا القيام بعمل األشياء من الصفر ويرتكبوا األخطاء ويكتشفوا طرقا جديدة لتذليل

املشاكل. ويؤكد نابلسي أنه وجد منطًا مماثاًل يف كل البدايات وأنه توجد على الدوام أشياء جديدة جيب تعلمها ومشاكل تتم مواجهتها واحلاجة املستمرة

للمرونة.

وأضاف نابلسي قائال إنه اكتشف أن” أعظم مزايا االلتحاق جبامعة جديدة يتمثل يف كيفية االهتداء إىل

حلول جديدة وأن من شأن ذلك اإلطار العملي املتوفر يف اجلامعة أن يشجع االبتكار املطلوب لكي تكون

مستثمرًا جديدًا ناجحًا”. ويرى نابلسي أن املطلوب ال يتمثل فقط يف اإلطار واخلربة ولكن أيضا كان لألفراد

هنا دورًا قيمًا وهم ممنونون لكل الفرص اليت أتاحتها هلم جامعة امللك عبداهلل من أجل

o.حتقيق أهدافهم

الرئيس شي رحب به واعتربه الشخص املناسب لبناء علوم األحياء

الربوفيسور ماجسرتييت باحث الدماغ البشري ينضم إىل جامعة امللك عبداهلل

رحب رئيس جامعة امللك عبداهلل للعلوم والتقنية الربوفيسور شي فونغ شيه بوصول الربوفيسور بيري ماجسرتييت وانضمامه إىل أسرة اجلامعة عميدًا لقسم الكيمياء وعلوم احلياة واهلندسة، وقال الرئيس شي إن جامعة امللك عبداهلل "هي املكان الذي تكرب فيه أفكار وآمال العلماء اجليولوجيني وكذلك

املكان الذي يتحدى املهندسني من أجل حتويل اكتشافاتهم إىل تقنيات قابلة للحياة واإلستدامة. وباملقابل يربز مهندسونا األفكار املمكنة التحقيق من خالل ابتكار التقنيات اجلديدة وإهلام علماء

األحياء بهدف تعظيم أفكارهم".. وأضاف: "مع انضمام العميد ماجسرتييت إىل الفريق، نكون قد حصلنا على الشخص املناسب لبناء وترشيد علوم األحياء القائمة على األسس اهلندسية للوصول إىل الريادة

والتميز على نطاق العامل".

التقنية واحلياة

ويتطلع الربوفسور بيري ماجسرتييت، الذي وصل م ؤخرا، إىل أن يضيف إىل اجلامعة من خربته وحنكته ومهاراته القيادية من أجل توطيد وترسيخ البيئة الثرية اليت يتميز بها القسم مبا يتيح املزيد من

االزدهار والتطور للمجتمع األكادميي. فخالل فرتة عمله األكادميي املتواصلة ألكثر من ثالثني عاما، جنح جناحا منقطع النظري يف جتميع األشخاص واملشاريع معا من خالل االستماع إيل العلماء القائمني باألحباث بكل حرص وانتباه ومن مث توفري اخليط الذي جيمع ويؤالف بني مجيع اجلزيئيات بروح تشيع

التعاون بني مجيع التخصصات ومبا يضمن التناغم بني اجلزئيات ومتاسكها. وقد تضافرت نوعية األفراد واملوارد اليت تزخر بها هذه اجلامعة الفتية وجنحت يف استقطابه لاللتحاق بها ويرى فيها الربوفسور

ماجسرتييت فرصة فريدة وهامة للجمع بني التقنية وعلوم احلياة من أجل تعزيز "علوم األحياء املستندة على اهلندسة" مبا ينسجم متاما مع رؤية اجلامعة اهلادفة إىل حتقيق اقتصاد اململكة القائم على أساس

املعرفة.

جتربة نوعية

وكانت أحباث الربوفسور ماجسرتييت الشخصية السابقة قد ركزت على الدماغ البشري. وكان مسئواًل عن جتميع احتاد ضخم متعدد التخصصات لدراسة األسس البيولوجية لألمراض العقلية مبا يف ذلك

االكتئاب وانفصام الشخصية وقد ساهمت هذه األحباث ليس فقط يف املعرفة احليوية هلذه احلاالت ولكنها ساعدت أيضا يف القضاء على املظاهر املرافقة هلذه االضطرابات النفسية. وبالنسبة لوجوده

يف جامعة امللك عبداهلل، يعتزم الربوفسور ماجسرتييت الرتكيز على توجهني يف األحباث: أوهلما البناء على الكفاءات األساسية للتصوير من أجل حتري واستكشاف العمليات البيولوجية على املستوى

املجهري للنواة واجلزيئيات واخلاليا كأداة رئيسية لفهم دور اجلينات والربوتينات يف هذا املرض، وثانيهما تطوير ووضع فرص لدراسة اخللفية اجلينية لعدد من أمراض التمثيل الغذائي مثل السمنة

وكذلك أمراض السرطان األكثر شيوعا ووثيقة الصلة بالصحة العامة يف اململكة العربية السعودية. وقد جرى يف ديسمرب املاضي التوقيع على مذكرة تفاهم تسمح بالتعاون بني مدينة امللك عبداهلل الطبية يف الرياض ومستشفى احلرس الوطين يف جدة وجامعة امللك عبداهلل مبا يتيح مضاعفة املكاسب من نظام

الرعاية الصحية املتميز وتسهيل دراسة جينات السكان بهدف التطوير الفعال للجوانب الصحية ومنع ومعاجلة املرض يف جمتمع السكان املحلي. ويأمل الربوفسور ماجسرتييت أن تتمكن اجلامعة بفضل ما يتوفر لديها من فاعلية وموارد و أجهزة كمبيوتر فائقة اإلمكانيات ومرافق تصوير من املساهمة بصورة

فعالة يف مشروع الدماغ البشري.

ويرى الربوفيسور ماجسرتييت أن العمل يف جامعة امللك عبداهلل هو مبثابة "جتربة ونقلة نوعية" ويأيت التوظيف الناجح يف مقدمة أولوياته. وسيسعى هلذا الغرض من أجل تشكيل وتنظيم ورش عمل على

o.مستوى عال يف إطار القسم لضمان إطالع املزيد من الناس على مجيع الفرص اليت توفرها اجلامعة