A delegation from the College of Science, from the Female Section at Al Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University visited King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) on Monday, 10/31/2016 AD. The visit included meeting with the deans and many senior leaders at the University and presenting an accurate perception of the existing scientific and academic programs and research groups. On the other hand, the delegation visited many developed research laboratories at KAUST and looked at the existing research projects. In addition, the means of joint scientific and research collaboration were discussed. During the meetings, the delegation  also discussed with the University leaders the means of collaboration in providing scholarships by KAUST for college female graduates for both master's and doctoral degrees.  many  discussions were held during this visit, which resulted in future joint collaboration between the College of Science and KAUST.

The delegation included a group of College faculty from different specializations, headed by Dr. Abeer Al-Nahdi, Vice-Dean of the College, accompanied by Dr. Shaimaa Al-Juhani, Head of Academic Advising, Dr. Ghada Khuqeer, Member of the Academic Accreditation Committee in the Physics Department, Ms. Mervat Al-Zumia, Deputy Head of the Physics Department, Ms. Ahlam Al-Huwayti, Teaching Assistant in the Physics Department, Ms. Maryam Al-Shihri, Teaching Assistant in the Physics Department, and Ms. Arwa Al-Qahtani, Teaching Assistant in the Chemistry Department.

The visit program was prepared specially for the Al Imam University delegation by the Saudi Initiatives Program at KAUST with the joint collaborative efforts of Dr. Najah Ashry, Vice President of Saudi Initiatives, and Dr. Raed Hussein Al-Hathlool, Vice-Dean of the College of Science for Development and Quality at Al Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University.

The program began with a welcoming speech by Ms. Walaa Issa, Public Relation Official at KAUST, in which she welcomed all the attendees and presented an idea about the objective of this visit and its detailed program.

The delegation met Mr. Fredrico Silva, Director of the National Program for Academic Talent Development, and Mr. Waleed Al-Anzi, Saudi Initiatives Official at KAUST. The meeting began with an introductory presentation about the University future vision, research fields, academic plans for postgraduate studies, and admission requirements, in addition to the map of the University City, and an overview of services available for University members, including students, faculty members, and staff. It was also pointed out that the University is divided into four academic departments responsible for educational activity programs and granting degrees. These departments are:

·        Earth Science and Environmental Science and Engineering.

·        Bioscience and Bioengineering.

·        Mathematics and Computer Science and Engineering.

·        Physical and Chemical Sciences and Engineering.

It is worth mentioning that the University grants degrees in eleven specializations, namely: Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Biological Sciences, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chemical Sciences, Computer Science, Earth Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Science and Engineering, Marine Science and Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.

During luncheon, which was held in honor of the delegation, a friendly talk was held with the postgraduate students at the University, including Abeer Bakhsh, dispatched student of Umm Al-Qura University, majoring in Applied Mathematics, and Nourah Al-Wad'ani, dispatched student of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, majoring in Physics.

Later, the delegation members  went on various introductory tours distributed on the basis of their various specializations.. One of the groups visited basic laboratories, accompanied by Ms. Walaa Issa, where they learned about the research facilities at the University by visiting some of the research laboratories and reviewing the available equipment they have. During the visit to the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory led by Dr. Ziad Al-Talah, the delegation was briefed about the high quality analytical services that the basic Analytical Chemistry Laboratory provides at KAUST, as well as a wide range of advanced analytical tools.

This laboratory includes:

·        Separation of Chemicals and Spectroscopy Laboratory

·        Analysis of Rare Metals Laboratory

·        Wet Chemistry Laboratory

·        Surface Analysis Laboratory

·        Molecular Spectroscopy Laboratory

On the other hand, the other group visited the Supercomputing Core Laboratory, accompanied by Dr. Andrew Wenfer, Head of the Supercomputing Management Team. Then, the group visited the Visual Computing Center, accompanied by Dr. Muhammed Shalabi; next, two Doctoral students presented part of their research in front of the audience in one of the laboratories.

The delegation went to the Bioscience Laboratories, accompanied by the researcher Muhammed Farooq. During his presentation, Dr. Muhammed reviewed what the next generation of technology provides, such as gene sequencing, biological information, and proteinology. This was followed by a detailed explanation of the mechanism in the basic Biological Sciences Laboratory research in the fields of Genomics and Proteins, Flow Cytometry (FACS: Fluorescence-Activated Cell Storing), and super imaging using the latest equipment and advanced analytical methods.

In the Department of Coastal and Marine Laboratory, Dr. Muhammad Al-Ar'oori welcomed the group and gave an idea of the importance of this laboratory and how it relates closely to the rest of the analytical and computing laboratories. He also presented the most important marine areas of research, diving experiences, sampling, and other research needs in the marine and costal environments.

This intensive introductory program concluded with a meeting with Dr. Najah Ashry, Vice President of Saudi Initiatives, where she reviewed the vision and strategic plans of the University and Student Affairs Division, including admission procedures, enrollment management, registration, students life services, students development and support, and scholarship programs. She also noted that those enrolled in the University attend courses to strengthen their scientific background before starting their research project.

Next, the delegation met with Dr. Mohamed Eddaoudi, Associate Director of the Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials Research Center, and Dr. Panagiotos Kalnis, Associate Professor of Computer Science, and discussed the possible ways of enrolling in KAUST. They also answered the delegation members' queries with full transparency.

The delegation from the College of Science also visited housing accommodation and public facilities, where the University offers a variety of options of accommodations for students, faculty, and staff. These options include villas, houses, apartments, and miscellaneous and featured services which meet the needs of its multicultural society.

At the end of the visit, everyone deeply thanked the Public Relations Committee at KAUST, represented by Ms. Walaa Issa. On the other hand, KAUST provided the delegation with bags, gifts, and introductory leaflets about the University.

The delegation expressed their satisfaction with this valuable scientific visit, which gave them the opportunity to learn about the research areas and their various scientific prospects at KAUST.

In addition, Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Babtain, Dean of the College of Science, and Dr. Ahmad Al-Qaoud, Head of the Physics Department, thanked Dr. Abeer Al-Nahdi, Vice-Dean of the College of Science, for the success of this visit which she led. They also thanked Ms. Mervat Al-Zumia, Deputy Head of the Physics Department, for her efforts in organizing this visit. On their part, both Dr. Al-Nahdi and Ms. Al-Zumia thanked Dr. Raed Hussein Al-Hathlool, Vice-Dean of the College of Science for Development and Quality and Director of the Research Center, for his efforts in the organization and coordination of this successful visit.

For more information about the visit of the Department of Physics to KAUST last year: Click here.

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