The KAUST Graduate Student Council (GSC) was founded in 2009 to represent student interests and amplify employment opportunities. The GSC works with KAUST administration, faculty, staff, and community partners to advocate for quality research and a nurturing academic environment. The current GSC consists of seven student positions, including president Maram AlMalki and vice president Muhammad Bukar. Why it matters: The GSC provides a crucial link between the student body and the university's leadership, ensuring student voices are heard and their needs are addressed.
KAUST Professor Valerio Orlando from the Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering division has been named the chair of the Enrichment Programs for 2019. He will oversee the 10th Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) running from January 13 to 26, 2019, and related satellite programs. The Enrichment Programs aim to foster a lively atmosphere and bring the KAUST community together with international guests. Why it matters: While routine, the announcement highlights KAUST's ongoing efforts to enrich its academic environment through diverse programs and international collaborations.
KAUST alumnus Jagdish Chandra Vyas (Ph.D. '17) received a Student Presentation Award at the 2017 Seismological Society of America Annual Meeting for his poster "Mach Wave Coherence in the Presence of Source and Medium Heterogeneity." Vyas's Ph.D. research at KAUST, under Professor Martin Mai, focused on the effects of rupture complexity and heterogeneities in Earth structure on ground motions. Currently a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, Vyas credits KAUST's academic environment and facilities for nurturing his research and scientific growth. Why it matters: This award recognizes the high-caliber research conducted at KAUST and highlights the university's contribution to the field of seismology.