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General AI research publications from MBZUAI, KAUST, TII, QCRI, and other GCC institutions, including conference papers, journal articles, and preprints.
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KAUST Assistant Professor Ying Sun won the 2017 Section on Statistics and the Environment Early Investigator Award. The award recognizes early-career researchers making significant contributions to environmental statistics. The award was given by the American Statistical Association. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's strength in interdisciplinary research and its faculty's recognition on the international stage.
Sadeem, a startup founded by KAUST Ph.D. graduates, develops flood and traffic sensors powered by solar batteries and transceivers. The company's technology originated as a Ph.D. project and has been supported by the KAUST Entrepreneurship Center, including participation in the KAUST Hikma IP-based Startup Accelerator program. Sadeem's sensors are designed to mitigate damage and save lives from floods, with ten nodes currently operating on the KAUST campus. Why it matters: The development and deployment of such sensor technologies in Saudi Arabia could improve urban resilience and disaster response in flood-prone areas across the GCC region.
KAUST Discovery student Leen Al-Jefri presented a poster on broadband digital holographic memories. Another KAUST student, Aljazzy Alahmadi, worked with Professor Omar Abdulsaboor on charge career dynamics between perovskite nanocrystals and molecular acceptors. The work highlights opportunities for gifted Saudi students at KAUST. Why it matters: Developing local talent in advanced STEM fields is crucial for Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals.
KAUST Ph.D. student Sabrina Vettori won the 2017 Student Paper Competition sponsored by the Section on Statistics and the Environment of the American Statistical Association. Her winning paper was titled "Bayesian clustering and dimension reduction in multivariate air pollution extremes", co-authored by Huser and Genton. The competition focused on environmental statistics, with winners presenting at the Joint Statistical Meetings. Why it matters: This award recognizes KAUST's contribution to environmental statistics and highlights the university's ability to attract and nurture talent in this critical area.
This paper explores language-independent alternatives to morphological segmentation for Arabic NLP using data-driven sub-word units, characters as a unit of learning, and word embeddings learned using a character CNN. The study evaluates these methods on machine translation and POS tagging tasks. Results show these methods achieve performance close to or surpassing state-of-the-art approaches. Why it matters: By offering simpler, more adaptable segmentation techniques, this research can help improve Arabic NLP applications across diverse domains and dialects.
This paper describes the MIT-QCRI team's Arabic Dialect Identification (ADI) system developed for the 2017 Multi-Genre Broadcast challenge (MGB-3). The system aims to distinguish between four major Arabic dialects and Modern Standard Arabic. The research explores Siamese neural network models and i-vector post-processing to handle dialect variability and domain mismatches, using both acoustic and linguistic features. Why it matters: The work contributes to the advancement of Arabic language processing, specifically in dialect identification, which is crucial for analyzing and understanding diverse Arabic speech content in media broadcasts.
KAUST Ph.D. student Sheikha Alardhi won the sustainable energy and fuels poster award at the 2017 Spring Meeting and Exhibit of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) in Strasbourg, France. Alardhi's poster was titled "Ab initio Assessment of Bi1-xRExCuOS (RE=La, Gd, Y, Lu) Solid Solution for Water Splitting". Her poster came in first place among 77 student and postdoctoral fellow posters. Why it matters: This award recognizes promising research in sustainable energy and highlights KAUST's contributions to the field.
KAUST · · Partnership Research
KAUST and Imperial College London highlighted the development of young professionals as a result of their partnership. They mentioned Imperial-KAUST alumnus Dr. Bin Zou, co-founder of LoMaRe Ltd., and Dr. Jing Pang, a KAUST-supported Ph.D. student and co-founder of Neuron Technology Ltd. The partnership is seen as mutually beneficial, strengthening both universities. Why it matters: This underscores KAUST's role in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship through international collaborations.
KAUST · · Research Partnership
The AQABA project, a collaboration involving KAUST and international institutions, studies air quality and climate change in the Arabian Basin using a marine research vessel. The vessel traveled from France through the Suez Canal, around the Arabian Peninsula, and stopped at KAUST. Researchers presented findings on atmospheric dust, air pollution, and aerosol measurements, highlighting the impact of dust on renewable energy and air pollution on health. Why it matters: The project provides crucial data for understanding and addressing climate challenges and air quality issues in the Middle East.
This paper presents a decentralized multi-agent unmanned aerial system designed for search, pickup, and relocation of objects. The system integrates multi-agent aerial exploration, object detection/tracking, and aerial gripping. The decentralized system uses global state estimation, reactive collision avoidance, and sweep planning for exploration. Why it matters: The system's successful deployment in demonstrations and competitions like MBZIRC highlights the potential of integrated robotic solutions for complex tasks such as search and rescue in the region.
KAUST · · Research Partnership
KAUST held its third annual Sensor Initiative, hosting 70 delegates from KAUST and international institutions like MIT and UCLA. The interdisciplinary meeting focused on transforming sensor technologies and exploring applications. Researchers from KAUST and abroad presented on topics like chemical sensors and sustainable ecosystems. Why it matters: The initiative demonstrates KAUST's commitment to advancing sensor technology and fostering collaboration between local and international experts.
KAUST · · Research Partnership
KAUST recently hosted the Research Conference: Predictive Complex Computational Fluid Dynamics (PCCFD) from May 22 to 24. The conference brought together local and international CFD scientists from academia and industry to discuss the latest work and findings in CFD. Topics included variable-order algorithms, adaptive mesh refinement, fluid-structure interaction, and uncertainty quantification. Why it matters: The conference highlights KAUST's commitment to advancing CFD research and its applications in various fields, including aerospace, oil industry, and environmental science.
KAUST · · Research Partnership
Baker Hughes has donated JewelSuite™ reservoir modeling software to KAUST to enhance teaching, learning, and research. The software simplifies modeling and streamlines the building of accurate 3-D reservoir models. It will enable students and faculty to gain a clearer picture of the subsurface and predict oil or gas deposits. Why it matters: This donation will help KAUST train future leaders in the petroleum engineering industry and advance research in reservoir modeling.
Three KAUST Ph.D. students, Dalal Alezi, Samah Mohamed, and Yevhen Fatieiev, have been selected to attend the 67th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Lindau, Germany. The meeting will bring together young scientists and Nobel laureates in chemistry for a week of activities. Alezi's research focuses on metal-organic materials, Mohamed develops chemical kinetic models for combustion, and Fatieiev works on magnetic nanoparticles. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's commitment to fostering scientific talent and providing opportunities for its students to engage with leading researchers in their fields, enhancing the university's global reputation.
KAUST · · Partnership Research
KAUST hosted the Innovation to Impact Roundtable, uniting academics and industry leaders from the US and Saudi Arabia. The event, co-organized by KACST and SMEA, aimed to foster collaboration between private, academic, and governmental institutions. Discussions focused on innovative solutions for energy, agriculture, water, healthcare, and education. Why it matters: The roundtable signifies Saudi Arabia's push to diversify its economy and leverage global partnerships to empower its younger generation through technological advancements.
Ten KAUST faculty members were promoted at a gala dinner ceremony on May 8, recognizing their accomplishments. KAUST President Jean-Lou Chameau honored the faculty, including Mohamed Eddaoudi, a leader in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and Marc Genton, focused on spatio-temporal data analysis. Eddaoudi's work includes innovations in battery-electrode separators, while Genton's research spans environmental science and renewable energies. Why it matters: Recognizing and promoting faculty talent at KAUST can help further boost the university's reputation as a leading destination for research and innovation in science and technology within the region.
KAUST · · Research Healthcare
KAUST alumna Aubrie O'Rourke (Ph.D. '15) received an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Award Fellowship with NASA to study bacteria aboard the International Space Station (ISS). O'Rourke will analyze samples of Burkholderia cepacia bacteria from the ISS potable water system. She will sequence genomes to understand pathogenicity and virulence, comparing them to terrestrial strains. Why it matters: Understanding how microorganisms evolve in space has implications for astronaut health during long-duration missions, and this award highlights KAUST's role in fostering pioneering research.
Historian Mike Bruton spoke at KAUST about scientific disruptors from the House of Wisdom during the Islamic Golden Age. These scholars made contributions like introducing the concept of zero and debunking the Greek theory of sight. Ibn al-Haytham revolutionized knowledge of optics, demonstrating that light bounces off objects and enters our eyes. Why it matters: The lecture highlights the significant scientific advancements made during the Islamic Golden Age and their lasting impact on modern civilization.
KAUST · · Research Infrastructure
KAUST faculty member Marco Canini is researching networked systems, focusing on improving their design, implementation, and operation. His work centers on Software-Defined Advanced Networked and Distributed Systems (SANDS). Canini aims to address challenges related to reliability, performance, security, and energy efficiency in large-scale networked computer systems. Why it matters: This research contributes to the development of more dependable and efficient digital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, aligning with KAUST's mission to advance science and technology.
KAUST · · Research Partnership
KAUST and Thermo Fisher Scientific launched an Electron Microscopy Center of Excellence on May 9. The Center expands the existing partnership between KAUST and Thermo Fisher, focusing on instrument performance and R&D collaboration. It features the FEI Titan Themis Z scanning transmission electron microscope, the first installation globally. Why it matters: The center will provide advanced materials science research capabilities to KAUST researchers, industry partners, and Saudi Arabia, enhancing scientific discovery and technological advancement in the region.
KAUST's Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC) held a research conference on wastewater treatment from March 27-29. The conference covered innovations in technologies and microbes to recover resources from wastewater. Keynote speakers included Bruce Rittmann, Bruce Logan, and Jurg Keller, with topics ranging from microbial fuel cells to microalgal biotechnology. Why it matters: The event highlights KAUST's focus on sustainable technologies for water management, addressing critical resource challenges in arid regions.
The KAUST Visual Computing (KAUST RC-VC) – Modeling and Reconstruction conference featured speakers from Simon Fraser University, Caltech, Cornell University, and Autodesk. Presentations covered topics like networking topology, shape matching and modeling, data-driven interpolation of optical properties, and computer graphics. Why it matters: The conference highlights KAUST's role in fostering international collaboration and advancing research in visual computing and related fields within Saudi Arabia.
KAUST held a Research Workshop on Blue Carbon on March 20 and 21. The workshop focused on the role of blue carbon ecosystems, such as mangroves and seagrass meadows, in mitigating climate change. Experts discussed the importance of these ecosystems. Why it matters: This highlights growing research and awareness in Saudi Arabia around leveraging natural resources for climate solutions.
KAUST · · Research Partnership
KAUST Professor Hong Im has been inducted into the National Academy of Engineering of Korea (NAEK) as an international member. He was selected for his contributions to the theory and computational modeling of combustion, specifically direct numerical simulations (DNS) of turbulent combustion. Since 2013, he has been a core faculty member of the Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC) at KAUST. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's role in attracting and fostering world-class engineering talent and its contributions to advanced power generation research.
KAUST · · Infrastructure Research
This article discusses KAUST's efforts to build a high-performance computing (HPC) ecosystem. It mentions Jysoo Lee, director of the KAUST Supercomputing Core Lab, and Robert G. Voigt from the Krell Institute, both speakers at the HPC Saudi event held at KAUST. The article also acknowledges King Abdullah's role in establishing KAUST. Why it matters: HPC is crucial for advancing AI research and development in the region, and KAUST is playing a key role in fostering this ecosystem.
KAUST · · Research Partnership
KAUST received The SWEF Technology & Innovation Award. The award was presented to the KAUST delegation at the Saudi Water Environment Forum (SWEF). KAUST faculty members also participated in panel sessions at the event. Why it matters: Recognition of KAUST's work highlights Saudi Arabia's growing role in technology and innovation.
KAUST · · Infrastructure Research
A KAUST article highlights the role of supercomputers like Shaheen in enhancing industrial competitiveness. Jean Tachiji, Cray Manager in the Middle East, Steven Scott, Cray CTO, and Saber Feki from KAUST Supercomputing Core Laboratory are featured in front of Shaheen. Why it matters: This underscores the strategic importance of high-performance computing for research and development in the region.
arXiv · · Healthcare NLP
The paper introduces Guided Deep List, a tool for automating the generation of epidemiological line lists from open source reports. The tool uses distributed vector representations and dependency parsing to extract tabular data on disease outbreaks. It was evaluated on MERS outbreak data in Saudi Arabia, demonstrating improved accuracy over baseline methods and enabling epidemiological inferences.
KAUST · · Research Healthcare
A KAUST-led research team sequenced the first high-quality quinoa genome. This achievement may enhance our ability to feed the world's growing population. The research was conducted at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Why it matters: This breakthrough in genomics could lead to more resilient and nutritious crops, contributing to global food security efforts.
KAUST · · Funding Partnership
28 student and faculty-led teams have been selected for the inaugural TAQADAM Accelerator Cohort at KAUST. The program is sponsored by the Saudi British Bank. Why it matters: This accelerator program will help foster entrepreneurship and innovation within the Saudi ecosystem.
KAUST · · Research Partnership
KAUST Professor Nikolaos Hadjichristidis has been appointed as the chair of the National Council for Science and Innovation of Greece. Hadjichristidis is a Distinguished Professor of Chemical Science at KAUST. The National Council for Science and Innovation of Greece is a governmental advisory body. Why it matters: This appointment highlights KAUST's role in fostering international scientific leadership and collaboration.
KAUST · · Research Partnership
The KAUST student chapter of the Materials Research Society (MRS) was the first outside the U.S., established in 2012. In late 2016, KAUST students, faculty, and staff attended the MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit in Boston, setting up a recruitment booth and organizing student-led seminars. KAUST faculty and PhD students also gave talks on their research at the event. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's commitment to international engagement and student development in material science, fostering research and career opportunities.
This paper describes QCRI's machine translation systems for the IWSLT 2016 evaluation campaign, focusing on Arabic-English and English-Arabic tracks. They built both Phrase-based and Neural machine translation models. A Neural MT system, trained by stacking data from different genres through fine-tuning, and applying ensemble over 8 models, outperformed a strong phrase-based system by 2 BLEU points in the Arabic->English direction. Why it matters: The research highlights the early promise of neural machine translation for Arabic language pairs, demonstrating its potential to surpass traditional methods.
KAUST's Vice President for Research Jean M.J. Fréchet has been cited over 100,000 times. Fréchet's research contributions have had a significant impact in his field. Why it matters: This milestone highlights KAUST's growing influence in scientific research and the impact of its faculty.
KAUST · · Healthcare Robotics
A smart bandage developed by KAUST's Associate Professor Atif Shamim and Ph.D. student Mohammed Farooqui won the IEEE MECAP’16 Best Paper Award. The smart bandage is a medical device that wirelessly communicates wound parameters and abnormalities to healthcare providers. It monitors the wound's recovery process. Why it matters: This recognition highlights the innovative research and development in healthcare technology emerging from Saudi Arabia.
KAUST · · Infrastructure Research
KAUST's Supercomputing Core Lab (KSL) aims to advance science and technology through HPC solutions. The article highlights the lab's mission to inspire scientific, economic, and social progress. It mentions KAUST Ph.D. students and computational scientists at the SC16 supercomputing conference. Why it matters: This showcases KAUST's commitment to high-performance computing and its role in driving innovation in the region.
KAUST · · Research Partnership
Saudi Aramco and KAUST broke ground on December 16 for a new research center. The center's focus and planned capabilities were not disclosed in the provided text. Why it matters: This signals continued investment in research infrastructure within Saudi Arabia, although details are currently limited.
Jean-Marie Basset, KAUST professor and director of the Catalysis Center, has been named a fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors. Basset is a distinguished professor of chemical science at KAUST. Why it matters: This recognition highlights the quality of research and faculty at KAUST.
KAUST · · Research Partnership
KAUST hosted the International Conference on the Marine Environment of the Red Sea (ICMERS) from November 14-16. The conference brought together oceanography experts from KAUST and other international universities. Discussions focused on the state of Red Sea research, aiming to share knowledge, encourage new thinking, and develop a regional research map. Why it matters: The conference fostered collaboration and knowledge sharing to advance marine research and conservation efforts in the Red Sea region.
KAUST researchers presented their work on stabilizing nanoparticle catalysts at the 252nd American Chemical Society Meeting & Exposition. The team devised a "molecular Scotch tape" using a silica gel support coated with a single molecule layer of soft material containing sulfur. This approach allows nanoparticles to stick to one side while leaving the other side free for catalysis, preventing aggregation without killing the catalyst. Why it matters: This innovation in catalyst stabilization could lead to more efficient and sustainable chemical processes, impacting various industries.
KAUST · · Research Partnership
KAUST hosted the Emerging Concepts and Materials in Solar Energy Conversion research conference from October 31 to November 2. The conference gathered scientists to discuss solar energy research, including perovskite solar cells, quantum dot solar cells, and photocatalysis. Rawabi Holding's chairman expressed pride in KAUST's solar research and its potential to address global challenges. Why it matters: By bringing together global experts and fostering discussions on innovative solar technologies, KAUST is contributing to advancements in renewable energy and sustainable solutions for the region.
Former Saudi Research Science Institute (SRSI) student Abdullatif, now a junior at Berkeley, published a paper in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS). The paper, "Isomerically Pure Tetramethylrhodamine Voltage Reporters," details the design, synthesis, and application of Rhodamine Voltage Reporters (RhoVRs). Abdullatif, who worked at KAUST during her SRSI program on carbon dioxide capture, plans to return for advanced studies. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in nurturing young Saudi talent in STEM and contributing to high-impact scientific research.
A KAUST article discusses the future of energy, highlighting the role of hydrocarbon fuels and the need for sustainable practices. Professor Tadeusz W. Patzek's paper emphasizes finding sustainable bridges until alternative energy sources become viable. The article contrasts optimistic and pessimistic views on energy sustainability, drawing parallels to the whale oil industry. Why it matters: The piece highlights the tension between continued reliance on fossil fuels and the urgent need for alternative energy sources and reduced consumption in the GCC region and globally.
KAUST · · Healthcare Research
Dr. John Bedbrook of DiCE Molecules LLC spoke at KAUST about the challenges of feeding a growing population with increasingly stressed arable land. He noted the increasing demand for meat in emerging economies exacerbates the problem. Bedbrook emphasized the role of genetics and hybridization in improving crop yields and quality to address food security. Why it matters: Investments in agricultural biotechnology are crucial for the GCC region to enhance food security and reduce reliance on imports amid changing climate conditions.
KAUST Professor Xixiang Zhang was elected as a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) in September. Zhang is a professor of Material Science and Engineering. The fellowship recognizes his contributions to the field of physics. Why it matters: Recognition of KAUST faculty highlights the institution's growing prominence in international scientific communities.
KAUST Associate Professor Muhammad Mustafa Hussain has been elected as a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS). Hussain's research focuses on creating paper-based sensors using low-cost materials to mimic human skin sensory functions. He was selected in recognition of his work at KAUST. Why it matters: Recognition of researchers at GCC universities by international professional societies helps to raise the profile of regional research efforts.
KAUST · · Research Healthcare
KAUST Discovery Associate Professor of Chemical Science Niveen Khashab received a 2017 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award. The award recognizes her research contributions in the field of physical science, specifically organic chemistry. The award highlights the impact of KAUST researchers on the global scientific community. Why it matters: This recognition underscores the growing prominence of women in STEM fields within the Middle East and the increasing global impact of research originating from Saudi Arabia.
KAUST · · Healthcare Research
A smart bandage developed at KAUST aims to accelerate the healing of chronic wounds. The bandage contains sensors and drug-delivery components for real-time monitoring and treatment. Why it matters: This technology could improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs associated with chronic wound management in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
KAUST · · Partnership Funding
KAUST and SABB (Saudi British Bank) have partnered to launch a startup accelerator program. The program will be open to multiple universities in Saudi Arabia. Details on the application process and specific program focus are forthcoming. Why it matters: University-linked accelerators boost Saudi Arabia's innovation ecosystem by providing resources for young companies.
KAUST · · Research Partnership
KAUST and Boeing renewed their Master Research Agreement (MRA) on September 1. The agreement aims to boost collaborative research on next-generation aerospace technologies. The renewed MRA signifies a continued partnership between the Saudi university and the American aerospace company. Why it matters: This agreement can foster innovation in aerospace within Saudi Arabia and aligns with the Kingdom's broader technology development goals.