2013 September Beacon

Page 1

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

BEACON ‫املنـارة‬ at Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

September 2013 / Thul Qedah 1434 Volume 4, Issue No. 1

the

www.kaust.edu.sa

Prof. Chameau chats with The Beacon.

Hatoon Baazim, MS candidate in Bioscience, delivered a heartfelt address to the gathering at Convocation.

A Chat with President Jean-Lou Chameau With the onset of the new academic year, The Beacon sat down with President Chameau to learn more about his thoughts on driving principles such as passion and discovery, as well as his first impressions at KAUST.

Q: In your comments to students at orientation, you mentioned the importance of a passion for discovery. Why is that important? A: The passion for discovery is clearly important. That’s what drives you, what makes you

President Jean-Lou Chameau addresses the student body, faculty, and staff at the University’s Fourth Convocation. .‫الرئيس شامو في حفل استقبال طلبة العام اآلكاديمي الجديد‬

Fourth Academic Convocation

ask questions, what makes you want to address

‫امللك عبداهلل قدم هدية عظيمة‬ ‫للمملكة بإنشاء هذه اجلامعة‬

difficult, important problems. It also is what

Energy and excitement could be felt in the air as students,

keeps you working when your research is chal-

faculty, and staff were reminded at the Fourth Academic Convocation

lenging. Science and engineering are difficult

that each person at KAUST is responsible for its success, and, in

disciplines, and sometimes you have to work

President Chameau’s words, each should “dream big, take chances,

very hard. In fact, passion alone is not suffi-

have an impact, and make a difference.”

cient. You have to be focused, and you have to

our great research centers, and there they can

KAUST is about excellence, collaboration, curiosity, discovery, innovation, and impact. All of you are crucial in fulfilling these challenging aspirations…” - President Chameau

explore their passions, be it looking at new

The Convocation, marking the start of the academic year, was

energy, at solving environmental problems,

President Jean-Lou Chameau’s first address to University as a whole.

at finding ways for better food production, or

In his inspiring remarks he told students they had been given a gift.

improving bioscience. They can address very

“King Abdullah made a great gift to Saudi Arabia by creating this

important questions of science, be very curious,

research university. The King also provided the gift of resources that

and, at the same time, translate their research

enables our scholars, including you, to explore critical and difficult

into something of practical importance.

problems without constraints and to be the best they can be,” he said.

be interested in making an impact on the world and society. I think that the young people who join KAUST have amazing opportunities. For example, they can participate in the work of

“All of you share another gift, the gift of a powerful intellect…Starting

Q: Some may argue that you either have passion or you don’t. What are your thoughts? A: I may be an idealistic person, but I believe all

this week you will be working with faculty and other students and

of us have passion inside us. Passion for things

sionate about what they do; to work hard and take advantage of the great

like science and discovery is in every person. I

research centers and laboratories and the remarkable colleagues they will

think to nurture it, you have to force yourself

find on campus; to prepare themselves to be leaders; to be resolved to

sometimes to ask questions, not take things for

grow as a person; and to contribute to the KAUST community.

scholars who are among the finest minds in the world.” He went on to tell the students that along with these gifts comes a duty to fully realize their potential. He asked them to do five things: to be pas-

granted. If things don’t make sense to you, ask

“KAUST is about excellence, collaboration, curiosity, discovery,

questions. I think we do all have passion in us,

innovation, and impact. All of you are crucial in fulfilling these chal-

and passion for science, for discovery, is found

lenging aspirations…” President Chameau continued, “All of you:

in everybody too.

faculty, staff, students, and your families are the miracle workers of KAUST. The greatness of the institution resides in you.” In closing, President Chameau said, “All of us have the great fortune

Chat with the President | Continued on p4

INSIDE:

News 1-5

Fourth Academic Convocation | Continued on p5

Research 6-7

‫كال من الطلبة وأعضاء هيئة التدريس‬ ًّ ‫ساد شعور مفعم بالحماس والتشويق‬ ‫والموظفين في الحفل الرابع الستقبال طلبة العام االكاديمي الجديد عند‬ ‫لو شامو والتي بين خاللها أن كل فرد‬-‫سماعهم كلمة رئيس الجامعة جان‬ ‫في جامعة الملك عبداهلل مسؤول عن نجاحها وأنه ينبغي على كل شخص‬ ‫أن تكون لديه أحالمًا كبيرة ويغتنم الفرص المتوفرة وأن يكون مؤثر ًا‬ .‫ويحدث التغيير‬ ‫لو شامو في حفل استقبال طلبة العام األكاديمي‬-‫وكان خطاب الرئيس جان‬ ‫ حيث‬، ‫ هو أول خطاب رسمي له مخاطبًا مجتمع الجامعة بأكمله‬،‫الجديد‬ ‫ " قدم الملك عبداهلل هدية‬: ‫أشاد بهدية الملك عبداهلل للطلبة بقوله‬ ‫عظيمة إلى المملكة العربية السعودية عبر إنشائه هذه الجامعة البحثية‬ ‫وتزويدها بالموارد التي تمكن علمائنا من بحث واستكشاف المشاكل‬ ‫ كما بين الرئيس شامو للطلبة الجدد أنه‬."‫الحرجة والصعبة دون قيود‬ ‫سيتسنى لهم العمل في جامعة الملك عبداهلل مع أعضاء هيئة تدريس‬ .‫وطلبة وباحثين من بين أفضل العقول في العالم‬ ‫وقال مخاطبًا الطلبة أنه مع امتالك موهبة الفكر تأتي على عاتقهم مسؤولية‬ ‫ أن يعملوا‬:‫ وطلب منها أن يقوموا بخمسة أشياء‬.‫تحديد قدراتهم بالكامل‬ ‫ وأن يستفيدوا من مراكز ومختبرات األبحاث الكبرى في‬،‫بحماس وشغف‬ ‫يعدوا أنفسهم ليكونوا‬ ّ ‫ أن‬،‫الجامعة وخبرات زمالئهم في الحرم الجامعي‬ ‫ وأن يساهموا في بناء مجتمع‬،‫ وأن يعقدوا العزم على تطوير أنفسهم‬،‫قادة‬ .‫جامعة الملك عبداهلل‬ ‫وأكد الرئيس شامو في ختام خطابه على أن منسوبي جامعة الملك عبداهلل‬ ‫محظوظون لخوضهم هذه المغامرة العظيمة ودعاهم بأن يفخروا بذلك‬ ‫ ثم استعرض‬.‫ وبعد ذلك قدم الرئيس شامو قادة الجامعة للحضور‬.ً‫دائما‬ ‫ أسماء‬،‫ العميد المشارك لشؤون الدراسات العليا‬،‫البروفسور برايان موران‬ ،‫ هتون باعظيم‬،‫ممثلي مجلس طالب الدراسات العليا وقدم أحد أعضائها‬ ‫طالبة درجة الماجستير في العلوم البيولوجية تحت قيادة البروفسور‬ .‫مجدى محفوظ في مركز الزراعة الصحراوية‬ ‫وتحدثت الطالبة هتون في كلمتها للطلبة الجدد عن انطباعاتها العامة‬ ‫وتجاربها الشخصية في جامعة الملك عبداهلل التي كانت مدهشة بحسب‬ ‫ وتحدثت أيضًا عن‬.‫ وتطلعاتها التي جاءت كما كانت تأمل‬،‫وصفها‬ ‫انضمامها إلى الجامعة و كيف أثر فعليًا على حياتها كونها سيدة سعودية‬ ‫ وأشادت بالتنوع الثقافي‬،‫أعطيت الفرصة لتكون جزء ًا من هذه الجامعة‬ ‫ واختتمت حديثها بقولها انها‬.‫الذي عاشته في الجامعة خالل عام كامل‬

5 ‫تتمه صفحة‬

Community 8


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