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Food for all

Sep 04, 2016 Enrichment Programs

Enrichment in the Fall will be held at KAUST this year from October 14 to 22, with activities focused on the theme "Food for All."

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KAUST welcomes the 2016 Enrichment in the Fall program from October 14 to 22 this year, with activities surrounding the theme “Food for All.” This year’s program gives the community the opportunity to explore all aspects of food, ranging from plant science research to fine cuisine and nutrition.

Events kick off on October 16 with the Opening Night Extravaganza, where the community will also celebrate World Food Day. The Auditorium (building 20) lobby will be transformed into a bustling marketplace featuring a photo exhibition of markets of the world. A food hub with engaging and educational booths will entertain visitors during the night’s events and throughout the rest of the week, and a baroque oriental music concert by the Pera Ensemble will bring an inspirational closure to the day.
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Can we feed the world?

 
The program will feature a number of keynote and brown bag lectures, including a talk entitled “Can we feed the world?” by speaker Fred Davies, regents professor from the Department of Horticultural Science, Texas A&M University. Lewis Dartnell, astrobiology professor at the University of Westminster, will explore the knowledge needed to rebuild our world from scratch, and John Bedbrook, executive chairman of DiCE Molecules LLC, will talk about the role of genetic technology in global food security. Ryan Lefers, environmental and agricultural engineer and Ph.D. candidate from the KAUST Water Desalination and Reuse Center, will present a talk on urban agriculture as one tool to help the world achieve future food security.

​Fascinating plant research


This year’s program will also showcase the University’s fascinating plant science research, with scheduled visits to the KAUST greenhouse as one of the highlights of the program. A Sci-Café focusing on “Food for all: How do we make it work?” will also exhibit the expertise of the University’s plant scientists and molecular biologists, including KAUST professors Mark Tester and Salim Al-Babili.

Biology and nutrition

Bettina Berger, scientific director of the Plant Accelerator at the Australian Plant Phenomics Facility, KAUST professors Jasmeen Merzaban and Peiying Hong and Ashwag Albukhari, assistant professor of medical oncology at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, will lead a discussion on women in biology, sharing their job experience and providing insight into their personal triumphs and struggles as they have built successful and meaningful careers. Amna Malik, a dietician from Jeddah, will lead a workshop entitled “Be friends with calories” to help community members improve their diets.


Cook up something delicious

German chef Bernd Arold will be the culinary guest star in attendance at this year’s program, offering cooking demonstrations at the Island Recreation Center’s Pure Restaurant and holding a discussion after the screening of the movie “Chef” at Discovery Theater. Four other food-related movies and documentaries will also be shown, including “Ratatouille” and “Just Eat It.”

This year’s program is shaping up to be one of the “tastiest” so far—don’t miss it!

Register for the Enrichment in the Fall program from September 20 at: enrichment.kaust.edu.sa.




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