The Physical Sciences and Engineering (PSE) Division and the University of Sydney hosted a joint symposium on "Enhancing Research Collaborations" at the University on April 10.

Featuring presentations by visiting academics from the University of Sydney and members of the KAUST academic faculty, including Prof. Karl Leo, Director of the KAUST Solar & Photovoltaics Engineering Research Center (SPERC); Zhiping Lai, Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering; and Osman Bakr, Assistant Professor of Material Science and Engineering, the symposium was divided into three general sessions focusing on materials, energy, and water.

The symposium also included a poster session and competition which featured the work of over 30 students, postdoctoral fellows, and research scientists. The winner of the poster competition was Dr. Osama Shekhah, a Senior Research Scientist in Prof. Mohamed Eddaoudi's Functional Materials Design, Discovery & Development (FMD3) group. His first prize-winning poster was entitled "Liquid-Phase Epitaxy Approach for the Synthesis and Growth of MOFs Thin Films: An Emerging Platform for Diverse Applications."

University of Sydney Professor Archie Johnston, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and IT, who presented during the event, noted in his welcome remarks that the University of Sydney finds it critical to "forge relationships with different parts of the world…We want to explore relationships within the Kingdom, and this is a driving force of our presence at this symposium."

He added that working with the University is an "exciting journey, as our relationship has a purpose, and the purpose is to do real things by bringing together young, bright minds from our institutions to address the world's key problems."