Student Commencement Speaker
Shamael A. Al-Shuhail, MS '14
December 12, 2014
Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
December 12, 2014
Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
It all started with a phone call I received in the summer of 2013, while I was wandering around Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I picked up the phone and it was Professor Slim, telling me to cancel all my summer plans and come to KAUST to start my classes. Now, as hard as it seems for a 22 year old to leave Disney and start her graduate studies, without a second thought, I did.
Distinguished guests, board of trustees, President Chameau, faculty members, families, and most importantly class of 2014: It is an honor to be speaking to you today. I am very privileged to be graduating from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. It is also a special occasion since this event coincides with our five year anniversary.
The age of people is measured in years, whereas the age of a university is measured by how much it offers to humankind, in terms of innovations, developments, and talented graduates. Using these criteria, let me tell you how old KAUST is:
As of today, KAUST has over 200 active inventions and has published over 4500 scholarly papers in just five short years. That's more than two publications per day! Another amazing fact is that KAUST has been collaborating with more than 1000 universities in the world. But more importantly, researchers here are making fundamental discoveries. For instance:
In the Clean Combustion Research Center, they are investigating how new engines can produce less pollution, which means much better air quality.
In the Solar Center, they are reengineering and optimizing solar panels to provide solar energy in Sunny Saudi Arabia, making it more economical and environmentally friendly and saving our oil for other uses.
And biologists here are working on finding new bioactive sources for medicines to treat cancer and other diseases.
And we electrical engineers – well, what we are working on is too technical to explain in a short time, but you can think of it as better Wi-Fi! Specifically, in my professor's group, we are working on a powerful and efficient technique known as Compressed Sensing, which is used in many fields and widely in the oil industry.
With progress in all these areas, it seems clear that KAUST is no longer in its infancy, but it's very much like us – somewhere in its early twenties, with an excellent start to life and a lot more to offer in the future.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz حفظه الله, has always been generous to the education system in the Kingdom. He has empowered the youth of Saudi Arabia to dream big and help shape the massive development of our country. KAUST is a remarkable example of the King's vision to pursue innovative solutions to both local and global issues.
As a Saudi female and electrical engineer, the development of KAUST made me feel that I too can be part of our Kingdom's growth and I too have the power to shape history and not be passively shaped by it. So I decided to take on this challenge. And when I did, all windows of opportunity opened wide.
This beautiful campus hosts well-recognized faculty excelling in their fields and outstanding students from different parts of the world, all working together. In this stimulating environment, collaborative teams work to solve problems in the important research areas of water, food, energy, and the environment. I believe that the vitality from working togetheris what makes KAUST a proactive institution and a fostering research university.
But what amazes me the most about KAUST is the cohesion between the campus and the community. Walking down the hallways of our campus, you pass by one room and see a professor with his students discussing Seismic Interferometry and in the next room you see a group of students attending their weekly Toastmasters meeting. It is truly a place of discovery in all aspects, and we all experience that this sense of community is what makes KAUST a unique place.
My time here not only gave me a better look into the Kingdom's professional growth, but a sense of empowerment to initiate change, even as a young Saudi woman. I realized that possibility four years ago to this day when I visited KAUST for the first time to attend my brother's commencement.
I remember how proud he was of his accomplishments. His dream had come true – not only was he graduating as a member of the founding class, but he was also joining Saudi Aramco's innovative research group EXPEC ARC.
That day, I made a vow to myself that I would make it on this stage one day. And well … here I am! And who would've guessed that I would be today's speaker … certainly not my mom.
KAUST invested in all of us, helped us turn every opportunity into success, and made us believe that no matter how tough the job is, we are tougher. The great contributions of KAUST will be evident through us graduates. Let us show the world the excellence of our education and research.
Being here today is very special for me. I will miss this place with its every detail, the library, the student center, and even my humble workstation, which, by the way, has a partial sea view.
There is also a feeling of sadness today as some of us will be leaving KAUST forever. Let me assure you, though, that you never really leave KAUST. You see, we have met KAUSTians from all corners of the world. Just last week, I was talking to my brother, the KAUST graduate, and he was telling me that there are two other KAUSTians at TU Delft, where he is working on his Ph.D. So, whether you are giving a lecture at Stanford, presenting at an international conference in Beijing or even eating at McDonalds in Dubai, chances are you'll see a familiar face.
My fellow graduates, whether you are wearing blue, green, or orange, we have achieved something very special, something only 875 students worldwide have achieved before us.
So hold your head up high the next time you walk through these hallways and know that you are part of something much larger, something that we have helped to shape.
Our many thanks to the King of humanity, King Abdullah, the man who dreamt this dream, supported it, and nurtured it.
And thank you, President Chameau and the Board of Trustees for your inspiring leadership. To our professors, thank you for enlightening us and teaching us. I also thank you for your patience with us during the long office hours, and even when you were in Tamimi, we managed to find ways to bump into you to ask you about our assignments.
To our families and all those who have shared this journey with us, we are very thankful for your support. Mom, Dad, I love you; thank you so much for believing in me.
My journey to KAUST started with a phone call received at Disney and ended right here where real dreams come true.
Thank you.
Distinguished guests, board of trustees, President Chameau, faculty members, families, and most importantly class of 2014: It is an honor to be speaking to you today. I am very privileged to be graduating from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. It is also a special occasion since this event coincides with our five year anniversary.
The age of people is measured in years, whereas the age of a university is measured by how much it offers to humankind, in terms of innovations, developments, and talented graduates. Using these criteria, let me tell you how old KAUST is:
As of today, KAUST has over 200 active inventions and has published over 4500 scholarly papers in just five short years. That's more than two publications per day! Another amazing fact is that KAUST has been collaborating with more than 1000 universities in the world. But more importantly, researchers here are making fundamental discoveries. For instance:
In the Clean Combustion Research Center, they are investigating how new engines can produce less pollution, which means much better air quality.
In the Solar Center, they are reengineering and optimizing solar panels to provide solar energy in Sunny Saudi Arabia, making it more economical and environmentally friendly and saving our oil for other uses.
And biologists here are working on finding new bioactive sources for medicines to treat cancer and other diseases.
And we electrical engineers – well, what we are working on is too technical to explain in a short time, but you can think of it as better Wi-Fi! Specifically, in my professor's group, we are working on a powerful and efficient technique known as Compressed Sensing, which is used in many fields and widely in the oil industry.
With progress in all these areas, it seems clear that KAUST is no longer in its infancy, but it's very much like us – somewhere in its early twenties, with an excellent start to life and a lot more to offer in the future.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz حفظه الله, has always been generous to the education system in the Kingdom. He has empowered the youth of Saudi Arabia to dream big and help shape the massive development of our country. KAUST is a remarkable example of the King's vision to pursue innovative solutions to both local and global issues.
As a Saudi female and electrical engineer, the development of KAUST made me feel that I too can be part of our Kingdom's growth and I too have the power to shape history and not be passively shaped by it. So I decided to take on this challenge. And when I did, all windows of opportunity opened wide.
This beautiful campus hosts well-recognized faculty excelling in their fields and outstanding students from different parts of the world, all working together. In this stimulating environment, collaborative teams work to solve problems in the important research areas of water, food, energy, and the environment. I believe that the vitality from working togetheris what makes KAUST a proactive institution and a fostering research university.
But what amazes me the most about KAUST is the cohesion between the campus and the community. Walking down the hallways of our campus, you pass by one room and see a professor with his students discussing Seismic Interferometry and in the next room you see a group of students attending their weekly Toastmasters meeting. It is truly a place of discovery in all aspects, and we all experience that this sense of community is what makes KAUST a unique place.
My time here not only gave me a better look into the Kingdom's professional growth, but a sense of empowerment to initiate change, even as a young Saudi woman. I realized that possibility four years ago to this day when I visited KAUST for the first time to attend my brother's commencement.
I remember how proud he was of his accomplishments. His dream had come true – not only was he graduating as a member of the founding class, but he was also joining Saudi Aramco's innovative research group EXPEC ARC.
That day, I made a vow to myself that I would make it on this stage one day. And well … here I am! And who would've guessed that I would be today's speaker … certainly not my mom.
KAUST invested in all of us, helped us turn every opportunity into success, and made us believe that no matter how tough the job is, we are tougher. The great contributions of KAUST will be evident through us graduates. Let us show the world the excellence of our education and research.
Being here today is very special for me. I will miss this place with its every detail, the library, the student center, and even my humble workstation, which, by the way, has a partial sea view.
There is also a feeling of sadness today as some of us will be leaving KAUST forever. Let me assure you, though, that you never really leave KAUST. You see, we have met KAUSTians from all corners of the world. Just last week, I was talking to my brother, the KAUST graduate, and he was telling me that there are two other KAUSTians at TU Delft, where he is working on his Ph.D. So, whether you are giving a lecture at Stanford, presenting at an international conference in Beijing or even eating at McDonalds in Dubai, chances are you'll see a familiar face.
My fellow graduates, whether you are wearing blue, green, or orange, we have achieved something very special, something only 875 students worldwide have achieved before us.
So hold your head up high the next time you walk through these hallways and know that you are part of something much larger, something that we have helped to shape.
Our many thanks to the King of humanity, King Abdullah, the man who dreamt this dream, supported it, and nurtured it.
And thank you, President Chameau and the Board of Trustees for your inspiring leadership. To our professors, thank you for enlightening us and teaching us. I also thank you for your patience with us during the long office hours, and even when you were in Tamimi, we managed to find ways to bump into you to ask you about our assignments.
To our families and all those who have shared this journey with us, we are very thankful for your support. Mom, Dad, I love you; thank you so much for believing in me.
My journey to KAUST started with a phone call received at Disney and ended right here where real dreams come true.
Thank you.