KAUST's Professor Gary Amy will launch a new phase of his distinguished career to become KAUST's first Emeritus Professor beginning on July 1, 2014.

As a founding faculty member and founding director of the Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Amy played a central role in building KAUST and in establishing the university's reputation as a global center of excellence in sustainable water-related technologies. His outstanding research accomplishments and leadership qualities have been an inspiration to many.

Under Amy's direction, the WDRC has served as a model for how research centers at KAUST can combine basic and goal-oriented research to build the university's academic reputation, while also addressing the economic development needs of the Kingdom. We are fortunate that, through his emeritus appointment, Amy will remain active as a mentor to KAUST students and a research collaborator with our faculty.

Professor TorOve Leiknes has been named Interim Director of the WDRC, effective June 15, 2014. Leiknes joined KAUST in August 2013 and brought with him an impressive record of accomplishments in membrane technology and environmental engineering. His most significant achievements have been in the study of wastewater treatment and reuse. He was a pioneer in developing hybrid membrane bioreactors (MBR) that combine biofilm processes with conventional MBR to control membrane fouling and thus to save energy.

Leiknes has held significant leadership roles in his native Norway and on an international stage. He served as President of the European Membrane Society and has played leading roles in large European collaborative research projects. Leiknes's extensive global network of collaborators will help to maintain growth of the WDRC's international presence in water research.