Welcome to KAUST! Convocation 2024 Celebrates a New Academic Year of Discovery and Growth
KAUST students celebrate together during Convocation 2024.
Dr. Derya Baran, Associate Professor, Material Science and Engineering, has a simple message for KAUST’s latest student cohort: “You don’t have any excuse not to succeed at KAUST, with this incredible infrastructure and environment. So, think big and think outside the box.”
Associate Professor Derya Baran speaks during the event.
Convocation 2024, on Aug. 27, celebrated the beginning of a new academic year at KAUST. It also marked the start of a transformative journey for 380 first-year students from around the world who will advance the University’s mission, expanding scientific knowledge and enhancing impacts for the Kingdom. These students represent the next wave of talent, poised to align KAUST with the research, development and innovation priorities, driving future growth.
“We make impact, but we need to accelerate, and we need you,” said former President Tony Chan in his final Convocation speech at KAUST’s helm. A new president, Professor Sir Edward Byrne AC, took over on Sept. 1. Chan underscored academia’s transformative power, with each new cohort invigorating the institution with fresh energy and ideas. He noted how KAUST fosters an environment in which its students, faculty and researchers learn and discover together.
Professor Tony Chan makes his final Convocation address as KAUST president.
Professor Suzana Nunes, Vice Provost, Faculty and Academic Affairs, told new students they represent KAUST’s future citations and research successes in Saudi Arabia. She said they keep the University young and adaptable to face global challenges while moving forward positively. Nunes encouraged each student to embrace KAUST’s abundant resources and excel. “You have training and opportunities it’s hard to find in other places. Use your chance.”
Speaking on behalf of the faculty, Baran highlighted her own story at KAUST, including her contributions to the KAUST startup RedSea and research leading to iyris SecondSky — a technology that addresses greenhouse resource use and efficiency in hot climates. She told the students that they would be the next generation of KAUST innovators and that KAUST would provide a diverse space where they can explore complex problems to unveil scientific truths.
“You’ll find a community of scholars and innovators driven by a shared passion for knowledge and a commitment to make a difference in the world. At KAUST, we believe in the power of science and technology to change lives, and they do. We’re dedicated to creating an environment where this power can be harnessed to its fullest potential. Take this opportunity and use it to its maximum whenever you can.”
New recruits, fresh optimism
Drawn to its seaside beauty, diverse campus, extracurricular engagement and renowned resources, Riyadh’s Siba Alalwan, 22, an incoming Mechanical Engineering master’s degree student, is an Accelerated Bachelor’s-Master’s (ABM) Program participant, joining KAUST from Alfaisal University. Based on her initial KAUST impressions, Alalwan is already considering a career in robotics research. “I look forward to spending the next 1.5 years here.”
Gage Mele, 24, from the U.S. state of Utah, is also attracted to KAUST for its proximity to the Red Sea, which the first-year Marine Science Ph.D. candidate considers an amazing waterbody where small-scale studies inform scientists about broader ocean systems. He is excited to embark on his KAUST adventure, investigating oceanography ecology.
The graduate of Northeastern University in Boston, with aspirations for an academic career, selected KAUST largely so he could work with its renowned scientists. “I’m here because of the faculty. And the facilities are crazy good…. If you have an idea, you can apply it at KAUST.”
Amusement park for scientists
Dr. Marcelo Benitez, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) Division, a 2023 Ph.D. graduate, spoke on behalf of alumni at Convocation. He referred to KAUST as an amusement park for scientists — one that supports its talent throughout their professional and personal growth. “As you embark on this exciting path, just remember that KAUST is a bridge between your dreams and where you are now.”
Current Ph.D. student Yuanyuan Yang, Earth Science and Engineering, said faculty, staff and students will support the latest cohort. She emphasized that KAUST is more than a University — it is a community focused on its members thriving. “The road ahead may be long and challenging, but you’ll be able to achieve great things. Every effort you make here will be worth it. As you embark on this journey, it’s important you remember that you’re not alone.”