Ever since my first experience in 2011, I look forward to KAUST's Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) -- and to the array of talks, events and activities that are enriching, exciting and inspiring. It has never been a disappointment and this year was no different.

KEYNOTE HIGHLIGHTS OF WEP 2015

At every WEP the main highlights for me are the keynote lectures. This year I had the opportunity to experience a first hand glimpse into the Nabataeans' culture. Laila Nahme’s description of her findings from the excavation of Mada’in Saleh left me fascinated and intrigued about the life of people in ancient Arabia. Guillaume Néry's breathless journey into the deep sea revealed his endless pursuit in testing his boundaries. In his talk, he described his emotions when he is deep in the water: his feeling of experiencing infinity, harmony and inner peace. It was beautiful and inspiring. His talk was a lesson of humility, discipline and passion.

Ever since I was a child, the outer space has always been a fascination for me and Prof. Anthony Readhead’s talk about how our progressive advances in developing new techniques is taking us closer towards understanding the universe better, both intrigued and satiated my inner curiosity. Having had the opportunity to meet him later, and share my passion for amateur astronomy while showing him Jupiter, Andromeda Galaxy and the Orion Nebula through the telescope is a memory I will cherish forever.

Anette Hosoi’s nature inspired robots were mind-blowing and her talk was filled with wonderful insights and humor about research. Michael Martin’s journey through the stunning deserts of the earth and his experiences with people from different walks of life made me want to pack my bags and book the next plane out of here.

Sami Nawar shared the history of the old Jeddah and the plans for renovation in his lecture. The pictorial journey of how Jeddah was and how it is going to be followed by the photo exhibition of the Old Jeddah was a must see for any history fanatic.

ART, THEATRE AND STARGAZING

I enjoy music and theater, and the events Opera Explained, Conduct Us and An Evening of Improvisation were very entertaining and enjoyable. I attended An Evening of Improvisation last year, not knowing what was in store and was pleasantly surprised by how witty, funny and entertaining the show turned out to be. So this was one of the events I was looking forward to attending when I saw the schedule for WEP 2015. Having been cornered in an improv session much earlier, I can tell you that thinking and acting on the spot is no easy feat and the improve group makes it seem so simple.

I also had the opportunity to meet and learn about some of our Red Sea friends through Prof. Michael Berumen. His talk made the kids very enthusiastic and I was too.

The science fair had students from all ages exhibit interesting projects explaining scientific concepts to the visitors. Seeing little kids enthusiastic about science was refreshing and motivating.

As the president of the Amateur Astronomy Association, I had the opportunity to organize a stargazing event for the community this year. It was a well-coordinated team effort from my group members. The event was very well received and it was a proud moment for me. Kids and adults enjoyed observing the different objects at night and learning about astronomy from Thibaut Lery, an astrophysicist at KAUST.

The tingatinga painting workshop was relaxing and helped get in touch with my artistic side. Fresh produce from the organic farmer’s market was another highlight from last year. I stocked up my pantry and I know that many of you did the same. The event, Conduct Us, gave us the opportunity to experience the role of the music conductor. Kids enjoyed the experience immensely and it was a pleasure to watch them get excited.

The 5K run is another event that I love each year. This year, with the wonderful weather, it was more fun than ever.

CLOSING WITH A MUSICAL JOURNEY

WEP 2015 closed with an inspiring and breathtaking Bella Gaia concert. Bella Gaia takes you on an immersive musical journey through the stunning visualizations that show the remarkable progress humans have made and the undeniable impact of our actions on Earth -- both positive and negative. Kenji Williams shared how his visualizations accompanied by music help people understand science better and let them connect with nature.

The best thing about WEP is that it is packed with talks, lectures, workshops and activities that are enriching to people with varied interests. If you are an inspiring entrepreneur, photographer, artist or a student looking out to widen your knowledge, WEP has something in store for you. Now, I eagerly look forward to SEP - KAUST'S Spring Enrichment Program!

- By Lakshmi Selvakumaran, PSE Student