AUK Inaugurates its First Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences and Engineering (RISE)

In an official ceremony held on the 8th of May, 2014, the President of American University of Kuwait (AUK), Professor Dr. Nizar Hamzeh, officially announced the inauguration of AUK's first research and development center f in informatics, sciences and engineering (RISE). The event, which took place at the AUK Auditorium, featured remarks by the event honoree and keynote speaker, Professor Dr. Adnan Shihab-Eldin, General Director of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS).

The event started with opening remarks by President Hamzeh who officially announced the inauguration of RISE, emphasizing that "The new center reflects our goal and commitment to excellence in research. I am confident that the center will lead our future research efforts in the area of informatics, sciences, technology and engineering into the future."

Professor Dr. Shihab-Eldin acknowledged AUK for taking forward such a project which he said will be another step towards the advancement of scientific research within Kuwait and the Arab World at large. He specifically emphasized the importance of establishing research centers within private universities, which will support national research and development efforts.

Dr. Rawda Awwad, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at AUK, pointed out that "RISE strategically supports the values that guide AUK in areas of research and scholarship, and provides an important venue that enables both faculty and students to partake in an essential ingredient that informs progress and positive change, namely the production of knowledge-the hallmark of the liberal arts."

Situated within the lively Salmiya campus of Kuwait's first liberal arts institute, RISE will serve as the University's primary source for research and development in the various areas of sciences and technology. "The center holds unique opportunities for multidisciplinary research in Kuwait," said Dr. Amir Zeid, RISE Director and Associate Professor of Computer Science and Information Systems. "In the early Golden Age of this region, our strength lied in the multidisciplinary knowledge of our scientists. Today, with its strong commitment to liberal arts, RISE aims to revive the old trends."

RISE is a collaborative effort between the different AUK science and engineering departments. It adapts an integrative model by forging connections between academic disciplines, local & international innovators, academia & industry, as well as technology & society.

The main objectives of RISE include:

Expanding the innovative research and development environment within Kuwait
Hosting collaborative research and development projects with selected local industries
Establishing research collaboration and joint research projects with world-class institutes
Hosting scholars and initiating original research projects of international interest
Organizing international conferences and workshops

The inauguration event, which took place at AUK, saw a significant number of attendees who included AUK faculty and staff members, AUK students and alumni, as well as selected invitees from the business sector.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 12th May 2014