AUK Showcases Interdisciplinary Research and Award-Winning Excellence at the 5th Scientific Research Conference at Kuwait University

AUK proudly participated in the Fifth Scientific Research Conference. The event was hosted by Kuwait University on 9–10 February under the theme “Fostering Academic Excellence Through Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation.” The conference brought together researchers from diverse disciplines to advance collaboration and innovation in scientific research.

AUK’s delegation included featured Dr. Belal Gharaibeh and Eng. Afsah Abdullah, as well as faculty representatives from the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences: Dr. Amro Nour, Dr. Belal Gharaibeh, Dr. Alia Abo-Ali, Eng. Reem Kassem, and AUK graduate student Abdulaziz Ali Reda.

During the conference, AUK presented four research posters demonstrating strong interdisciplinary integration across engineering, health sciences, sustainability, and industrial innovation.

The first research project, “PRINTHEAT: Thermal Profiling in 3D-Printed Organ-Mimicking Models,” introduced standardized 3D-printed organ models designed to replicate anatomical and thermal characteristics of biological tissues for hyperthermia and thermal therapy research.

The second project, “From SWOT Insights to Generative Design: Advanced Additive Manufacturing of Oil & Gas Spare Parts,” evaluated the feasibility of replacing conventional oil and gas spare parts with AI-optimized, TPU-based 3D-printed components through KFAS-supported research.

The third project, “Optimization of FDM Parameters for Wear and Mechanical Performance in Medical Polymers,” explored the influence of FDM parameters on tensile strength and wear resistance in advanced polymer materials.

The fourth research project, “Predicting the Impact of Air Quality Index on Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity in Kuwait,” examined the short- and long-term effects of air pollutants on rheumatoid arthritis disease activity using national registry and environmental monitoring data, aligning with Kuwait Vision 2035 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals 3, 11, and 13.

For the fourth research project, Dr. Ahmad Alsaber and his multidisciplinary research team were awarded First Place at the prestigious Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) Prize for their research poster. out of 400 submitted posters, recognizing outstanding interdisciplinary innovation and research excellence.

The award-winning study was led by Dr. Ahmad Alsaber alongside co-principal investigators Adeeba Al-Herz, Maryam Al-Mazedi, Iyad Abu Doush, Afsah Abdullah, Dhary Alkandary, Ahmad T. Al-Sultan, Parul Setiya, and Jiazhu Pan. Supported by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) and AUK, the research integrated 12 years of air quality data with clinical records from 1,526 rheumatoid arthritis patients using advanced time-series modeling and artificial intelligence techniques.

This data-driven work demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaboration and AI can inform healthcare strategies, strengthen environmental policy, and contribute meaningfully to Kuwait Vision 2035 and sustainable development goals.

AUK’s overall participation in the conference highlighted strong interdisciplinary collaboration across engineering, health sciences, and environmental research, as well as active institutional engagement through the Office of Research and Grants. The conference provided a valuable platform to disseminate research findings, strengthen academic partnerships, and align AUK’s research efforts with Kuwait’s national development priorities.

Images from the event