News
20, Mar 2023
AUK Hosts Book Talk by Research Affiliate and Alumna
AUK hosted a book talk by AUK research affiliate and licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Juliet Dinkha, and AUK alumna and communications professional, Ms. Aya Abdulhadi. They discussed their newly released book, titled, “Navigating Social Identity: A Young Adult Story of Time.”
The AUK library co-hosted this event with the Office of Research and Grants’ Faculty Speaker Series (FSS). The event provided an opportunity for the campus community to learn more about their collaborative work.
The authors were introduced by Dr. Salime Smadi, associate professor of organizational behavior at the College of Business and Economics, and Ms. Asma Al Kanan, the University librarian at AUK, both of whom noted that the University was proud to host a former professor and a graduate back to campus to share their work.
Dr. Dinkha and Ms. Abdulhadi highlighted how their book explores the numerous aspects of young adult life; from media consumption to the effects of gender segregation in university life, altruism, social media habits, the effects of Western cultural imperialism on their body image, depression and coping skills, and most recently, the effects of having lived during a pandemic. The book is written with a storytelling approach that balances research findings along with the social aspect of identity.
Dr. Dinkha conveyed her delight at being back on campus, “Being back to AUK brought a lot of great memories for me. It was amazing meeting some of my students and colleagues. I missed the environment and the social support I had created for the last 17 years. Most of all, I missed the academic feel I had left behind. I look forward to coming back for more research talk.”
Ms. Abdulhadi expressed a similar viewpoint, “I was honored to be back on campus again, and this time as a guest speaker to talk about our newly published book, and not as an AUK student. It was great to connect again with my professors, mentors and friends, who came alongside my family to attend and support our book talk.”
The event attracted an audience of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and special guests, ending with a Q&A session.
The AUK library co-hosted this event with the Office of Research and Grants’ Faculty Speaker Series (FSS). The event provided an opportunity for the campus community to learn more about their collaborative work.
The authors were introduced by Dr. Salime Smadi, associate professor of organizational behavior at the College of Business and Economics, and Ms. Asma Al Kanan, the University librarian at AUK, both of whom noted that the University was proud to host a former professor and a graduate back to campus to share their work.
Dr. Dinkha and Ms. Abdulhadi highlighted how their book explores the numerous aspects of young adult life; from media consumption to the effects of gender segregation in university life, altruism, social media habits, the effects of Western cultural imperialism on their body image, depression and coping skills, and most recently, the effects of having lived during a pandemic. The book is written with a storytelling approach that balances research findings along with the social aspect of identity.
Dr. Dinkha conveyed her delight at being back on campus, “Being back to AUK brought a lot of great memories for me. It was amazing meeting some of my students and colleagues. I missed the environment and the social support I had created for the last 17 years. Most of all, I missed the academic feel I had left behind. I look forward to coming back for more research talk.”
Ms. Abdulhadi expressed a similar viewpoint, “I was honored to be back on campus again, and this time as a guest speaker to talk about our newly published book, and not as an AUK student. It was great to connect again with my professors, mentors and friends, who came alongside my family to attend and support our book talk.”
The event attracted an audience of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and special guests, ending with a Q&A session.
From left to right: Dr. Juliet Dinkha and Ms. Aya Abdulhadi
From left to right: Ms. Aya Abdulhadi and Dr. Juliet Dinkha
Group photo of organizers with Dr. Juliet Dinkha and Ms. Aya Abdulhadi
15, Mar 2023
AUK Launches Official Podcast: AUK Talks
AUK launched its official educational podcast, AUK Talks that will provide valuable insights and discussions on a variety of topics that further complement the liberal arts philosophy that is promoted in the University. The podcast will feature experts, educators, students, and leaders from a range of fields.
The first podcast episode was hosted by AUK associate professor of international relations, Dr. Dmytro Roman Kulchitsky who interviewed H.E Ambassador Nabeela Al-Mulla to discuss her career in diplomacy.
The podcast is a valuable resource for anyone interested in education as it fosters dialogue and the sharing of knowledge. It is also a strong reflection of AUK’s commitment to excellence and lifelong learning.
AUK Talks can be accessed as a video here, and as audio on all major podcast platforms.
H.E Ambassador Nabeela Al-Mulla and Dr. Dmytro Roman Kulchitsky
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14, Mar 2023
AUK Concludes Sponsorship of 26th Annual Conference and Exhibition - Special Libraries Association
AUK has concluded its sponsorship of the 26th Annual Conference and Exhibition of the Special Libraries Association (SLA)—Arabian Gulf Chapter (AGC). The conference was attended by AUK president, Dr. Rawda Awwad, and University Librarian, Ms. Asma Al-Kanan, including prominent researchers within the Gulf region.
SLA is a non-profit global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners in business, government, academic, and other specialized settings. The theme of this year’s conference was “Emerging Technologies and their Applications in Libraries and Information Institutions.”
Ms. Asma Al-Kanan explained that AUK is keen on sponsoring conferences that contribute to the development of scientific research. “The Special Libraries Association has been providing wonderful opportunities for academics and library professionals in the GCC with over 25 years of commitment and accomplishments. It is not uncommon for AUK to support such organizations as both share the common goals of facilitating learning, professional growth, and knowledge exchange,” she stated.
In his opening speech for the conference, the president of the association, Mr. Rashid AlBaik, stated that Kuwait is ahead in hosting conferences that contribute to the development of scientific research, pointing out that the conference brings together several professionals and academics specialized in the field of information sciences. He highlighted how this gives them an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences and learn about the latest developments in the field. He also expressed his gratitude towards AUK for its support of the conference.
The head of the organizing committee and President-elect, Ms. Seham Al-Ostath, confirmed that this year's conference is a fruitful collaboration with prestigious academic and research institutions in the country, namely the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) and AUK.
Of equal importance, the keynote speaker at the conference, Dr. Anwar Al-Harbi, discussed the applications of artificial intelligence in libraries and data and information centers, indicating that digital transformation is inevitable and involves the use of emerging technologies in providing services within information institutions.
The University also participated in the conference exhibition, introducing the research community to the Oral History Documentation Project (OHDP) which provides valuable sources for researchers by documenting important historical events. Many researchers inquired about the OHDP interviews—a significant turnout that reflects the importance of the project.
AUK’s commitment to sponsoring conferences as such reflects its dedication to advancing knowledge and supporting the scientific community, playing a vital role in shaping the future of scientific research.
SLA is a non-profit global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners in business, government, academic, and other specialized settings. The theme of this year’s conference was “Emerging Technologies and their Applications in Libraries and Information Institutions.”
Ms. Asma Al-Kanan explained that AUK is keen on sponsoring conferences that contribute to the development of scientific research. “The Special Libraries Association has been providing wonderful opportunities for academics and library professionals in the GCC with over 25 years of commitment and accomplishments. It is not uncommon for AUK to support such organizations as both share the common goals of facilitating learning, professional growth, and knowledge exchange,” she stated.
In his opening speech for the conference, the president of the association, Mr. Rashid AlBaik, stated that Kuwait is ahead in hosting conferences that contribute to the development of scientific research, pointing out that the conference brings together several professionals and academics specialized in the field of information sciences. He highlighted how this gives them an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences and learn about the latest developments in the field. He also expressed his gratitude towards AUK for its support of the conference.
The head of the organizing committee and President-elect, Ms. Seham Al-Ostath, confirmed that this year's conference is a fruitful collaboration with prestigious academic and research institutions in the country, namely the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) and AUK.
Of equal importance, the keynote speaker at the conference, Dr. Anwar Al-Harbi, discussed the applications of artificial intelligence in libraries and data and information centers, indicating that digital transformation is inevitable and involves the use of emerging technologies in providing services within information institutions.
The University also participated in the conference exhibition, introducing the research community to the Oral History Documentation Project (OHDP) which provides valuable sources for researchers by documenting important historical events. Many researchers inquired about the OHDP interviews—a significant turnout that reflects the importance of the project.
AUK’s commitment to sponsoring conferences as such reflects its dedication to advancing knowledge and supporting the scientific community, playing a vital role in shaping the future of scientific research.
AUK president, Dr. Rawda Awwad, during the opening ceremony
AUK president, Dr. Rawda Awwad, receiving a plaque from Mr. Rashid AlBaik
From left to right: Ms. Seham Al-Ostath, Ms. Asma Al-Kanan, and Dr. Rawda Awwad
Dr. Rawda Awwad during the exhibition
AUK’s booth in the exhibition
SLA attendees
13, Mar 2023
AUK HR Department Launches New Activities
AUK Human Resources Department (HR) continues to launch initiatives that promote wellness and healthy daily habits. In line with their “Together We Grow Healthier” campaign, the HR Department organized an AUK bowling event that was open to all employees and their families.
Held in the Kuwait Bowling Sporting Club, the event was attended by a significant number of AUK faculty and staff with their dependents and families. This initiative not only encouraged physical activity through friendly bowling competitions, but also provided a unique opportunity for colleagues to come together, network, and build relationships.
Commenting on the success of the event, HR director, Paul Bassil, stated, "We were absolutely thrilled to host this event for our employees. It was a great opportunity for everyone to come together outside of the office and have some fun. The turnout was great, and it was truly a memorable evening."
The AUK HR Department has long been responsible for creating and implementing programs that promote employee engagement, productivity, and well-being. They have previously launched the “Wellness Through Mindfulness” workshop which provided staff exercises and practices that can be done at their desks to refresh their day, a cheese tasting workshop that was exclusive to campus directors and served as an opportunity to develop AUK’s workplace culture, and a bootcamp in collaboration with the Office of Student Life to encourage physical activity.
The Department’s commitment to fostering a positive and supportive work environment is reflected in the numerous programs and initiatives it has launched over the years. From professional development opportunities to health and wellness programs, the HR Department consistently demonstrates its dedication to the overall well-being and growth of the University’s employees.
Held in the Kuwait Bowling Sporting Club, the event was attended by a significant number of AUK faculty and staff with their dependents and families. This initiative not only encouraged physical activity through friendly bowling competitions, but also provided a unique opportunity for colleagues to come together, network, and build relationships.
Commenting on the success of the event, HR director, Paul Bassil, stated, "We were absolutely thrilled to host this event for our employees. It was a great opportunity for everyone to come together outside of the office and have some fun. The turnout was great, and it was truly a memorable evening."
The AUK HR Department has long been responsible for creating and implementing programs that promote employee engagement, productivity, and well-being. They have previously launched the “Wellness Through Mindfulness” workshop which provided staff exercises and practices that can be done at their desks to refresh their day, a cheese tasting workshop that was exclusive to campus directors and served as an opportunity to develop AUK’s workplace culture, and a bootcamp in collaboration with the Office of Student Life to encourage physical activity.
The Department’s commitment to fostering a positive and supportive work environment is reflected in the numerous programs and initiatives it has launched over the years. From professional development opportunities to health and wellness programs, the HR Department consistently demonstrates its dedication to the overall well-being and growth of the University’s employees.
HR director, Paul Bassil
Wellness Through Mindfulness workshop attendees
General photos of the bowling event
General photos of the bowling event
12, Mar 2023
AUK Hosts Eighth Talk of Faculty Speaker Series
AUK hosted the eighth talk of the Faculty Speaker Series (FSS) online entitled, Music and the Liberal Arts, presented by Professor Theodore Levin, the chair of the Music Department at Dartmouth College.
Dr. Levin shared his views on music being an all-encompassing field. He discussed how music is a multidisciplinary art form that involves a range of fields that include arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy. He also highlighted how music should be addressed in university curricular and research projects through the prism of multiple disciplines that range across the liberal arts, showcasing the extent to which music is all-inclusive.
“The idea that music should be grouped together with math and science in the quadrivium, which you could think of as antiquity's way of representing what we now call STEM disciplines, seems counterintuitive in today's world, where the practice of music is universally understood as a domain of the arts, while music history, music theory, and music criticism belong firmly to the humanities. But, as I'm guessing you already know, the notion of music as a science flourished not only in Western Antiquity but also in the Middle East and Central Asia, in particular during the so-called Golden Age of Islam centered in Baghdad, the cultural center of the medieval Muslim world, and later, in Herat, Samarkand, and Bukhara under the Timurids. There, the so-called science of music was invariably one of the topics addressed by the medieval polymaths who made significant contributions to the ongoing development of domains of knowledge transmitted through textual sources from Antiquity,” he stated.
AUK and Dartmouth College were used as references by Dr. Levin upon discussing the prospect of providing a liberal arts education to students, illustrating their shared values and vision. The event concluded with an open discussion and Q&A session with the audience.
Dr. Levin’s FSS lecture showcased how the Dartmouth-AUK partnership facilitates the sharing of knowledge, resources, and expertise between the two institutions, allowing students and faculty to learn from each other’s perspectives and experiences.
The Faculty Speaker Series is a platform that enables faculty members to showcase their research and scholarly accomplishments. The event also allows AUK to make a difference in the community both in Kuwait and beyond by spreading knowledge and awareness about various topics while offering an opportunity to the general public to take part in the AUK experience.
Dr. Levin shared his views on music being an all-encompassing field. He discussed how music is a multidisciplinary art form that involves a range of fields that include arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy. He also highlighted how music should be addressed in university curricular and research projects through the prism of multiple disciplines that range across the liberal arts, showcasing the extent to which music is all-inclusive.
“The idea that music should be grouped together with math and science in the quadrivium, which you could think of as antiquity's way of representing what we now call STEM disciplines, seems counterintuitive in today's world, where the practice of music is universally understood as a domain of the arts, while music history, music theory, and music criticism belong firmly to the humanities. But, as I'm guessing you already know, the notion of music as a science flourished not only in Western Antiquity but also in the Middle East and Central Asia, in particular during the so-called Golden Age of Islam centered in Baghdad, the cultural center of the medieval Muslim world, and later, in Herat, Samarkand, and Bukhara under the Timurids. There, the so-called science of music was invariably one of the topics addressed by the medieval polymaths who made significant contributions to the ongoing development of domains of knowledge transmitted through textual sources from Antiquity,” he stated.
AUK and Dartmouth College were used as references by Dr. Levin upon discussing the prospect of providing a liberal arts education to students, illustrating their shared values and vision. The event concluded with an open discussion and Q&A session with the audience.
Dr. Levin’s FSS lecture showcased how the Dartmouth-AUK partnership facilitates the sharing of knowledge, resources, and expertise between the two institutions, allowing students and faculty to learn from each other’s perspectives and experiences.
The Faculty Speaker Series is a platform that enables faculty members to showcase their research and scholarly accomplishments. The event also allows AUK to make a difference in the community both in Kuwait and beyond by spreading knowledge and awareness about various topics while offering an opportunity to the general public to take part in the AUK experience.
Dr. Theodore Levin
12, Mar 2023
Dr. Iyad Authors Chapter in Book Published by Elsevier
Dr. Iyad Abu Doush, professor of computer science and information systems at AUK, authored, with a group of researchers, the “Metaheuristics for optimizing weights in neural networks” chapter in the book titled, “Comprehensive Metaheuristics: Algorithms and Applications.”
Published by Elsevier, the book description reads as follows, “Comprehensive Metaheuristics: Algorithms and Applications presents the foundational underpinnings of metaheuristics and a broad scope of algorithms and real-world applications across a variety of research fields. The book starts with fundamentals, mathematical prerequisites, and conceptual approaches to provide readers with a solid foundation. After presenting multi-objective optimization, constrained optimization, and problem formation for metaheuristics, world-renowned authors give readers in-depth understanding of the full spectrum of algorithms and techniques. Scientists, researchers, academicians, and practitioners who are interested in optimizing a process or procedure to achieve a goal will benefit from the case studies of real-world applications from different domains. The book takes a much-needed holistic approach, putting the most widely used metaheuristic algorithms together with an in-depth treatise on multi-disciplinary applications of metaheuristics. Each algorithm is thoroughly analyzed to observe its behavior, providing a detailed tutorial on how to solve problems using metaheuristics. New case studies and research problem statements are also discussed, which will help researchers in their application of the concepts.”
The chapter investigates the use of metaheuristic algorithms to improve the feedforward neural network multilayer perceptron performance by choosing promising values of weights and biases. This can improve the neural network prediction accuracy.
Dr. Iyad Abu Doush received his PhD from New Mexico State University in 2009. He joined AUK in 2016. In 2018, he joined the Dartmouth-AUK Fellowship Program; his research focused on optimizing algorithms for real-world problems. He also serves as the founding director of the Office of Research and Grants at AUK.
This accomplishment is a testament to AUK’s faculty and the standard of education that the University offers. Through publishing research in a book of this caliber, AUK’s faculty continue to promote academic excellence, instilling values of professionalism and lifelong learning in students.
Published by Elsevier, the book description reads as follows, “Comprehensive Metaheuristics: Algorithms and Applications presents the foundational underpinnings of metaheuristics and a broad scope of algorithms and real-world applications across a variety of research fields. The book starts with fundamentals, mathematical prerequisites, and conceptual approaches to provide readers with a solid foundation. After presenting multi-objective optimization, constrained optimization, and problem formation for metaheuristics, world-renowned authors give readers in-depth understanding of the full spectrum of algorithms and techniques. Scientists, researchers, academicians, and practitioners who are interested in optimizing a process or procedure to achieve a goal will benefit from the case studies of real-world applications from different domains. The book takes a much-needed holistic approach, putting the most widely used metaheuristic algorithms together with an in-depth treatise on multi-disciplinary applications of metaheuristics. Each algorithm is thoroughly analyzed to observe its behavior, providing a detailed tutorial on how to solve problems using metaheuristics. New case studies and research problem statements are also discussed, which will help researchers in their application of the concepts.”
The chapter investigates the use of metaheuristic algorithms to improve the feedforward neural network multilayer perceptron performance by choosing promising values of weights and biases. This can improve the neural network prediction accuracy.
Dr. Iyad Abu Doush received his PhD from New Mexico State University in 2009. He joined AUK in 2016. In 2018, he joined the Dartmouth-AUK Fellowship Program; his research focused on optimizing algorithms for real-world problems. He also serves as the founding director of the Office of Research and Grants at AUK.
This accomplishment is a testament to AUK’s faculty and the standard of education that the University offers. Through publishing research in a book of this caliber, AUK’s faculty continue to promote academic excellence, instilling values of professionalism and lifelong learning in students.
Dr. Iyad Abu Doush
07, Mar 2023
Dartmouth Fellowship Granted to AUK Faculty Dr. Andrei Zavaliy
Upon the recommendation of the Committee on Research and Grants (CRG) at Dartmouth College, the Dartmouth Fellowship has been granted to Dr. Andrei Zavaliy, professor of philosophy, at the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at the American University of Kuwait (AUK).
Dr. Zavaliy will be completing an ongoing book project entitled “Development of Moral Guilt in the Ancient Greek Ethos: Shame, Regret and Remorse” which explores the origin of fundamental ethical notions such as moral guilt and conscience.
The primary sponsor and supervisor for this book project is Dr. Margaret R. Graver, the chair of the Department of Classics at Dartmouth College. Dr. Graver is a member of the Classical Studies society, the Society of Ancient Greek Philosophy, and a recipient of multiple awards and other recognitions in her field.
AUK president, Dr. Rawda Awwad, commented on the significance of this fellowship, “Our mutual commitment to the liberal arts, academic excellence and life-long learning has sustained and solidified this relationship for almost an entire generation. By prioritizing these educational values, our continued partnership with Dartmouth is a powerful mechanism through which we nurture international collaboration, innovation and understanding, while it also fosters a sense of continuity and predictability especially in an educational landscape that will be characterized by rapid change. We are, therefore, exceptionally pleased of the AUK faculty’s selection of Dr. Andrei Zavaliy for the twelfth annual Dartmouth-AUK Fellowship at Dartmouth College. The program promotes research collaborations between faculty members at the two institutions and is one of several research and inter-institutional related initiatives that are currently ongoing.”
The fellowship program will run for 8 weeks in the summer of 2022, from June to August.
Dr. Zavaliy detailed his approach for this program, “The scope of my research goes far beyond the strictly philosophical source materials. In order to understand the dominant attitudes of people who are so far removed from our own society, both culturally and temporally, it is a prerequisite to take into account all available evidence. I heavily rely on the available poetic, historical, oratorical and philosophical materials when drawing the conclusions about the mindset of the ancients during a particular period.”
The Dartmouth Fellowship fosters a significant research output from its AUK recipients and presents a unique professional development opportunity for members of the University's scholarly community.
Over the course of two decades, Dartmouth and AUK have utilized their partnership through collaborations on research, joint initiatives, mutual trust and the sharing of resources and expertise. The Dartmouth-AUK partnership has forged powerful connections with both students and faculty from different backgrounds, cultures, and traditions.
Dr. Zavaliy will be completing an ongoing book project entitled “Development of Moral Guilt in the Ancient Greek Ethos: Shame, Regret and Remorse” which explores the origin of fundamental ethical notions such as moral guilt and conscience.
The primary sponsor and supervisor for this book project is Dr. Margaret R. Graver, the chair of the Department of Classics at Dartmouth College. Dr. Graver is a member of the Classical Studies society, the Society of Ancient Greek Philosophy, and a recipient of multiple awards and other recognitions in her field.
AUK president, Dr. Rawda Awwad, commented on the significance of this fellowship, “Our mutual commitment to the liberal arts, academic excellence and life-long learning has sustained and solidified this relationship for almost an entire generation. By prioritizing these educational values, our continued partnership with Dartmouth is a powerful mechanism through which we nurture international collaboration, innovation and understanding, while it also fosters a sense of continuity and predictability especially in an educational landscape that will be characterized by rapid change. We are, therefore, exceptionally pleased of the AUK faculty’s selection of Dr. Andrei Zavaliy for the twelfth annual Dartmouth-AUK Fellowship at Dartmouth College. The program promotes research collaborations between faculty members at the two institutions and is one of several research and inter-institutional related initiatives that are currently ongoing.”
The fellowship program will run for 8 weeks in the summer of 2022, from June to August.
Dr. Zavaliy detailed his approach for this program, “The scope of my research goes far beyond the strictly philosophical source materials. In order to understand the dominant attitudes of people who are so far removed from our own society, both culturally and temporally, it is a prerequisite to take into account all available evidence. I heavily rely on the available poetic, historical, oratorical and philosophical materials when drawing the conclusions about the mindset of the ancients during a particular period.”
The Dartmouth Fellowship fosters a significant research output from its AUK recipients and presents a unique professional development opportunity for members of the University's scholarly community.
Over the course of two decades, Dartmouth and AUK have utilized their partnership through collaborations on research, joint initiatives, mutual trust and the sharing of resources and expertise. The Dartmouth-AUK partnership has forged powerful connections with both students and faculty from different backgrounds, cultures, and traditions.
Dr. Andrei Zavaliy
06, Mar 2023
AUK Professor Dr. Ali Bostani Awarded KFAS Grant
AUK assistant professor of electrical engineering, Dr. Ali Bostani, was awarded the Applied Research Grant as part of the National Priority Grant Program at the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS).
The winning project, titled “Advanced Cloud-Enabled Distributed Fault Diagnosis of Smart-Grids with Applications in Health Monitoring of Photovoltaic and Virtual Power Plant,” was directed by Dr. Ali Bostani, who also serves as the chair of the AUK professional development committee. Focusing on designing and developing a health monitoring system for photovoltaic (PV) farms, the outcome of Dr. Bostani’s research proposal would significantly improve the reliability of a new generation of power supply networks. The research proposal also introduces a modular solution that can be augmented with other available, or future, control systems in order to provide a fully autonomous fault-tolerant control solution.
This is the second time Dr. Bostani wins the KFAS grant since he joined AUK. Reflecting on this achievement, Dr. Bostani stated, “As a faculty member at AUK, I am honored and proud to be able to bring such a prestigious grant to our University for the second time. Our past project was accomplished successfully, and we managed to publish 3 articles out of it. I would like to thank the AUK president, Dr. Rawda Awwad, for her letter of support, the dean of the college of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Dr. Amir Zeid, for his continuous guidance, and the director of the Office of Research and Grants, Dr. Iyad Abu Doush, for all his efforts.”
The KFAS Research Grant is a tight competition amongst researchers from different universities and institutions in Kuwait in which a few projects are awarded with the grant. The KFAS strategy is focused on funding research projects that address key national priority areas through basic, applied, and policy research. The goal is to not only expand and build a growing body of knowledge in each key area, but to also ensure the translation and adoption of research outcomes from these research grants, as a means to foster and advance social and economic growth nationally, as well as contribute to scientific advancement globally.
AUK’s distinguished faculty bring a wealth of expertise and experience to their teaching through conducting a wide range of research. Dedicated to advancing their field of study, AUK’s faculty continue to provide world-class education to the next generation of scholars.
The winning project, titled “Advanced Cloud-Enabled Distributed Fault Diagnosis of Smart-Grids with Applications in Health Monitoring of Photovoltaic and Virtual Power Plant,” was directed by Dr. Ali Bostani, who also serves as the chair of the AUK professional development committee. Focusing on designing and developing a health monitoring system for photovoltaic (PV) farms, the outcome of Dr. Bostani’s research proposal would significantly improve the reliability of a new generation of power supply networks. The research proposal also introduces a modular solution that can be augmented with other available, or future, control systems in order to provide a fully autonomous fault-tolerant control solution.
This is the second time Dr. Bostani wins the KFAS grant since he joined AUK. Reflecting on this achievement, Dr. Bostani stated, “As a faculty member at AUK, I am honored and proud to be able to bring such a prestigious grant to our University for the second time. Our past project was accomplished successfully, and we managed to publish 3 articles out of it. I would like to thank the AUK president, Dr. Rawda Awwad, for her letter of support, the dean of the college of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Dr. Amir Zeid, for his continuous guidance, and the director of the Office of Research and Grants, Dr. Iyad Abu Doush, for all his efforts.”
The KFAS Research Grant is a tight competition amongst researchers from different universities and institutions in Kuwait in which a few projects are awarded with the grant. The KFAS strategy is focused on funding research projects that address key national priority areas through basic, applied, and policy research. The goal is to not only expand and build a growing body of knowledge in each key area, but to also ensure the translation and adoption of research outcomes from these research grants, as a means to foster and advance social and economic growth nationally, as well as contribute to scientific advancement globally.
AUK’s distinguished faculty bring a wealth of expertise and experience to their teaching through conducting a wide range of research. Dedicated to advancing their field of study, AUK’s faculty continue to provide world-class education to the next generation of scholars.
Dr. Ali Bostani
02, Mar 2023
AUK Oral History and Documentation Project: The First of its Kind to Preserve Kuwaiti History
AUK Library has played a significant role in preserving Kuwaiti historical stories through their renowned Oral History and Documentation Project (OHDP). Sponsored by Kuwait Projects Company (KIPCO), OHDP is the first comprehensive program to actively conduct oral histories in Kuwait on a wide range of topics and themes, in order to preserve the voices, memories, and experiences of generations of Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis.
The aim of OHDP is to build up a large collection of oral testimonies and documentary evidence from a diverse range of people on various aspects of Kuwait's history. The importance and urgency of this project lies in the dearth of information and resources available on Kuwait’s history since the pre-oil era. The aim of the project is to develop an archive of recorded interviews that will serve as a valuable resource to the AUK community, researchers, and the general public.
Currently, the OHDP is focused on recording the life histories of those born before the 1960s. These recorded interviews explore the memories of individuals who experienced the drastic shift in Kuwaiti society with the advent of oil, as well as their experiences of major events such as the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and the Gulf War in 1991.
Oral history is a research methodology in which people’s accounts are collected and documented to fill in any missing information from written history in order to preserve Kuwaiti heritage. For a region where written testimonies are comparatively scarce, OHDP provides a substantial archive of oral histories that can serve to widen the field of historical research on Kuwait, particularly in the areas of economic, social, and cultural history.
University Librarian, Asma Al-Kanan, explained the origins of the project and its easy accessibility, “AUK is a pioneer in launching this project. The idea started from the AUK Center for Gulf Studies (CGS), and was later moved to the library to be officially launched in 2020 when the interviews were posted on the project's website and made available to all individuals. It is not limited to university affiliates or even Kuwait. Interested people from all over the world can benefit from it, which helps communicate the history of Kuwait to the general public and researchers who need information and historical references. What also distinguishes our project is the fact that our interviews are in both Arabic and English.”
The interviews are extensive in nature and require 3 to 4 visits for completion. Thus far, a total of 22 interviews have been published on the OHDP website, and the Library is currently working on conducting more interviews.
The project includes interviews with many prominent personalities, including engineer Sarah Akbar, who reflected upon her story as the first woman to work in the oil field; and Ms. Louloua Al-Mulla, who talked about her childhood in the 1940s and her feminist political work with the Women Cultural and Social Society in the 1980s. Former Secretary General for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, Mr. Abdullah Bishara, spoke about the discovery of oil and British presence in Kuwait; and Former Minister, Mr. Muhammad Al-Sanousi, discussed his role during the occupation and the efforts made to rebuild Kuwait after the liberation.
The oral history & documentation project team consists of the project manager, Reem Al-Ali, and the project coordinator, Abdulaziz Al-Mahmeed. Library staff members archive and classify the documents, and publish the interviews on the project’s website. The interviews are also indexed in the University Library in order for interested individuals and researchers to access them.
The University Library does not just organize and arrange content; they create it. These interviews are considered one of the primary sources for research, which helps researchers to benefit from this information.
The Library plans on expanding this project. “There are many plans that we want to implement in cooperation with parties inside and outside Kuwait, including participating in exhibitions and events. This includes collaborating with the Contemporary Art Platform so that the Kuwaiti community is introduced to this project, and the content that was documented by the narrators is reviewed. We also aim to establish activities inside the University campus, teaching students oral history as an important research method through academic curricula,” stated Al-Kanan.
AUK is keen on initiating projects that serve the country and preserve its history and heritage, so that Kuwaiti history reaches the world. It also works to support research production to contribute to the progress and development of the country.
You can benefit from these interviews by visiting the OHDP website:
https://oralhistory.auk.edu.kw/gallery
The aim of OHDP is to build up a large collection of oral testimonies and documentary evidence from a diverse range of people on various aspects of Kuwait's history. The importance and urgency of this project lies in the dearth of information and resources available on Kuwait’s history since the pre-oil era. The aim of the project is to develop an archive of recorded interviews that will serve as a valuable resource to the AUK community, researchers, and the general public.
Currently, the OHDP is focused on recording the life histories of those born before the 1960s. These recorded interviews explore the memories of individuals who experienced the drastic shift in Kuwaiti society with the advent of oil, as well as their experiences of major events such as the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and the Gulf War in 1991.
Oral history is a research methodology in which people’s accounts are collected and documented to fill in any missing information from written history in order to preserve Kuwaiti heritage. For a region where written testimonies are comparatively scarce, OHDP provides a substantial archive of oral histories that can serve to widen the field of historical research on Kuwait, particularly in the areas of economic, social, and cultural history.
University Librarian, Asma Al-Kanan, explained the origins of the project and its easy accessibility, “AUK is a pioneer in launching this project. The idea started from the AUK Center for Gulf Studies (CGS), and was later moved to the library to be officially launched in 2020 when the interviews were posted on the project's website and made available to all individuals. It is not limited to university affiliates or even Kuwait. Interested people from all over the world can benefit from it, which helps communicate the history of Kuwait to the general public and researchers who need information and historical references. What also distinguishes our project is the fact that our interviews are in both Arabic and English.”
The interviews are extensive in nature and require 3 to 4 visits for completion. Thus far, a total of 22 interviews have been published on the OHDP website, and the Library is currently working on conducting more interviews.
The project includes interviews with many prominent personalities, including engineer Sarah Akbar, who reflected upon her story as the first woman to work in the oil field; and Ms. Louloua Al-Mulla, who talked about her childhood in the 1940s and her feminist political work with the Women Cultural and Social Society in the 1980s. Former Secretary General for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, Mr. Abdullah Bishara, spoke about the discovery of oil and British presence in Kuwait; and Former Minister, Mr. Muhammad Al-Sanousi, discussed his role during the occupation and the efforts made to rebuild Kuwait after the liberation.
The oral history & documentation project team consists of the project manager, Reem Al-Ali, and the project coordinator, Abdulaziz Al-Mahmeed. Library staff members archive and classify the documents, and publish the interviews on the project’s website. The interviews are also indexed in the University Library in order for interested individuals and researchers to access them.
The University Library does not just organize and arrange content; they create it. These interviews are considered one of the primary sources for research, which helps researchers to benefit from this information.
The Library plans on expanding this project. “There are many plans that we want to implement in cooperation with parties inside and outside Kuwait, including participating in exhibitions and events. This includes collaborating with the Contemporary Art Platform so that the Kuwaiti community is introduced to this project, and the content that was documented by the narrators is reviewed. We also aim to establish activities inside the University campus, teaching students oral history as an important research method through academic curricula,” stated Al-Kanan.
AUK is keen on initiating projects that serve the country and preserve its history and heritage, so that Kuwaiti history reaches the world. It also works to support research production to contribute to the progress and development of the country.
You can benefit from these interviews by visiting the OHDP website:
https://oralhistory.auk.edu.kw/gallery
AUK librarian, Ms. Asma Al-Kanan
02, Mar 2023
AUK Research Affiliate and Alumna Co-Author Book
AUK research affiliate and licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Juliet Dinkha, and AUK alumna and communications professional, Aya Abdulhadi, published a co-authored book, titled, “Navigating Social Identity: A Young Adult Story of Time.”
The book synopsis reads as follows, “This book is focused on youth and young adults. We explore aspects of how youth are socialized and how they frame and form their self-identity. Our book looks at Kuwait, a multifaceted society which is often misunderstood by the Western world as mired in a legacy of war, hard-line Islamic values and oil. However, Kuwait is a sophisticated cosmopolitan where Islamic values mesh with Western ideals on consumerism, dating, media consumption and liberal arts education. Our book is centered on the youth and young adults in a society who are modernizing Kuwait beyond its concrete and glass skyscrapers and Western luxury brands. We explore the numerous aspects of the lives of young adults from media consumption, to the effects of gender segregation in university life, to altruism, to social media habits, the effects of Western cultural imperialism on their body image to depression and coping skills, and most recently, the effects of living with a pandemic.”
Dr. Juliet Dinkha has been in the educational field for over 20 years. Her interest has always been in teaching, educating, and disseminating information to the public. Dr. Dinkha has a private practice whereby she provides psychoanalysis/psychotherapy and conducts assessments to a diverse client population both in the Middle East as well as the United States of America.
Aya Abdulhadi is a communication and media graduate from AUK. She has over a decade of expertise consulting corporate and consumer-focused brands, building their communication plans and brand strategy across the MENA region. Her experience includes working with one of the leading marketing and communications agencies, under the WPP Group.
The publication of a book of this caliber is reflective of the University’s encouraging environment that ensures every member achieves their full potential. Such a collaboration speaks to the high level of intellectual engagement that AUK fosters through its academic setting.
The book can be purchased through the following website: https://outskirtspress.com
The book synopsis reads as follows, “This book is focused on youth and young adults. We explore aspects of how youth are socialized and how they frame and form their self-identity. Our book looks at Kuwait, a multifaceted society which is often misunderstood by the Western world as mired in a legacy of war, hard-line Islamic values and oil. However, Kuwait is a sophisticated cosmopolitan where Islamic values mesh with Western ideals on consumerism, dating, media consumption and liberal arts education. Our book is centered on the youth and young adults in a society who are modernizing Kuwait beyond its concrete and glass skyscrapers and Western luxury brands. We explore the numerous aspects of the lives of young adults from media consumption, to the effects of gender segregation in university life, to altruism, to social media habits, the effects of Western cultural imperialism on their body image to depression and coping skills, and most recently, the effects of living with a pandemic.”
Dr. Juliet Dinkha has been in the educational field for over 20 years. Her interest has always been in teaching, educating, and disseminating information to the public. Dr. Dinkha has a private practice whereby she provides psychoanalysis/psychotherapy and conducts assessments to a diverse client population both in the Middle East as well as the United States of America.
Aya Abdulhadi is a communication and media graduate from AUK. She has over a decade of expertise consulting corporate and consumer-focused brands, building their communication plans and brand strategy across the MENA region. Her experience includes working with one of the leading marketing and communications agencies, under the WPP Group.
The publication of a book of this caliber is reflective of the University’s encouraging environment that ensures every member achieves their full potential. Such a collaboration speaks to the high level of intellectual engagement that AUK fosters through its academic setting.
The book can be purchased through the following website: https://outskirtspress.com
Book cover
