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The AUK Library organized a lecture on Digital Humanities by Mr. Terry Robinson - Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Gale International, a Cengage Company. Mr. Robinson introduced Gale's primary source materials in which valuable content in the Humanities is digitized and preserved. Through collaborations with special collections, libraries and archives around the world, digitized manuscripts, monographs, newspapers and rare materials can be accessed by researchers worldwide.

Gale's primary source materials also provide researchers with tools to help them conduct Digital Humanities (DH) research and to be able to critically review the past in today's context. One of the tools is the Frequency tool, which shows how often a search term appears in the corpus over a certain period of time. This is in addition to the Clusters tool that identifies other phrases/terms that appear frequently with a search term to show unexpected connections. Mr. Terry explained about the importance of cleaning data for any DH work, and has shared sample projects from around the world.

The Library Director, Asma Al Kanan, thanked Mr. Robinson for introducing the latest resources from Gale International which will help enrich the learning and research experience of AUK's students and faculty.
 

A group of 8 Students from the American University of Kuwait (AUK) attended the Diwaniya Project in The Hague, Netherlands. Upon paper presentations and personal interviews, the students- Ibrahim Al-Buraidi, Bandar Al-Enezi, Hamad Al-Mutairi, Ali Al-Khuraibet, Fatemah Almazyad, Mejren Al-Loughani, Saba Al-Sulaiti, and Ali Al-Qallaf were selected by the Kuwait Diplomatic Institute to represent Kuwait in discussions with the Kuwaiti and Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

The Diwaniya Project, organized by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in cooperation with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to enrich cultural and academic relations and to increase communication between Kuwait and the Netherlands. The program has been introduced alongside the non-permanent membership status of the two countries in the Security Council (the Netherlands in 2018 and Kuwait during the period 2018-2019).

Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Hanan Muzaffar commended the student participants from AUK, "Our students showed commitment and great initiative in planning for their participation in this. They were quick to take action and further enhanced my belief in the excellence often associated with the AUK student in the classroom and beyond. I am happy for them and have no doubt they will make us all proud" she said.

The program was open to all universities in Kuwait based on research paper submissions and interviews. We proudly announce that only students from the American University of Kuwait were selected to represent Kuwait. This international representation not only endorses the university’s commitment to academic success but also to the holistic development of the students.

The program was attended by sixteen graduates and students from Kuwait and the Netherlands to brainstorm, discuss and make recommendations to the Dutch and Kuwaiti government about ideas and means to mutually strengthen cooperation at the UN Security Council.

The discussion points that were covered during the Diwaniya Project were International Humanitarian Law: Ensuring Effective Compliance in a Polarized World, followed by the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Challenge and Opportunity.

One of the 8 participants from AUK, Bandar al Enezi said, "It was a truly exceptional experience, where we shared our perspectives with fellow Dutch students, on cases that both our countries are concerned about, including Humanitarian assistance; food, water, energy nexus and the Security Council. We finalized discussions with solutions that both our countries could work on collectively."
 

In collaboration with the Department of International Relations, the Center for Gulf Studies (CGS) at AUK facilitated a lecture by Dr. Ben J. Slot-an acclaimed historian and archivist-entitled "The Origins of Kuwait" which discussed the main findings of his book that contributes to the history of Kuwait through the use of European archives.

In his talk, Dr. Slot discussed the difficulty of finding records on Kuwait's history, revealing that he has actually searched all the Dutch national archives. His research sourced newspapers and documents, and he eventually compiled evidence in his book. According to evidence from European sources, Kuwait was a nation state before 1756, thus validating Kuwait's long-established legitimacy.

Tackling a widespread misconception, he addressed the myth of Kuwait beginning as a Portuguese fortress, which stems from maps that illustrated the results of Portuguese explorations in the region of Kuwait during the 1500's. However, there is no verified confirmation that the Portuguese ever landed in Kuwait.

Dr. Slot also highlighted the prominence of falsified historical documents, where he presented several cases, most notably the visit of a Dutch naval officer to Kuwait in 1870. The navy officer's report gave a very positive image of Kuwait, drawing it as a prosperous republic with happy people. Following this report, a map was published showing an independent "Republic of Kuwait".

In his own right, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah, the seventh ruler of Kuwait, played a significant role in shaping Kuwait's origins. With the threat of colonialism spreading to Kuwait in the 19th century, he sought to establish several European connections.

Following the lecture, the audience were invited to engage in a lively discussion with Dr. Slot where they asked various questions regarding how to best detect bias within sources, particularly as history is written by the victor, and how to approach and analyze sources. In response, Dr. Slot stressed the importance of cross-document verification, saying, "I hoped that this talk would achieve the consciousness that there are many kinds of sources, and that one must always try to support information from one source with information from another."

In highlighting the significance of the talk, Dr. Shareefa Al-Adwani, the Acting Director of CGS, said, "It is very rare that students get to meet the author of their textbooks and history books. Yet, here is one of the most relevant books to the history of Kuwait and its politics, whereby students can directly interact with an author, scholar, and archivist that they have perhaps been reading from all throughout their college career. It's incredibly exciting for us."

Dr. Ben J. Slot, born in 1941 in the Netherlands, is a historian responsible for the archives of the Dutch East India Company in the General State Archives in The Hague. He is a prolific writer on the history of the Ottoman Empire, the history of the Gulf, and cartography. His publications include The Origins of Kuwait, The Arabs of the Gulf 1602-1784, and a biography of Sheikh Mubarak the Great, which was translated into Arabic. His edited book, Kuwait: The Growth of a Historic Identity, addresses historical, political, and social processes and interactions that led to the formation and the ultimate sovereignty of Kuwait.

The Center for Gulf Studies is a research center under the College of Arts and Sciences at the American University of Kuwait. The center aims to promote greater cultural understanding of and increased intellectual interest in the Gulf, by facilitating free and open academic discourse on a range of issues that both shape and challenge this critical region of the world. Their goal is to enable scholars as well as political and civil society actors both within and outside the region to contribute and add value to the burgeoning field of Gulf Studies. To this end, the center seeks to encourage, support, and cultivate interesting and original research on the Gulf, and to create an environment in which AUK students and faculty can interact and collaborate with researchers and activists from around the world in creative and engaging ways.
 

The American University of Kuwait's AUKause club recently organized a volunteer trip to India. Working closely with International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) and the Office of Student Life at the Division of Student Affairs, a group of 16 AUK students and two AUK staff supervisors participated in the volunteering initiative that was held in Faridabad, India making this AUKause's 6th volunteering trip since their first one to Jaipur in 2014. They have since volunteered in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Cambodia, in addition to other volunteering initiatives held in Kuwait.

The 10-day trip began with a sightseeing tour around India's historical monuments such as the Red Fort, India Gate, Qutob Minar and Jama Mosque. IVHQ organized daily morning yoga classes and traditional Indian cooking classes for all the volunteers.

The trip's objectives were to teach children living in unhealthy conditions a variety of subjects including math, English and hygiene practices. The group of volunteers painted and renovated a school located in Faridabad to encourage students to attend classes, fixed all the chairs to make them more comfortable, and repaired all the tables and school equipment. The volunteers worked long hours dedicated to fixing everything that they could with the children's happiness as their main goal.

Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Hanan Muzaffar said, "We at AUK are honored to represent Kuwait and AUK in a volunteering initiative of such influence. As part of our ongoing commitment to giving back to the community and taking part in consciously aware initiatives around the world, we look forward to many more opportunities and community service initiatives at AUK."
 

The library at the American University of Kuwait held its annual open house for members of the AUK community in February.

The event aimed to showcase library resources, services and technologies to all members of the AUK community, and provided an opportunity for the library to highlight new collections and demonstrate interactive technologies employed in its facilities. The open house provided a fun and interactive space for students to enjoy outside the classroom.

The open house featured a reading corner organized by the Intensive English Program (IEP); in addition to booths from student clubs such as Sigma Tau Delta, and Fikir-each participated with a booth and a banner to highlight themes such as "self-exploration" and "identity". AUK students had the chance to express their identities through their literary writing and presenters shared their ideas as visitors walked in. A number of international publishers were also present, showcasing their latest publications.

Among the activities in the event was the use of augmented reality technology for interactive competitions such as the "hunt for answers" game in which participants had to scan through library posters and facilities to get the answers. They also scanned through images on the READ display to get captions related to faculty book selections. The event program also included educational games such as the "Spinning Wheel" and the "Read and Explore" puzzle game which required participants to compete in answering riddles.

Library Director, Asma Al-Kanan, expressed her joy to host both faculty and students during this event to introduce them to all the available facilities and collections that the library houses.

Towards the end of the event, all participants had a chance to enter the raffle draw for a chance to win one of five big prizes, including an Apple Watch, an IPAD, Samsung Galaxy tab and gift vouchers. Prizes were sponsored by the library's partners and international publishers including Cengage Learning and EBSCO.
 

The Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences and Engineering (RISE) at the American University of Kuwait held a talk entitled, "Rocket Science 101: Fire Arrows, Fireworks, and Fire Planets" by Jake Gordon, a rocket scientist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who has also researched atmospheric science for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and analyzed high speed particle physics at the Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Commencing with welcoming remarks from RISE Director Dr. Amir Zeid, the lecture shed light on the history of rockets, from their first conception in 400 BCE at the hands of the ancient Greeks to their development in Chinese and Korean warfare, to the invention of the world's first torpedo by Hasan al-Rammah, finally ending in the present day with how they allow humans to travel into space. Mr. Gordon emphasized throughout the talk the sense of wonder and excitement that rocket science holds over its students, explaining his own background and why he was drawn to the field. He then broke down the physics of a rocket into pieces-the various parts and systems that comprise a modern rocket and allow it to make a controlled accent. In doing so, he also touched on Isaac Newton's three laws of motion, giving students simple and accurate explanations for some of the most complicated technology ever created.

Mr. Gordon ended his talk on a surprising note by teaching those present how to make their own miniature rockets at home with only aluminum foil, a box of matches, and a bamboo stick. He quickly walked listeners through the basics, letting them see one he had made that morning, and passed out instructions to follow at home-which can also be found online. Mr. Gordon finished on a cautionary note by asking his new students of rocket science to be careful with their toys, emphasizing that although the rockets they were making were small, you always have to be careful when dealing with such technology.

Rocket Science 101 was a fun, exciting look at how a real rocket scientist thinks and works, suggesting that even the world's best researchers in the field are still humbled by their work. Mr. Gordon's passion was evident while showing videos of space shuttle launches and jet pack flights to the audience, reaffirming that such feats are not out of reach for hardworking students, and proving that even rocket science can be simply explained by an excellent speaker.

The AUK Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences, and Engineering (RISE) serves as AUK's primary source for multidisciplinary research and development (R&D) activities. The center employs a holistic approach to R&D by integrating academic disciplines, and forging connections between local & international innovators, academia & industry, and technology & society.
 

In collaboration with the Department of International Relations and the Department of Communications and Media, the Center for Gulf Studies (CGS) at AUK hosted a lecture by Ambassador Daniel Benjamin, a distinguished diplomat, journalist, and the Director of the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College. The talk, entitled "Navigating the Storm: US-GCC Relations in an Era of Disruption" addressed the dramatic shift in US policy towards the Persian Gulf region and the steps regional players may take to strengthen their voice in the American government's regional deliberations. The lecture was held in the AUK auditorium, and attracted many of the AUK community and the public.

Director of CGS, Dr. Farah Al-Nakib, kicked off the event by introducing Dr. Shareefa Al-Adwani, Assistant Professor of Political Science at AUK, as the new Acting Director of CGS, who in turn introduced the center's inaugural event of the semester and the Ambassador.

During his talk, the Ambassador designated President Trump's alternative title as "disrupter-in-chief," exploring how his sometimes extreme and often unpredictable approach to his position is changing the role of the presidency, particularly as he is challenging established alliances by focusing on big states and taking sides against longtime partners in regional disputes. This has led to the escalation of major political issues such as nuclear threats from North Korea, his silence on Russia's actions in intervening in the U.S. elections, in menacing the Baltics, and in being unforgiving towards Syria.

Taking Saudi Arabia as another example, he discussed how President Trump's approach can be particularly problematic due to the emergence of a newly energized Saudi leader who has a more confrontational approach to Iran, intervened in Yemeni and Lebanese politics, and has shifted the internal power dynamics of the Saudi royal family. In his own actions, the President's approach shows little regard for the views of most regional actors, resulting in tension in foreign policy and has compromised American's role as a Middle East mediator.

Regarding how he foresees the consequences of President Trump's actions, the Ambassador maintained that his view is closer to Stewart Patrick, the Director of the Program on International Institutions & Global Governance in the Council on Foreign Relations-the global liberal order has not collapsed, but President Trump certainly threatens its existence through his embrace of isolationist and nationalist policies. As such, the Ambassador sought to reassure the audience that government agencies will work to mediate these policies. Further, the speaker encouraged increased engagement with the US by Middle Eastern countries to build values through communities and universities, expressing particular pride on behalf of Dartmouth to have had a longstanding link with AUK.

"I think it is important that the people in Kuwait and the Gulf hear voices that are not the same as the official ones coming out of Washington, and I hope that is reassuring", said the Ambassador. "I wanted to urge our friends in the Gulf, in an appropriate way, to make their voices heard, because they have big interests and a longtime relationship with Washington, and it is important that they are understood." He also commented, "I was also happy to be here on behalf of Dartmouth to get to meet with the faculty, students, and the leadership and I am delighted we have this relationship with AUK. It is a great institution and I hope our ties grow better and better."

Towards the end of the lecture, the audience was invited to engage in a lively discussion with the speaker where they tackled their concerns regarding the volatility of Trump's tweets, whether we should expect a third World War, and Washington's controversial stance on Palestinian affairs. The overarching response was that it is an unpredictable time in Washington and that the framework on which they used to operate is currently being challenged.

Following the Ambassador's segment of the lecture, Dr. Al-Adwani made sure to end on a high note by recognizing Dr. Al-Nakib's consistent and successful efforts in contributing to the Center's growth, and her ability to bring together various communities in Kuwait. After Dr. Al-Nakib obtained her PhD and joined AUK as Assistant Professor of History, she became Director of the CGS the same year. Over the last seven years, Dr. Al-Nakib has become an Associate Professor of History and has contributed to making the Center a key academic institution in the region.

In commenting on the significance of CGS's scholarly interaction with the students, Dr. Al-Adwani said: "We were very lucky to have a frank discussion with Ambassador Daniel Benjamin on the various topics of the American presidency, the White House, and its relationship with the GCC. A lot of us do appreciate honesty in understanding the strategies of the US because it can help us best plan here in Kuwait."

Ambassador Daniel Benjamin is the Director of the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College. He previously served at the U.S. State Department as Secretary Hillary Clinton's principal advisor on issues related to terrorism. He also directed the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution, and served as a foreign policy speechwriter and Special Assistant to President Bill Clinton. Benjamin is co-author of the award-winning book The Age of Sacred Terror (2002). He writes frequently for the New York Times, Politico, TIME Magazine and many other publications.

The Center for Gulf Studies is a research center under the College of Arts and Sciences at the American University of Kuwait. The center aims to promote greater cultural understanding of and increased intellectual interest in the Gulf, by facilitating free and open academic discourse on a range of issues that both shape and challenge this critical region of the world. Their goal is to enable scholars as well as political and civil society actors both within and outside the region to contribute and add value to the burgeoning field of Gulf Studies. To this end, the center seeks to encourage, support, and cultivate interesting and original research on the Gulf, and to create an environment in which AUK students and faculty can interact and collaborate with researchers and activists from around the world in creative and engaging ways.