News

The Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences, and Engineering (RISE) hosted distinguished Nobel Laureate Sir Richard Roberts as part of the RISE Lecture Series at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) on April 2nd. Sir Richard Roberts, 1993 winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, spoke about his success and how he became interested in science at his talk "The Path to the Nobel Prize". The talk was organized in collaboration with the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS).

RISE is AUK's primary source for research and development activities, a bridge to industry and a platform for community outreach. The RISE Lecture Series seeks to bring local and international experts from a wide variety of disciplines to give talks and workshops at AUK. Dr. Rawda Awwad, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, introduced Sir Roberts to the attendees and explained why the lecture was both; timely and important. "His presentation comes at a time when knowledge - the acquisition and the creation of new bodies of knowledge - is vital for our communal, regional, and global growth; for progress and constructive change," she said.

Sir Roberts spoke to the audience about his early involvement with science and how he became interested in science and problem solving, including his fateful discovery of the book The Thread of Life: An Introduction to Molecular Biology by John Kendrew - the book that would inspire his Nobel Prize-winning work. He emphasized the value of hard work, but also the role of luck in a successful career; Sir Roberts believes he owes much of his scientific success to "doing the right experiments at the right time."

The lecture walked the audience through Sir Roberts' life, from early childhood to his research today at New England Biolabs. In the question and answer session following the lecture, Sir Roberts encouraged the students in the audience to find their passion and follow it, no matter what others may say, and to look at failure as a doorway to discovery. He also stressed that innovation should be shared in the scientific community. "I want to make that discovery, but I would be equally happy if any one of you did," he added. Sir Roberts is currently studying methylation in bacteria and using his scientific expertise for a variety of humanitarian projects.

Dr. Amir Zeid, Director of RISE, expressed the level of importance the lecture carries for RISE. "The lecture of Sir Richard is the highlight of the RISE international lecture series for the academic year 2014-2015. I am pleased to see such a diverse audience engagement in a positive way. Among the audience we had people from different private universities, Kuwait University, schools and general public. We are looking forward to have similar events and collaboration with other research institutes in the future."

Sir Richard Roberts is the winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (with Phillip Sharp) for his ground-breaking discovery of split genes. Roberts was also instrumental in isolating most of the world's first known restriction enzymes. As a pioneer in this field, requests for lists of these enzymes came flooding in, eventually leading to the formation of a database named REBASE (Restriction Enzyme dataBASE), containing a listing of not only all the restriction-modification enzyme systems, but also the genes encoding these.

Sir Richard was educated in chemistry at Sheffield University and molecular biology at Harvard University. He worked for 20 years at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory where his group discovered RNA splicing for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1993. In 1992 he moved to New England Biolabs as Director of eukaryotic research before becoming Chief Scientific officer in 2005. He has had a long-standing interest in bioinformatics, which most recently had been applied to his research on restriction enzymes.

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.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 14th April 2015

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015

The Do It Yourself Club at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) hosted a carnival and lecture series that focused on health and nutrition in March. The event was sponsored by Lina's & Dina's Diet Center and the Stretch Fitness Center. The Do It Yourself Club is a student organization that was founded to help promote better health practices among the members of the AUK community, primarily through enriching the student experience outside the classroom and helping them work on themselves in a healthy way.

The lecture series was held in the AUK auditorium on March 22nd, where a number of health experts offered lifestyle advice to students, staff and members of the public. Fatme Saade, a nutritional coach, gave tips on how to manage diets and discussed the growing problem in Kuwait with obesity and suggested ways to combat it. Zahra Buagbaas, a professional kick-boxing trainer, talked to the students about healthy weight loss methods and how to achieve personal fitness goals. The Do It Yourself Club also aired two motivational videos to inspire members of the AUK community towards a path to a healthy lifestyle.

There was an exhibition portion to the Health Carnival. It took place outside on the soccer field on AUK's campus and included a number of activities such as a live performance, healthy lunch options for visitors to purchase from, and booths set up by health companies. The live show featured TJ, a fitness trainer, showing the attendees how to train correctly and stretch properly, and Jannet Miranda, who performed zumba moves to get students excited about fitness. Twelve businesses participated in the carnival, who distributed samples of their healthy and offered lifestyle advice.

The Do It Yourself Club (DIY) is a student-led initiative that was formed to encourage members of the AUK community to invest their time and effort on their personal development outside the classroom through workshops, lectures and a variety of other activities that promote better lifestyle practices. The Club has planned a year of workshops, awareness campaigns, and activities that are in line with the theme of healthy living.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 13th April 2015

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) inaugurated new electrical and computer engineering laboratories in a ribbon cutting ceremony held at AUK. The event was co-organized by the AUK-IEEE Student Branch and featured a pre-event seminar, an awards ceremony, an IEEE talk, various laboratory demonstrations, the IEEE Student Branch Elections, and a closing social event. The event was attended by AUK's President, Professor Dr. Nizar Hamzeh, the Vice President of Admissions & Public Affairs, Ms. Amal Albinali, and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Rawda Awwad, as well as several selected invitees from IEEE Kuwait, including Dr. Feda Al-Shahwan, Ms. Khuloud Al-Hindi, and Ms. Hanan Al-Awadi.

Dr. Awwad commenced the ceremony by commending the teamwork involved in creating the new labs, explaining that the success of the new labs' completion is a direct result of successful teamwork and inter-departmental partnerships that brought scientific and technical know-how together. Following the commencement, Dr. Issam Damaj, Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), officially announced the labs- inauguration and explained that the process of establishing the new labs began a few years ago and involved many AUK departments and units to produce. He also identified the principles, requirements, and parameters of the designs adopted for the ECE Laboratories and highlighted the various roles of faculty members and servicing units during the laboratory set-up project.

During a presentation by Dr. Feda Al-Shahwan and Ms. Khuloud Al-Hindi, the IEEE Kuwait members provided an overview about the IEEE Section in Kuwait and encouraged the students to engage in the different activities they organize to consolidate their education and strengthen their credentials as future engineers. Among the activities mentioned in their presentation were the competitions, collaborations among different branches and chapters, and the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the IEEE Kuwait Section. Ms. Hanan Al-Awadhi took this opportunity to also introduce the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Chapter in Kuwait to the attendees. Ms. Al-Awadhi informed the attendees of several upcoming activities, such as the diabetes awareness campaign, regional discussions on healthcare technology regulations, and different outreach conferences and expos.

The attendees were then escorted to the new labs for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony and lab demonstrations. AUK President Professor Dr. Nizar Hamzeh cut the ribbon, marking the official opening of the labs and accompanied the attendees on the lab tours, which were guided by Dr. Damaj. Several of the ECE Laboratories that were inaugurated featured updated machines, power systems, control, data acquisition, and instrumentation. The tour included demonstrations by ECE students and briefings by ECE Faculty Members.

Young AUK engineers and visitors attended the seminars and workshops, among which was a workshop offered by Dr. Detlef Hummes, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering, who teaches a course entitled "Technical Writing for Engineers". The workshop focused on the skills of writing, referencing, citing, formatting, and reviewing technical reports. The seminars included an IEEE awareness session conducted by AUK Engineering Students and members of AUK-IEEE Student Branch, Athari Al-Farhoud and Afrah Almutairi. The seminar offered information on the Student Branch, the IEEE, and the various benefits of joining both.

The Q&A session of the event was interactive, whereas the attendees competed in the electronic textile game - Sew Electric. The game requires the participants to be divided into three groups, each group with a different textile project involving LEDs, a coin cell battery, conductive thread, felt decorations and 30 minutes to complete the design. Moderators evaluated the projects to determine the winning, factoring in time elapsed, functionality and quality of workmanship.

The half-day event concluded with closing remarks by AUK Engineering student Reem Al-Shamiry, who shared that the results of the IEEE Student Branch Elections would be announced the following day. A social gathering which featured music and a banquet dinner marked the end of the inauguration ceremony. The results of the IEEE Student Branch elections were announced the following day, as below:

• President: Athari Al-Farhoud
• Vice President: Mahdi Modhaffar
• Secretary: Zeinab Mohammed
• Treasurer: Amr Lotfy

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 12th April 2015

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015

In mid-March, two students from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, joined the American University of Kuwait (AUK) community. Charlotte Kama'i and Alexis Hill are undergraduate students who are working in various departments as part of an internship program formed through the partnership of the two universities.

Charlotte comes from San Francisco, California, and will graduate from Dartmouth in 2016 with a major in Government and a minor in Arabic. Charlotte's studies in government focus on international relations and politics and she is considering pursuing a career in law after graduation. Charlotte is captain of the women's varsity swim team at Dartmouth, a leader in the Dartmouth Greek community, and a representative in the student government. She also works in the Admissions Office and Government Department. Charlotte is passionate about human rights activism, gender equality and international law and advocacy.

Alexis is from Santa Barbara, California, and will graduate from Dartmouth in 2017 with a double major in Middle Eastern Studies and Studio Art, and she plans to continue her study of Arabic throughout her time in college. At Dartmouth, Alexis is an editor and designer for the college magazine, a tutor in the Spanish department and an intern at Hood Museum of Art in Hanover. Alexis is interested in the intersection of international development, arts and culture, and wants to continue in a creative line of work after graduation.

Charlotte and Alexis will be in Kuwait until the end of May 2015 and are planning a trip to Dubai during their stay. Charlotte is working in the Office of Student Life, the Writing Center and the Library. Alexis is splitting time between the Office of Public Affairs, the Intensive English Program and the Department of Arabic & Foreign Languages.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 8th April 2015

The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is an annual event in Dubai, UAE, that celebrates the critically acclaimed works of creative writers and offers numerous workshops and lectures open to the public. From March 5 to 7, members of the Writing Center Diwaniya Book Club at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) travelled to Dubai to attend the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature for its third annual trip. Students Omar Khalil, Bhavneet Sahni, Shaza Al-Wattar, and Dina Al-Qassar were accompanied by Hala Botros and Kirsten Bartholome, Academic Support Specialists at the Writing Center. While at the Festival, they attended workshops, lectures, and panel discussions conducted by renowned authors from around the world.

The members had the opportunity to participate in workshops relevant to their areas of interest, and attend lectures featuring the authors of some of their favorite books. Omar Khalil, an aspiring writer and Computer Engineering major at AUK, along with Dina Al-Qassar, a senior majoring in English, attended "Lost or Gained in Adaptation," a lecture that examined the film adaptation of the bestselling novel The Book Thief, and the book club's March reading selection. While there, Dina and Omar joined in a discussion about the creative writing process hosted by Lauren Oliver, author of the Young Adult novels Delirium and Panic.

Other Diwaniya members such as Bhavneet Sahni, who is an avid reader and a senior majoring in Accounting and Finance, attended a panel discussion called "The Wondrous Wows of Science and Math." The controversial discussion examined mathematical equations in literature. Bhavneet also joined Shaza Al-Wattar, a junior majoring in International Relations, for sessions related to creativity and mental illness, hosted by Professor Adrian Furnham, Professor of Psychology at University College London. Shaza also attended a panel on historical fiction, along with an experimental creative writing workshop entitled "Where Your Werewolf Hides."

In addition to the variety of panel discussions and workshops available, the festival included interviews and poetry readings by poets such as Zeina Hashem Beck, who passionately read excerpts of her work. One of the festival's highlights was the annual Orwell Lecture, which was delivered this year by the legendary Egyptian writer, Nawal El-Saadawi. Other notable hosts included the author of The Book Thief, Markus Zusak, and multi-award winning author of Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 8th April 2015

Two teams from the American University of Kuwait (AUK) participated in the Global Management Challenge (GMC) Kuwait finals and won titles for their performances. One team, "AUK's Wolf Pack", won third place in the Investment Performance category, while other team, "AUK - Top 5", won in the Highest Investment Performance in One Quarter category. In an awards ceremony held at the Radison Blu Hotel, the teams were recognized for their achievements. AUK Interim Dean of the College of Business & Economics, Dr. John Russell, attended the ceremony with the teams mentors, AUK Professors Rafiqul Bhuyan and Ayman Haddad.

The GMC Kuwait Edition is part of the international GMC competition, the largest Strategy and Management Competition in the world that is based on business simulations. In it, each team runs a company with the objective of achieving the highest Investment Performance. This criterion measures the investment 'return' for the original shareholders. More than 500,000 university students and company managers from around the world participate in the GMC every year. The teams are then divided into groups whereby each group creates a competitive market and launches its strategy by making functional decisions in different areas of the Company (Marketing, Production, Human Resources and Finances). The online simulator then analyses and compares the teams' decisions and produces a Management Report for each team, showing the detailed results in financial and operational terms. This process is repeated over Five Developing Decision Periods during the Competition, simulating a year and a quarter of the companies activity.

Dr. Haddad, who mentored AUK's Wolf Pack team, was pleased with AUK's performance at GMC. "I am very proud of my team for coming in 3rd place in this competition, especially that the difference between them and the team that came in first place was not significant and we were competing against teams of professional bankers. I am also proud of the "AUK - Top 5" team for their excellent performance as the "Highest Investment Performance Boost in One Quarter," he explained, and thanked Dr. Russell for his support.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 6th April 2015

The Information Technology (IT) Department at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) has been selected to present at the Ellucian Live conference in New Orleans, USA, for its outstanding implementation of Ellucian technology at the university over the past two years. Ellucian Live is a technology conference that brings together over eight thousand participants from higher education institutions around the world to discuss technology in education.

Rusty Bruns, Chief Information Officer, and Hussein Diab, Database Operations Manager, are expected to present on behalf of AUK during the conference; one of only two presentations from the Middle East. Their presentation, "Workflow - Going Green," will highlight the implementation of Ellucian Workflow, software constructed to help streamline processes and reduce paperwork, and share other steps the University has been taking to minimize its environmental footprint.

Ellucian offers a wide selection of products and services aimed to assist in facilitating processes in institutions of higher education. To help streamline the process of course override requests, AUK turned to Ellucian Workflow, software that automates the process, eliminating paper wastage and improving processing time. In the Fall 2014 semester, the Office of the Registrar received and processed nearly 2,000 overrides, each one required multiple signatures on the paper-based requests - a time consuming and environmentally unsound process. After implementing Ellucian Workflow, which is fully integrated with AUK's Banner System and is completely electronic, the processing of overrides went from being a 2-day process to a 10-minute one.

Applying the Ellucian Workflow software is part of an ongoing effort by AUK to be more environmentally conservative. In 2011, AUK began phasing out inkjet printers and replacing them with Xerox multifunction printers that require security codes to operate. This enabled the university to track the usage of printers and monitors paper consumption. AUK has also been encouraging instructors to start using Moodle, a software that allows them to personalize their coursework electronically, as an alternative to paper-based teaching methods. As a result, there are now almost 54,000 documents uploaded to Moodle and around 57 faculty members teaching 123 sections on the software.

This 3-pronged plan has not only helped save the environment; it has saved the University money, resources and time. AUK reduced printing by approximately two million pages within the first year of applying the plan, saving the equivalent of 250 trees and effectively cutting the cost of printing by half, making AUK eligible for refunds worth thousands of dollars from Xerox.

Presenting at Ellucian Live provides a platform for AUK to share these eco-friendly technological strategies it has been applying with other educational institutions, and to support efforts to reduce waste and increase productivity worldwide. The event also includes an award ceremony for the best implementation of Ellucian technologies, a variety of keynote speakers such as Sal Khan, Founder of Khan Academy, and Reshma Saujani, Founder of Girls Who Code and a learning lab where participants can test-drive a number of cutting edge educational technologies.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 6th April 2015

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015

The International Week at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) is an annual event on campus that celebrates cultural diversity within the AUK community. This year marked the 10th consecutive International Week and included a host of diversity-themed events beginning Sunday March 15th and continuing through Wednesday, March 18th. Events included a lecture, movie night, cooking competition and the highly anticipated Global Village, where students had the opportunity to showcase traditions from their countries. International Week is organized each year by the Office of Student Life to promote cultural exchange and understanding within the AUK community and to enhance global and social awareness.

This year's Week began with students competing in a two-day round of Sporcle trivia quiz testing their general knowledge of countries around the globe. Dr. Chris Ohan, former AUK professor, contributed to the week's happenings in his Monday morning lecture on global sensitivity entitled "Balancing Tolerance, Diversity and Academic Freedom in a Politically Correct World."

International Week also included a series of foreign movie nights, featuring such movies as the politically controversial Indian film My Name Is Khan and an Iranian drama called The Painting Pool - stories of family dynamics, global intolerance and a changing world. All of these activities and events exposed AUK students to a range of different international and human experiences, while committing to the spirit of the week.

Each year, student representatives from countries participating in International Week are assigned booths in the Central Hallway of the campus to showcase their cultures by displaying traditional clothing, books, music and foods, creating the Global Village. The booths are then rated by judges for the Best Country Representation Award. This year's winners were Lebanon, Pakistan and Palestine, coming in first, second and third place, respectively.

One of the more anticipated activities of the week was the cooking competition. Participants were asked to present traditional dishes from their countries. Although not every country was represented, there were many cuisines for the judges to sample, including dishes from Kuwait, Egypt, Pakistan, Lebanon, Syria and Iran. The Best Main Dish Award went to Syria, while the Best Dessert Award went to Egypt.

International Week concluded, as is tradition, with the Parade of Nations; a parade of flags representing countries of members from the AUK community, led by Kuwaiti flag. Following the Parade was the Cultural Showcase, which featured an array of performances from 6 different countries; Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Iran, Egypt and Kuwait. The Best Cultural Showcase title went to Lebanon, second place to Palestine, and third place to Egypt.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 31 March 2015

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2015