THUWAL – Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) held the second Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards Ceremony 2012 at KAUST's campus at Thuwal last Wednesday. Muhammad Al-Madhi, deputy chairman of SABIC Board of Directors and CEO, as well as Professor Shih Choon Fong, KAUST President, attended the event. Thirteen postdoctoral fellowship researchers were given awards for their submitted researches with topics covering solar energy, feedstock, catalysts, separation processes, renewable bioenergy sources, electronic account, and environmental sciences. SABIC always awards scientific research conducted for developing KAUST because it believes that such thing will reflect positively on the region and scientific community. Al-Madhi said “SABIC is committed to encouraging new ideas and effective solutions. It believes in human capability to be innovative and creative, therefore, it encourages scientists and sponsors them at higher education institutions in the Kingdom." SABIC and KAUST partnership seeks to support SABIC's clients and benefit the entire humanity at the same time, he added. Professor Fong stressed the importance of searching for new notions and methods to deal with the challenges facing mankind, particularly the ones related to water, food, energy, and environment. He added that creative and talented scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs should be sponsored by using creative and innovative methods. SABIC and KAUST invest in ambitious talented persons who are interested in conducting postdoctoral researches. Ernesto Occhiello, SABIC Executive Vice-President, Technology and Innovation, said SABIC also supports KAUST's mission through different channels. For example, SABIC set up a research and innovation center on KAUST campus, financed researches related to SABIC line of business, sponsored SABIC staff who applied for higher degrees at KAUST, and hired talented students from KAUST, he noted. Professor Stefan Catsicas, KAUST Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, said “postdoctoral researches will play a pivotal role in our academic team's success. Additionally, SABIC's support will contribute to enhancing the new tradition of innovative science." Winners this year possess capabilities which will make them contribute largely to developing their fields of study, he pointed out. Dr. Abdullah Almojel, Vice President, University Development, lauded SABIC's continuous support for postdoctoral fellowship awards program. Postdoctoral fellowships winners of 2011 have published nineteen researchers in renowned scientific journals and presented nine papers at international conferences, he added. “We look forward to seeing this year's winners make the same achievements." Some of last year's winners have been granted patents for their inventions while some are still waiting approval. – SG
