The Deep Ocean Forum 2024, held on October 22, showcased alignment between KAUST and OceanQuest — a marine organization focused on deep-sea research, innovation and public engagement. Hosted at KAUST, the forum emphasized technology-driven exploration and research collaborations in ocean science.
During the event, President Sir Edward Byrne AC highlighted the potential for deep-sea discoveries stemming from collaborations, such as that with OceanQuest, to benefit humanity, particularly for sustainability. OceanQuest CEO Martin Visbeck praised the collaboration, noting the alignment in areas such as marine robotics, artificial intelligence and digital twinning to support biodiversity and conservation efforts.
Associate Professor Raquel Peixoto and Assistant Professor Froukje M. van der Zwan presented details on the University’s deep-sea research to those in attendance.
The forum aimed to encourage Saudi Arabia’s capacity-building and institutional development, with both KAUST and OceanQuest recognizing the potential of deep-sea ecosystem research to advance human capital growth within the Kingdom and beyond. The strategic collaborators intend to continue their cooperation through various initiatives to drive meaningful discoveries and sustainable ocean solutions.