WEP 2017 Week One Highlights
This year, the 2017 Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) presents a vast array of events around the engaging theme of “Pushing the Limits: Challenging Engineering and Science.” From internationally renowned speakers to one-of-a-kind interactive experiences and recreational events, the choice is “multiverse.” Here’s a selection of just a few of the must-see events for the first week of WEP. Make sure you don’t miss these key events, meet with experts, learn and enjoy yourself!
Saturday, January 7: WEP Hub Opening
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
University Library
Discover the new Hub designed to guide, inform and entertain you throughout the two weeks of WEP 2017. The opening is a great opportunity to learn more about WEP and the coming events and have fun at the same time.
Sunday, January 8: In Kingdom
Keynote lecture: Out of the Desert: My Journey from Nomadic Bedouin to the Heart of Global Oil by His Excellency Ali Ibrahim Al-Naimi
4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Auditorium (bldg. 20)
The former Ministry of Oil in the Kingdom will comment on his forthcoming autobiography that covers his first job as a shepherd boy to his appointment to one of the most powerful political and economic jobs in the world.
Discover Saudi Arabia: The Egyptian Pilgrimage Road – lunchtime lecture and exhibit opening
12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Auditorium (bldg. 20)
The Challenges and Future of SABIC by Khalid Al-Bahily
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Lecture hall 2325, Engineering Science Hall (bldg. 9)
Monday, January 9: Universe Exploration
Keynote lecture: The Voyager Journey to Interstellar Space by Ed Stone, followed by “Apollo 13” screening
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Auditorium (bldg. 20)
Project scientist for the Voyager mission, Ed Stone lead the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and became famous through explaining the Voyager’s scientific discoveries to the public.
Creating a Personal Pathway to Innovation – By David Paredes
9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Lecture hall 2325, Engineering Science Hall (bldg. 9)
Can origami be a source of innovation? – Lunchtime lecture by David Dureisseix 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Lecture hall 2322, Engineering Science Hall (bldg. 9)
Tuesday, January 10: Ingenuity and Creativity
Keynote lecture: Innovation at UNICEF: How to Help Balance an Asymmetric World by Christopher Fabian
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Auditorium (bldg. 20)
A technologist and innovator who co-leads UNICEF’s Innovation Unit, Christopher Fabian will explain how science, technology and venture investment can benefit children and the world.
Creativity and Innovation in Engineering and Science with Carlos Santamarina, Adam Green, Juan Rogers, Marci Segal
2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Auditorium (bldg. 20)
Wednesday, January 11: Mega Projects
Keynote lecture: Hyperloop: The Future of Transportation by Dirk Ahlborn
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Auditorium (bldg. 20)
The founder and CEO of Jumpstarter Inc. presents a new way to move people or things anywhere in the world quickly, safely, efficiently and on-demand with minimal impact to the environment.
Mega Projects in Saudi: the new Jeddah airport, high-speed railway, Mecca extension, King Faisal hospital renovation.
2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Auditorium (bldg. 20)
Chinese painting and calligraphy lecture and exhibition opening
3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
University Library
Thursday, January 12: Arts and Creativity
Keynote lecture: Pushing the Limits of Kinetic Arts: Strandbeests by Theo Jansen
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Auditorium (bldg. 20)
Theo Jansen’s beests are kinetic sculptures created from plastic tubing, water bottles and pipes and survive on their own. These herds live on beaches all around the world.
An Evening of Improvisation, a performance by members of the BATS School of Improv, San Francisco
Free building with LEGO Bricks
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
University Library
Exhibitions
At the WEP Hub, the first week is devoted to creation with three exhibitions, LEGO challenges, origami and painting and calligraphy workshops.
- KAUST, an Oasis for Birds – photography exhibition
University Library
- Chinese painting and calligraphy exhibition by Tian Qin
University Library
WEP on the weekend
Drone Race
4:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 14
Safaa Stadium
VR Hackathon open house
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 14
Conference Center (bldg. 19), lecture halls 1, 2 and 3
This selection only scratches the surface of 2017’s first week of WEP. You can learn more about all our events and register by visiting our website.
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The Enrichment Team