I am pleased to announce that KAUST’s 2025 Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) will be chaired by Professor Michael Berumen and co-chaired by Professor Deanna Lacoste. Next year’s WEP will run from January 12 to 23, 2025, with the theme “Outliers.”
Michael Berumen is a Professor of Marine Science at KAUST and Associate Dean of the Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division. He has been the Director of the KAUST Red Sea Research Center for several years. His research interests are focused on coral reef ecology, including larval connectivity in coral reef fishes, movement ecology of marine organisms, and biodiversity and biogeography of coral reef ecosystems. These projects utilize techniques ranging from in-situ observations to comparative genomics. He is part of an international team developing techniques to track the dispersal patterns of larval fish, and he advises key stakeholders on making scientifically informed conservation decisions.
Deanna Lacoste is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at KAUST and the Chair of the Mechanical Engineering Program. Professor Lacoste‘s research interests are plasma-assisted combustion and flame dynamics, with special emphasis on controlling thermoacoustic instabilities by non-equilibrium plasma discharges. She is also interested in detonation and developing optical diagnostics for combustion and electrical discharges.
About WEP
WEP is an annual two-week program that creates a lively and engaging atmosphere, taking us away from our regular activities and bringing together students, the KAUST community, national and international visitors, and eminent speakers from Saudi Arabia and around the world. WEP’s success, as always, depends on the creativity of everyone here at KAUST and will evolve from your proposal ideas selected by the WEP Committee, comprising faculty, staff and community. The WEP 2025 Call for Proposals will be sent out soon.
We look forward to hearing your creative ideas.
Please join me and the Office of Culture, Enrichment, and Engagement in thanking Michael and Deanna for chairing WEP 2025.
Suzana Nunes
Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs #WEP2025 Outliers
January 12-23, 2025