Official account of the Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division at KAUST (@KAUST_News)
Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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What happens inside corals under extreme heat?
A KAUST-led study by Dr. Max Dhillon, Dr. Shannon Klein and Professor Manuel Aranda reveals how oxygen deprivation may trigger rapid coral tissue breakdown under extreme heat, even before bleaching becomes visible.
🔗 Read the full story: discovery.kaust.edu.sa/en/ar…
#KAUST #CoralReefs #MarineScience #ClimateChange
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KAUST BESE retweeted
Two KAUST-affiliated researchers have been named 2026 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Regional Young Talents honorees, marking the fourth consecutive year of KAUST-affiliated recognition.
Congratulations to Alaa Almushaikeh and Dr. Aljawharah Alrubayyi!
Read more: kaust.news/11TBE
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KAUST BESE retweeted
Proud to be one of the founders of MEsME, the Middle East Society for Microbial Ecology & Biotechnology!
Excited to connect scientists, support young researchers, and turn microbial science into solutions for regional and global challenges.
Join us! mesme.me
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KAUST BESE retweeted
من الأبحاث الرائدة إلى الشركات الناشئة والوظائف والنمو الاقتصادي، تُحوّل كاوست العلم والابتكار إلى أثر ملموس يخدم المملكة.
اطّلع على تفاصيل هذا الإسهام في تقرير الأثر والتقييم الاقتصادي.
kaust.link/Impact-report-X
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How can plants stay fertile as temperatures rise?
Researchers in Heribert Hirt's lab have identified how a beneficial bacterium activates plants' natural heat-defense mechanisms, helping maintain reproductive performance under prolonged heat stress.
Learn more: lnkd.in/emZ_9cMW
#KAUST #PlantScience #Agriculture #ClimateResearch
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Saudi Arabia's acacia trees do more than shape the landscape. They support pollinators, honey production, wildlife and local livelihoods.
In this @ArabNews feature, BESE faculty Thomas Crowther @TWCrowther explains why protecting mature acacia woodlands is just as important as planting new trees.
"Protecting these established ecosystems should therefore always be the first priority."
Read more: arabnews.com/green-blue/beyo…
#KAUST #BESE #Biodiversity #EcosystemRestoration #SaudiArabia #Sustainability
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KAUST BESE retweeted
استثمار في العلم توثّق أثره الأرقام.
تُسهم كاوست بقيمة اقتصادية تبلغ 5.6 مليارات دولار سنويًا في اقتصاد المملكة، وتدعم نحو 28 ألف فرصة عمل، وفق تقييم مستقل للأثر الاقتصادي للجامعة.
للاطلاع: kaust.link/Impact-report-XAR
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KAUST BESE retweeted
New reports reveal KAUST generates US$5.6 billion in economic value for Saudi Arabia each year, including 28,800 jobs and US$2.2 billion direct to GDP.
Explore more: kaust.link/Impact-report-X
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What if you could recreate Mars on Earth? 🚀
Researchers in the lab of Alexandre Rosado @Rosado_AS have built a Planetary Simulation Chamber at KAUST, designed to recreate Mars-like conditions and study how life responds to extreme environments.
The insights could help advance both future space exploration and solutions to challenges here on Earth.
@WorldSpaceWeek @KAUST_News
#WorldSpaceWeek #WSW2026 #SpaceWeek #Astrobiology #SpaceBiology #KAUST
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Interested in pursuing a Master’s or PhD at KAUST? 🎓
Join the upcoming Discover KAUST – Program Focus Webinar Series and hear directly from KAUST faculty, students, and staff about our graduate programs, research opportunities, and what we look for in applicants.
🔬 BESE | 5 October
apply.kaust.edu.sa/register/……
🧬 BioMed | 6 October
apply.kaust.edu.sa/register/……
💻 CEMSE | 6 October
apply.kaust.edu.sa/register/……
⚙️ PSE | 7 October
apply.kaust.edu.sa/register/……
Choose the session closest to your field — or join more than one!
All sessions are online.
We look forward to seeing you at KAUST’s Program Focus sessions!
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KAUST BESE retweeted
روان الغامدي وبنان الحازمي، خريجتا كاوست، حصلتا على زمالة ابن خلدون للمرأة السعودية، المقدمة من معهد ماساتشوستس للتقنية وكاكست.
تطوّر روان تقنيات الاتصالات اللاسلكية للجيل القادم، فيما تعمل بنان على تطوير أغشية بوليمرية لفصل الغازات بكفاءة أعلى، بما يدعم تحوّل الطاقة في المملكة.
ar.kaust.news/10A6N
@KACST @MIT
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In BESE’s Marine Ecological Genomics course, students explored whether ordinary photographs could be used to measure coral bleaching.
What started as a course project grew into a published research paper, with all the students from the course now as co-authors.
A pretty great example of where teaching can lead.
Read the paper: link.springer.com/article/10…
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كل التهاني لوطننا الغالي في يومه الوطني، ولمسيرته الطموحة في العلم والاستدامة
"عزّنا بطبعنا" هوية أمة تصنع الابتكار وتقود التقدم. وفي كاوست، تتجسد هذه الهوية في طموحٍ يدعم الأفكار الواعدة، وعزيمةٍ تحوّل الأسئلة إلى اكتشافات تسهم في بناء مستقبل المملكة.
كل التهاني لوطننا الغالي في يومه الوطني، ولمسيرته الطموحة في العلم والاستدامة
Made with AI
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Happy Saudi National Day.
Across KAUST, we are answering difficult questions, building new capabilities and applying science, research and innovation to the Kingdom’s ambitions.
This Saudi National Day, we are inspired by the traits – courage, vision, authenticity, determination, generosity and hospitality – at the heart of our national identity and celebrate them through six members of our KAUST community.
Wishing all a proud and joyful Saudi National Day.
#SaudiNationalDay #OutPrideisInOurNature #KAUST
This Saudi National Day, KAUST celebrates the traits at the heart of Saudi Arabia's national identity and how they are reflected across our community.
Happy Saudi National Day.
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Congratulations to BESE alumni Banan Alhazmi and CEMSE alumni Rawan Alghamdi on receiving the MIT–KACST Ibn Khaldun Fellowship for Saudi Arabian Women.
A proud moment for Saudi women in STEM.
Read the full story: kaust.edu.sa/en/news/two-kau…
Two KAUST graduates, Banan Alhazmi and Rawan Alghamdi, have been awarded the MIT–KACST Ibn Khaldun Fellowship for Saudi Arabian Women.
At MIT, Rawan will advance next-generation wireless communications, while Banan will research polymeric membranes for more energy-efficient gas separations.
Read more: kaust.news/10A5u
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Saudi Arabia is the world's largest producer of desalinated water, and researchers at KAUST are exploring how artificial intelligence can make water production more efficient and sustainable, from predicting membrane performance and detecting fouling early to reducing energy use and improving process control.
Great to see this conversation featuring BESE faculty Noreddine Ghaffour and highlighting the work happening around the future of water.
Worth a read: arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/ho…
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Congratulations to BESE’s Professor Raquel Peixoto @peixotors on becoming President of Applied Microbiology International.
A well-deserved recognition of her leadership in microbial science and coral conservation.
More: appliedmicrobiology.org/reso…
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Microbial therapies could help Red Sea corals remain healthier during natural marine heatwaves.
Working in the field, the team found that both live probiotics and inactivated postbiotics improved coral health. Postbiotics are particularly promising for reef restoration because they may be easier to store, transport, and scale for broader use.
Congratulations to postdoctoral fellow @ErikaPSantoro and colleagues on this important Marine Science work.
What if helping corals withstand rising ocean temperatures could start with their microbes?
KAUST researchers found that probiotic and postbiotic treatments improved the health of heat- stressed Red Sea corals during a natural marine heat wave.
The study points to new possibilities for supporting coral resilience and restoration.
Read more: kaust.news/_-A9
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