January 14|25 2018
The future of blurred boundaries between humans and machines is a recurrent theme in science fiction. This future is today.
Join us for two weeks of discussions, lectures, workshops, exhibitions, and cultural and recreational events that will inspire our shared vision for a brighter, human-machine future.
Is the future human?
Sensors monitor our state, health and behavior, relaying this data to configure a digital signature that is as much part of us as our biometric traits. Fed at petabyte levels, our digital signatures allow increasingly powerful machine learning algorithms to learn from the continuous data streams we generate and anticipate our needs and behaviors as consumers.
Machine learning algorithms can increasingly mimic the function of our brain and will soon establish a direct interface that allows for the seamless control of robots. Robots are endowed with powerful sensorial capacities in order to interact with other humans, as well as their robotic avatars, through virtual networks that may eventually replace much of our human-to-human interactions.
While this human-machine future offers to bring about unlimited potential, it also creates risks—of losing our privacy and the social traits inherent to our human nature. We live in a world where machines are increasingly embedded in our everyday lives. Machines shape our individual identities, social interactions, and society as a whole. During the 2018 Winter Enrichment Program (WEP), we invite you to immerse yourself in a diverse and stimulating program, touching on the opportunities and risks of a future where the boundaries between machines and humans will become even more diffuse.
Advanced Running Academy 3/3
Location: Harbor Sports Club
Advanced runners, register now to improve your running techniques with an Olympic runner This advanced running academy is managed by Saudi Olympic professional runner, Abdullah A ... more
Program Your Own Swarm 3/3
Location: Bldg. 9 Computer Lab 2221 ≤ 18
Program Your Own Swarm of (Simulated) Robots Swarm robotics is the study of multi-robot systems inspired by animal collectives (e.g. ants and bees). One of the main ideas of swarm robotics is that th ... more
The Science of Storytelling 5/5
Location: Spine Auditorium between Buildings 4 & 5
Science and technology have vital roles to play in helping solve the world’s great challenges Science and technology have great potential for solving local and global issues. In order to contri ... more
Make Your Stuff Talk: Workshop & Hackathon 3/5
Location: University Library, Level 3, Computer Lab 3134 ≤ 33
Workshop & Hackathon The modern interface between humans and machines is rapidly changing with new developments such as voice control, conversational user interfaces, as well as networked haptic ... more
Cornell Entrepreneurship 9/14
Location: Building 19, Level 3, Conference Hall 1 & 2
KAUST Cornell Entrepreneurship Program KAUST is pleased to announce a partnership with Cornell University’s Johnson School of Management to offer a certificate program in entrepreneurship. Thi ... more
Visualizing the Human Machine Future Exhibition - JAN 18
Location: WEP HUB (University Library)
About this Exhibition This exhibition will focus on visualization from the viewer’s perspective and will showcase photographs and scientific illustrations. It will be dispalyed from& ... more
Knowing How to See Exhibition - JAN 18
Location: Al-Khawarizmi East (Bldg. 1), Entrance Hall
Photography is a Bridge Between Art and Mathematics The starting point of this exhibition is to translate the language and the insights of mathematics into photographic images and vice versa. ... more
Facebook On-Air Interview with Jeffrey Schnapp
Location: WEP HUB (University Library)
The KAUST Facebook On-Air Series with Jeffrey Schnapp *Speaker to be confirmed Jeffrey is the founder/faculty director of metaLAB (at) Harvard University, Chief Executive Officer, and co-founder of ... more
Underwater Robots that Explore the Oceans - Tour 1
Location: Building 27 at the Parking lot
The Coastal and Marine Resources Core Lab operates and maintains many underwater vehicles for use in scientific applications. The lab has several gliders, which are used for continuous and autonomous ... more
Aramco Robotics Lab Tour & Presentation 1
Location: Innovation Cluster III (Bldg. 24) - Lobby in front of the Coffee Bean
The Intelligent Systems Team is a part of Saudi Aramco’s Research and Development Department and is one of three research groups that are based at KAUST in the innovation cluster. The team was f ... more
Underwater Robots that Explore the Oceans - Tour 2
Location: Building 27 at the Parking lot
The Coastal and Marine Resources Core Lab operates and maintains many underwater vehicles for use in scientific applications. The lab has several gliders, which are used for continuous and autonomous ... more
Underwater Robots that Explore the Oceans - Tour 3
Location: Building 27 at the Parking lot
The Coastal and Marine Resources Core Lab operates and maintains many underwater vehicles for use in scientific applications. The lab has several gliders, which are used for continuous and autonomous ... more
The Role of Machines in Fitness and Training
Location: WEP HUB (University Library)
Join us for a discussion with Amal Baatia, Abdullah Aljoud and Ebtisam Bakhsh Amal is the first Saudi female cross-fit coach in the country, Abdullah is a Saudi runner who competed in the 2 ... more
Aramco Robotics Lab Tour & Presentation 2
Location: Innovation Cluster III (Bldg. 24) - Lobby in front of the Coffee Bean
The Intelligent Systems Team is a part of Saudi Aramco’s Research and Development Department and is one of three research groups that are based at KAUST in the innovation cluster. The team was f ... more
Interactive Virtual Reality Art Exhibit: Google Tilt Brush - JAN 18
Location: WEP HUB (University Library)
Paint Inside a Virtual World with Google Tilt Brush Virtual reality is at the frontier of novel human machine interfaces. At this interactive exhibit you can paint inside a virtual world. By e ... more
VR Lounge is Saudi Arabia’s first virtual reality (VR) gaming hub and lounge. What is VR? Well it’s rather quite simple; it’s a simulated environment in which a user is immersed thro ... more
Movability or Autonomy for Humans
Location: Bldg. 20 Auditorium
A human-centered approach to the design of smart robotic vehicles Contrary to the feverish promises of early 20th century futurists, the romance of the road has driven humanity down a dead end. ... more
Alumni Lecture Series
Location: Bldg. 9 Lecture Hall 2322 ≤ 154
Join us for the annual Alumni Lecture Series, a highlight in the University’s event calendar! We welcome the return to KAUST of five alumni who’ll present highlights from their work in bu ... more
Cornell Entrepreneurship 10/14
Location: Building 19, Level 3, Conference Hall 1 & 2
KAUST Cornell Entrepreneurship Program KAUST is pleased to announce a partnership with Cornell University’s Johnson School of Management to offer a certificate program in entrepreneurship. Thi ... more
Facebook On-Air Interview with Oussama Khatib
Location: WEP HUB (University Library)
The KAUST Facebook On-Air Series with Oussama Khatib *Speaker to be confirmed Oussama Khatib is the Director of the Robotics Lab at Stanford University. Facebook On-Air consists of ... more
The KAUST Farmers Market, part of the sustainable food movement, will feature on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 locally sourced produce, nuts, seeds, honey, and fresh fish for purchase. This ev ... more
Video Conference Lecture by Robert Langer
Location: Building 19, Level 3, Conference Hall 3
Robert Langer is an Institute Professor at MIT. His h-index of 233 is the highest of any engineer in history and he has over 1,130 issued and pending patents worldwide and his patents have licens ... more
Short Concert on Stage – Klungbot, the Robot
Location: Bldg. 20 Auditorium
About this Musical Performance A Klungbot robot will offer a musical performance prior to the keynote lecture The Age of Human-Robot Collaboration: Deep Sea Exploration by Oussama Khatib, Director of ... more
The Age of Human-Robot Collaboration: Deep Sea Exploration
Location: Bldg. 20 Auditorium
Deep Sea Exploration The promise of oceanic discovery has intrigued scientists and explorers for centuries, whether to study underwater ecology and climate change, or to uncover natural resources and ... more
The Science of Storytelling Awards
Location: Bldg. 20 Auditorium
Science and technology have great potential for solving local and global issues. In order to contribute effectively to social debates, decision making it is critical that scientists be able to convey ... more
Beginners Running Academy 3/3
Location: Harbor Sports Club
Beginner runners, register now to improve your running techniques with an Olympic runner This beginners academy is managed by Saudi Olympic professional runner, Abdullah Alj ... more
