10.2 OPERATIONS
Supporting the needs of our community
KAUST Family and Child Support Center ( FCSC ) was inaugurated in October 2022 to support KAUST community parents , children and young people aged 18 months to 18 years with additional needs . The center features an activity room , a therapeutic service area , a parent and family room , and a sensory experience room , and was created to foster neurodiverse children who need further support to develop their language , academic , social , emotional or behavioral skills .
The center was created to answer parental requests within the KAUST community . During 2021 the
Community Life department released the Inclusive Community Survey , aimed at community members with a disability , those who care for someone with a disability , and those who wanted to share their thoughts and expressed an interest in volunteering on the topic . From all respondents , the main disability themes encountered within the KAUST Community were Autism / Aspergers , ADD / ADHD , Behavioral , Emotional & Speech difficulties .
Including accessibility in smart design
The KAUST Smart Home is a collaborative project that merges smart technologies with humancentric design . Finished in 2021 , the house was built to trial technological and design living concepts centered around human experience while addressing urban sustainability challenges . On top of the implemented technologies for water and energy saving , which granted the house LEED Platinum certification , the house ’ s design was influenced by community discussions around accessibility .
For this reason , the house features an entrance ramp and lowered access to mail and drone delivery box , has its entire ground floor leveled , and includes modular room dividers that allow rooms to be repurposed based on the resident ’ s needs . The lighting , AC and other technologies installed in the house can also be controlled by a touchscreen remote , making the living experience of people with physical disabilities fully accounted for .
Left to right : TWAS Council members Moctar Tour , and Sabah AlMomin , TWAS President Mohamed H . A . Hassan , KAUST President Tony Chan , KAUST Distinguished Professor Takashi Gojobori and TWAS Council member Manuel Limonta at the 15th General Conference
Inclusive engagement opportunities around science
KAUST ’ s researchers and community members came together in 2022 with the Thuwal and Jeddah communities to celebrate science in a
Science Festival that was the first of its kind , counting with 7000 + visitors . People of all ages experienced three days of vibrant and diverse activities including various science exhibits , daily evening science shows , eight inspiring talks from KAUST faculty , STEAM challenges , and science projects that were displayed by The KAUST School ’ s students . The event united entire communities around science celebration .
KAUST Smart Home
Inclusive educational platforms and resources
The KAUST AccessAbility Services ( AAS ) was launched in the Fall of 2022 to provide access for all KAUST students with disabilities or temporary debilitating injuries to activities , programs , and facilities across campus . Through partnerships with students , faculty , and staff , the AAS facilitates students ’ self-determination and selfadvocacy , to encourage independence and enhance opportunities for student success . AAS supports students with different types of disabilities including sensory , motor , cognitive , and psychological impairments .
10.3 ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH
Supporting scientific excellence in developing regions
In November 2021 , KAUST co-organized and hosted the
15th General Conference of The World Academy of Sciences ( UNESCO-TWAS ). The online event , run in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank ( IsDB ), and the TWAS team in Italy aimed to support TWAS ’ s goal of promoting scientific capacity and excellence for the sustainable development of developing countries . The event featured several distinguished figures in science policy , ministers and international policymakers , which discussed topics such as digital inclusion , and financing frontier science and innovation in the global south .
Science Festival at Thuwal
Raising awareness and understanding
KAUST organizes several awareness campaigns all year round , some of them addressing mental and physical disabilities . The
Dyslexia Awareness Week counted with several activities such as movie screenings , community discussion session , and games covering dyslexia education and awareness . The
World Autism Awareness Day was celebrated at The KAUST School and wider community with similar activities , celebrating and raising awareness of the gift that neurodiversity brings to a community .
25 | KAUST SDG HIGHLIGHT REPORT