Dhahran conference bridges gap between research, innovation

DHAHRAN: The Global Students Research Conference, organized by King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, is taking place in Dhahran from Feb. 4-6.

Btoul Al-Khalil, executive leader of the conference and a bioengineering major, said the student-led initiative aimed to “bridge the gap between students and research, because we want research to be for everyone.”

The event, focused on advancing scientific research and its impact, has brought together over 300 participants from Saudi Arabia, Russia, South Korea and North America.

It has featured top researchers, industry leaders and students exploring disruptive technologies, with panel discussions, exhibitions and a hackathon to solve real-world problems using creative thinking and teamwork.

Notable speakers have included Prof. Richard Bush from NEOM who discussed “creating sustainable products, economic growth, and lower environmental impact,” and Nasir Shafiq, who delivered a keynote on “disrupting the business landscape.”

Conference speaker Harmeen Mehta said: “What I like about this conference is two things. One, students are passionate enough to want to understand beyond just their academics. Two, they want to know more than what they’ve already learned from their teachers.”

Her role stemmed from a desire to help students bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world applications.

“For corporate individuals like me, this is a bit of paying it forward because in college, you learn a lot but can’t always link it to the practical implications in the real world,” she said.

Mehta added she was impressed by the students, especially one from Algeria who presented a solution for a hip disease that makes traditional hip replacements impractical for young people.

“What I learned from the students is that the youth here have incredibly innovative ideas,” she said.