The MIT Club of Saudi Arabia held its 17th Annual Dinner Meeting in Riyadh on March 15, 2015. The event was hosted by the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC). The guest of honor and keynote speaker for the event was Professor L. Rafael Reif, 17th President of MIT.
At the beginning of the event, Mr. Samer Al-Ashgar, president of KAPSARC, briefly introduced the center. KAPSARC was founded as a non-profit global institution for independent research into the economics of energy, to contribute to societal well being and prosperity.
After that, HE Abdullatif bin Ahmed Al-Othman, president of the MIT Club of Saudi Arabia, welcomed the guests and introduced MIT, emphasizing the university’s significant role in advancing scientific research and global prosperity since its founding 150 years ago. HE then presented Professor Reif, whose keynote speech focused on the university’s collaborations across the globe, and its noteworthy relationship to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has spawned multiple initiatives within the university, notably the Abdul Latif Jameel World Water and Food Security Laboratory (J-WAFS) and Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL).
After the speech, Prof. Reif took part in a Q&A session moderated by Eng. Samer Al-Ashgar, President of KAPSARC.
About the MIT Club of Saudi Arabia
The MIT Club of Saudi Arabia was established in 1998. From a modest start, membership has steadily grown to over 80 members as of the beginning of 2008. Those members have MIT degrees in diverse disciplines and work in a variety of professions within Saudi Arabia. The objective of the club is to foster social and intellectual interaction between members, promote leadership programs in business and technology in Saudi Arabia, and support programs at MIT that promote cultural tolerance and understanding.