What is the science behind our body’s biological clock? What role does it play in food, sleep, stress, how we age and even how we rejuvenate? Interested individuals can find out the answers to these questions and more at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology’s (KAUST) annual festival of science, the Winter Enrichment Program (WEP), running from Jan. 13-24.
Online audiences in the Kingdom and internationally have the opportunity to explore the topic of time by tuning into all of the keynote lectures, in addition to in-depth live interviews on Facebook and YouTube.
“Time is perhaps the most universal and unifying aspect of life. The inspiration for this year’s festival came from the idea of proposing reflection on how different aspects of what we measure or perceive as time impacts people and how science and culture can help to improve quality of life,” said Chair of the Winter Enrichment Program Dr. Valerio Orlando, professor of bioscience at KAUST.
“Visitors can also explore what we call consciousness, the basis of intelligence and representation of reality, the fundamental questions regarding the universe and those global values that we learn from history that make humanity one thing.”
The festival will play host to 12 keynote lectures by international experts on sleep, consciousness, nutrition, the universe, dreams, society and history, including a Nobel laureate, a McLaren Formula 1 racing driver as well as writers, artists, film makers, curators and creators. Keynote lectures are complemented by workshops, exhibitions, virtual reality and immersive displays.
Speakers at the KAUST festival of science include: Dr. Michael Young, Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine; Lando Norris, Formula 1 Driver, McLaren; Jonathan Neale, chief operating officer, McLaren; Dava Sobel, best-selling author; Dr. Priyamvada Natarajan, professor in the departments of astronomy and physics at Yale University; Dr. John Ellis, professor of theoretical physics, King’s College London; Dr. Paolo Sassone-Corsi, director of the Center for Epigenetics and Metabolism, University of California; Dr. Juan Carlos Belmonte, director of the Development and Stem Cells Biology Laboratories, Salk Institute; Dr. Giulio Tononi, professor and director of the Wisconsin Institute for Sleep and Consciousness; Dr. Karen Ashe, director of the N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research; Dr. David Rooney, former curator of timekeeping at the Royal Observatory Greenwich; and Noëmi Daucé, chief curator at Louvre Abu Dhabi in-charge of archaeology.
“This exciting festival of expansive thinking, coordinated, programmed and produced by our university, will bring distinguished keynote speakers, thought leaders, guests, conversations, ideas, inspiration and new knowledge to our students, our faculty and many others throughout Saudi Arabia and internationally,” said Dr. Tony Chan, president of KAUST.
KAUST time-themed festival of science
KAUST time-themed festival of science
ALJ Motors champions Toyota SUVs’ off-road legacy
Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, the authorized distributor of Toyota vehicles in Saudi Arabia since 1955, has launched the second edition of its off-road initiative — an immersive driving experience designed to engage guests and showcase the real-world capabilities of Toyota’s SUV lineup in the Kingdom’s desert terrains. The activation takes place on weekends, starting initially in Riyadh and continuing through Jeddah, before concluding in Dammam on Jan. 24.
The multi-city activation is designed to engage guests through Toyota’s SUV lineup in fun and exciting ways, offering a hands-on opportunity to experience vehicle performance, control, and versatility. The lineup features a wide range of Toyota SUV models, including the Land Cruiser HEV Max, a hybrid vehicle built for performance. Beyond the off-road drives, the activation offers a welcoming weekend setting with supporting activities suitable for families and younger guests, creating a well-rounded experience for visitors of all ages.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition, which welcomed more than 4,500 participants and attracted over 10,000 attendees, the second edition continues to focus on meaningful guest engagement through interactive and experiential driving activities while emphasizing safety, trust, and enjoyment. Through this approach, ALJ Motors champions Toyota’s off-road legacy while creating an experience that further connects guests with Toyota’s renowned SUV lineup.
Shahad Nassier, managing director of marketing communications at ALJ Motors, said: “Following the strong response to the inaugural season, the return of this off-road experience allows us to continue engaging our guests in an authentic and exciting way. In this second edition, we have further refined the driving routes and elevated the overall experience to better serve our guests and their families. By bringing Toyota’s SUV lineup into real desert environments, we provide an opportunity for guests to experience vehicle performance firsthand, while reinforcing the values of reliability and capability that have long defined Toyota’s presence in the Kingdom.”
The experiential initiative deepens guest relationships, supports informed vehicle choice, and reflects ALJ Motors’ ongoing role in delivering reliable and diversified mobility solutions across the Kingdom, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
Guests interested in participating in the off-road experience can register for the upcoming activations in Jeddah on Jan. 9-10, followed by Dammam on Jan. 16-17 and 23-24, through ALJ Motors’ official social channels.
