Saudi Nobel laureate Omar Yaghi inspires young researchers at KACST

According to the Saudi Gazette, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) hosted Nobel Prize-winning chemist Professor Omar Yaghi on Thursday for an interactive session with students. The event was part of the 2026 Mawhiba Research Enrichment Program, an initiative designed to foster scientific interest among the Kingdom's youth. The gathering was attended by KACST President and Acting Governor of the Research, Development and Innovation Authority, Munir Al-Desouki, alongside other senior officials from the Saudi research and innovation sector.

During the discussion, Professor Yaghi shared insights into his academic journey, emphasizing the importance of tackling complex scientific challenges that are often dismissed as impossible. Yaghi, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2025, detailed his work on reticular chemistry and the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a field he pioneered in 1995. He encouraged the participating students to view each stage of their professional development as a new beginning, highlighting the persistence required to overcome skepticism within the global scientific community.

The event underscores Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to bolster its domestic research and development ecosystem under the Vision 2030 framework. By connecting students with internationally recognized figures like Yaghi, KACST aims to inspire the next generation of Saudi scientists to pursue careers in high-impact fields. The Mawhiba program remains a cornerstone of these efforts, providing specialized training and mentorship to gifted students across the Kingdom.