KACST partners with NASA Lunar Science Institute

Riyadh, December 16, 2009 SPA -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz
City for Science and Technology (KACST) and NASA Lunar Science Institute have
signed a joint statement that allows for collaboration in lunar and asteroid
science research.


The partnership recognizes the Saudi Lunar and Near-Earth Object Science Center as
an affiliate partner with the NASA Lunar Science Institute at NASA’s Ames
Research Center in Moffett Field, California.


“This collaboration is within the scope of the Memorandum of Understanding on
Science and Technology signed between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United
States of America last year and later ratified by the Council of Ministers,” said
Dr. Turki Bin Saud Bin Mohammed Al-Saud, Vice President for Research Institutes,
KACST.


“The international interest in lunar science and, more recently, near Earth
objects led to the establishment of the Saudi Lunar and Near Earth Object Science
Center as a focal point for lunar science and NEO (Near Earth Objects) studies in
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, we are looking forward to our expanding
collaboration with NASA for the benefit of both countries”, he added.


“NASA’s Lunar Science Institute exists to conduct cutting-edge lunar science
and train the next generation of lunar scientists and explorers,” said Greg
Schmidt, institute deputy director at Ames. “Our international partnerships are
critical for meeting these objectives, and we are very excited by the important
science, training and education that our new Saudi colleagues bring to the NASA
Lunar Science Institute.”


“This is an important advance in our growing program of bilateral science and
technology cooperation,” said U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia James Smith. “It
will help realize President Obama’s goal, expressed in his June 4 speech to the
Muslim world, of increasing our cooperation on science and technology, which we
believe closely corresponds to King Abdullah’s vision.”
--SPA