Prince Andrew, Duke of York paid a visit to KACST’s headquarters today, where he was received by Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Suwaiyel, KACST President, Dr. Abdullah Ahmad Al Rasheed, KACST Vice President for Research Support and a number of KACST officials.
Dr. Al Rasheed welcomed the visiting prince and accompanying delegation, and then elaborated on KACST’s role and its scientific and technological contributions. Through a documentary film, Dr. Al Rasheed briefed Prince Andrew on efforts exerted by KACST in fields of conducting and supporting scientific research and boosting its activities on the level of the kingdom besides KACST’s achievements in a number of science and technology fields.
Then, Prince Andrew was escorted to the National Center for Nano-Technology Research where he listened into a detailed explanation of the objectives of the center, its contents of laboratories including the electronic microscopes, the applied work mechanism and going on researches such as the project of water desalination membranes carried out in collaboration with the global IBM corporation besides the joint project of the solar cells. He also reviewed nano- particles and constructions and scopes of KACST cooperation with world advanced universities and institutions in this scope.
Specialists of  Petroleum and Petrochemicals Research Institute gave Prince Andrew a brief review on a number of the institute’s projects and unites such as the Clean Fuel Unit where KACST researchers could develop nano-incentives to produce clean fuel free from sulfur  , nitrogen and aromatic compounds using nano-technology besides producing additives to enhance the quality of gasoline and diesel fuels The visiting prince concluded his visit to the Institute by inspecting the project of recycling plastics and making full use of them in various useful products.