Professor receives international honor with prestigious Kuwait Prize

Mohamed Sultan, a professor in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Western Michigan University, has been awarded the 2023 Kuwait Prize in the field of Applied Sciences – Hydrology. 

Established in 1979, this prestigious annual award fulfills one of the objectives of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS): to recognize distinguished Arab scholars and researchers and acknowledge the value of their scientific contributions to various fields of science. The Kuwait Prize is awarded in five scientific fields, four of which are annual: fundamental sciences, applied sciences, economics and social sciences, and arts and literature. The fifth field, emerging interdisciplinary science, is awarded every two years. 

This recognition underscores Sultan’s dedication and impact in the field, particularly his contributions to research in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Expressing his pride in being recognized among the other winners, Sultan said, "Thank you to all our wonderful winners – as we say in Arabic, 'you light up Kuwait.'” 

Sultan's research provides new insights into complex hydrological systems in climate-affected environments. His work employs advanced technologies to study hydrological systems in arid regions, monitor groundwater storage in the Sahara Desert and the Arabian Peninsula, assess the impact of hurricanes on groundwater recharge and analyze the effects of climate change on these systems. 

Leading the Earth Sciences Remote Sensing Lab at WMU, Sultan uses remote sensing techniques and geographic information systems to address a wide range of geological and environmental problems. His interdisciplinary research spans geochemistry, geochronology, hydrology, and surface and groundwater flow modeling, applying both computational and field methods. His work continues to inspire and influence the next generation of scientists and researchers, highlighting the importance of scientific advancement in addressing global challenges. 

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