In collaboration with the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), a lecture entitled “The Scientific Journey: Lessons and Experiences Along the Way” was delivered by Dr. Marcia McNutt, President of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, as part of the series of events accompanying the Engineering Design Exhibition at the College of Engineering – Kuwait University. The event was attended by the Director General of KFAS, Dr. Ameenah Al-Farhan, the Dean of the College of Engineering and Petroleum, Dr. Adel Malallah, and several university leaders, with a notably large and distinguished audience. The lecture took place on Thursday, 8 January 2026, at the College of Engineering Theater in Sabah Al-Salem University City.

The speaker was introduced with reference made to her previous visit to the State of Kuwait nearly nineteen years ago, when she delivered a lecture dedicated to women working in the scientific field. Speakers also highlighted her distinguished career and numerous achievements, emphasizing her status as an inspiring figure in science, a prominent researcher who has held several senior leadership positions, served as a professor at renowned international universities, and contributed to breaking barriers and effecting real change within her field.

At the outset of her address, Dr. McNutt expressed her gratitude to the event host for the introductory remarks and thanked Dr. Ameenah Al-Farhan for the partnership with the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS). She also expressed her appreciation for the warm reception and generous hospitality she received in Kuwait. She explained that the lecture did not focus solely on scientific aspects, but was delivered in light of her approaching retirement, prompting her to reflect on the lessons and experiences gained throughout her professional journey and to share them with students and faculty members, with particular emphasis on young people.

In this context, she described Kuwait as fortunate due to the relatively small size of its community, noting that openness to the wider world reveals the vast number of scientists and researchers globally. She presented several points to help researchers in Kuwait keep pace with global developments, including venturing into unfamiliar fields and introducing new ideas, charting an individual career path, and engaging with experts across disciplines to build scientific networks and establish professional credibility.

She also encouraged young people to embrace the disruptive, as this contributes to broadening perspectives and developing critical thinking, warning that intellectual stagnation leads to decline and erosion of thought. She stressed the importance of researchers understanding their core priorities and the role they play in conducting scientific research, enabling them to define their priorities with clarity.

In closing, she highlighted the dangers of compromising credibility, urging careful selection of friends and professional partners, and cautioning against being misled by appearances that seem too good to be true. She emphasized honesty in scientific research, the importance of awareness, and protecting one’s reputation by all possible means. She concluded by encouraging the audience to believe in themselves, affirming that those who do not believe in themselves will not earn the confidence of others. The lecture then concluded with an open session for questions and discussion with the audience.