The story explores a pioneering technique called CO₂-plume geothermal (CPG). The idea is brilliant: carbon dioxide is captured and injected deep underground, where it heats up as it flows through hot rocks. Then it is produced back to surface where the heat is extracted and used to generate electricity. After this, the cold CO₂ is reinjected back into the deep underground. The result? A self-sustaining cycle that not only pulls CO₂ out of the atmosphere but transforms it into clean power—a double win for the climate on our planet and our pockets.

Powered by Purpose: KAUST Office of Sustainability Sparks the Initiative

The PSE article is just one of many in the SDG Collection made possible by the KAUST Office of Sustainability, which has initiated and coordinated the project, bringing along Frontiers for Young Minds and the United Nations Development Program as partners. Authored by KAUST experts and collaborators, the Collection aims to ensure that KAUST’s voice is part of a global platform designed to educate and inspire the next generation.

“This is about more than just publishing research—it’s about inspiring young minds to see science as both an accelerator and a pathway to sustainable development,” says Rúben Costa, Sustainability Engagement & Performance Lead at KAUST, and Lead Co-editor of the Collection alongside a panel of KAUST faculty. “By partnering with the UNDP–Saudi Arabia Country Office to create this Collection, we aim to show how KAUST’s research can inform public understanding and equip the next generation of sustainability leaders with the knowledge to drive meaningful change.”

Ruben is no newcomer to educational publishing. Between 2018 and 2022, he co-created and co-edited An Alien Place on Earth: The Red Sea as a Model for Future Oceans—the first Saudi-led and first Middle Eastern article collection featured in Frontiers for Young Minds. The project brought together over 70 KAUST researchers and engaged local children in the article review process. To date, it has recorded more than 355,000 views, highlighting both its scientific value and its impact on public engagement.

“The Collection is only halfway published, yet it’s already reached over 107,000 readers and was the focus of a featured event at UNCCD COP16—the only one to bring children to the stage. With the full Collection soon available in Arabic, we’re expanding its reach and strengthening the impact of science communication on youth across the Arab region.”

Thanks to the vision and dedication of the Office of Sustainability in reporting KAUST’s collective effort on sustainability, the university is increasingly recognized internationally for its commitments to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and is a consistent voice in global conversations on sustainability in higher education. The SDG Collection project reached Finalist status under the category “Benefitting Society” of the International Green Gown Awards 2024 and was also featured in the 2024 ISCN Best Practices Report (pp. 16–17), showcasing KAUST as a model of academic engagement in the global sustainability community.

The Youngest Minds Deserve the Best Minds

“Being part of this initiative aligns directly with KAUST’s mission to act as a catalyst for change, leveraging scientific excellence to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges,” says Finkbeiner, one of the PSE principal investigators involved in the project. “It also reinforces the university’s leadership in sustainability education, which is central to its broader commitment to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.”

Then, he adds with a smile:

“But honestly? I did it for fun. I truly believe most scientific topics can—and should—be explained to kids. If we achieve this then they get excited and want to explain to their family and friends and soon everyone grasps this incredible opportunity we have!”