[ad_1]
Like the Pen Association of Diaspora Poets, founded by Arab poets in New York at the turn of the last century, in 2010 expatriate Arab academics created the Association for Scientific and Technological Progress in the Arab World (SASTA ). , which aims to bring together Arab energies and skills residing in the diaspora to support scientific research in the Arab world.
The founders of “SASTA” believe that it is not possible to achieve a scientific renaissance in our Arab world without the active and pioneering participation of foreign academics, because they live at the heart of the transformations and scientific events taking place within international universities. and the major scientific research centers of the world.
Although the beginnings were not as bright as the owners wanted due to many problems and obstacles, the association has started in recent years to regain its luster thanks to many projects and scientific programs that are in the works.
The owners of the association specify that the main task of “SASTA” is to recruit all possible means from experts and non-governmental organizations in order to contribute to a qualitative take-off of scientific research in the Arab world.
SASTA members during a working session of the League of Arab States (Al-Jazeera)From Qatar
Iraqi Dr Wael Al-Dulaimi, professor of public health at the University of California at San Diego in the United States, said in a telephone statement to Al Jazeera Net: “The idea arose at a conference hosted by the Qatar Foundation in the capital Doha for the benefit of expatriate scientists in 2006, which aimed to discuss how to involve academics in the diaspora in the development of a Qatar Scientific Renaissance project.
In 2007, the second edition was organized, during which were presented programs and projects that could help to support the scientific research sector in the country. According to Dr Al-Dulaimi, many institutes and scientific research centers there have been the fruit of this activity. . After these two conferences, many academics agreed to expand the idea of the Qatar Foundation from a national project to one that includes all Arab countries.
After numerous meetings which brought together academics at the World Economic Forum in 2009 in Switzerland, then in Jordan the same year, Yemeni Dr. Hilal Al-Ashwal was chosen to lead the association for a short period before returning to Al -Dulaimi to coincide with the registration of the association in America in 2010 under the name of Sasta or (Society for the Advancement of Science and Technology in the Arab World (SASTA).
Members of Sasta in an interview with Nabil Elaraby, former secretary general of the Arab League (Al-Jazeera)Lack of funding and political unrest
Dr Al-Dulaimi believes that the launch started with great enthusiasm, as two major conferences were held at the League of Arab States in Cairo in 2011 and 2012, during which high-end scientific research projects and programs and distinguished and innovative ideas were presented. , in which scientists from the region participated in 3 disciplines: energy, health and technology.
But the university was unable to fund the project due to the problems facing the Arab world during this period, as the political conditions that characterized the region after the events of the Arab Spring affected the quality and quality. cooperation.
Al-Dulaimi claims that it is not possible to achieve a scientific renaissance in the Arab world or in any of the regions of the third world without the participation of emigration academics, as they are at the heart of scientific events and know better what is going on. in terms of scientific innovations and trends in the world of scientific research.
In the United States, for example, as Al-Dulaimi asserts, Arab scientists are considered among the most active and innovative scientists in their fields, and there are scientific studies which have confirmed that most of the members of the the Arab diaspora community are intellectuals and researchers, unlike many other communities.
Dr Al-Dulaimi explains: “Each Arab country is doing its own thing. Some countries have embarked on the path of scientific renaissance, but this is not enough. We always call for cooperation between these countries to achieve integration, and this requires political will which is not currently available. “
Dr. Wael Al-Dulaimi and a number of academics with Jordanian Queen Rania on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (Al-Jazeera)Dr Dajani touches
Jordanian Dr. Rana Al-Dajani was not part of the founding team of “SASTA”, but her presidency in September 2019 gave her new life, as several prestigious scientific projects and programs were launched during her tenure. mandate.
Dajani says that the existence of a network that benefits from the experience of academics in the diaspora to support scientific research in our Arab world is necessary because the contributions of expatriates are essential to the achievement of the scientific renaissance.
She was chosen to lead the association for a limited period as she is currently studying at Richmond University and Harvard University, and after returning to her original post at Hashemite University of Jordan, a new president will be elected.
Currently, among the members of the SASTA board, we find brilliant scientists in their field, such as the Jordanian Omar Yaghi, professor of chemistry at the University of Berkeley, and the Algerian Kamel Toumi, professor of robotics at the University. from MIT.
The association also exceptionally supports young cards such as Dr Jawad Al-Kharraz, research director at the Middle East Institute for Seawater Desalination in Bahrain, and Alia Abu Kiwan, a young researcher living in Germany, which is leading a project to simplify media science.
Dr Rana Al-Dajani (second from right) with a group of young people in some activities (Al-Jazeera)Scientific projects and programs on the horizon
In addition to the scientific reports that it publishes from time to time, SASTA has participated in many scientific projects and launched many quality programs, some of which are in preparation.
Among the most important of these projects: the establishment of an electronic university for refugee researchers who have had to emigrate for several reasons, whether in the Arab world or abroad, a project still in preparation because it requires support. important financial.
Dr Dajani returned saying that the association is currently working on the organization of a major conference next spring, in which many associations of diaspora scientists from countries such as France, Spain and Japan will participate. , in cooperation with the Italian Authority “TWAS”, the Third World Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
She explained that the association cooperates with many scientific organizations and societies inside and outside the Arab world, with UNESCO, for example, and the SHE Center for Sustainability in Health Education. .
Al-Dajani spoke about a project with the Dana Farber Cancer Center at Harvard University, where she is cooperating with him on a project related to health, education and women, and the Catalyst 2030 (2030) network which works in the field of sustainable development.
SASTA is also a supporter of Arab Science Week, World Science Forum and many major science events such as the Phi Conference on Scientific Research and Innovation, and has contributed to many scientific journals.
Participation in a session on health at the World Economic Forum in Jordan alongside Princess Dina Mired (Al Jazeera)
Young Arab researchers from the diaspora
SASTA strives to provide assistance to all young researchers who encounter difficulties in adapting in the diaspora.
Dr Dajani says the association supports Arab researchers seeking help, whether they are from Syria, Yemen or others who have been forced to leave their country, as it has established cooperation with “Tawas “as part of the” Displaced Scientist “. project, which aims to support researchers who have immigrated by force.
But all of these projects still face a funding gap, according to Dajani, who confirmed that the association is nonprofit and relies primarily on grants and donations.
“Unfortunately, we in the Arab world are still far behind in this aspect of funding science projects. Unlike in America, the private sector’s contribution to funding research and science projects within our Arab world is still very small, and this is for several reasons, including the lack of awareness of the importance of science and research, ”she said. Arab scientists and researchers, especially those who reside there.
Dr Dajani (right) with Egyptian scientist Dr. Amal Amin (Al Jazeera)SASTA continuity policy
What is remarkable in the work policy of SASTA is that it is based in its work and the continuity of its programs on the initiatives of the members.Any project can only be launched if it is issued by the ‘one of the members, who after its acceptance will be the supervisor and the first person in charge of its implementation.
Dajani says: “SASTA projects belong to the member, and it is our policy because the president changes and the members stay, everyone walks in their path. It is our strategy to ensure continuity because it is based on member, and this philosophy works in many European and American universities which attach great importance to academics when appointed to boards of directors. It can also attract distinguished scholars from abroad to Harvard University, students and graduates are those who have raised its status, not the dean or the This policy is not found in the Arab world, where there is currently no university which, for example, recruits eminent researchers or academics.
[ad_2]
Source link
