Regional News
Dr. Nabil Seidah, SASTA member, awarded the prestigious Wilder-Penfield Prix du Québec "Dr. Nabil G. Seidah was awarded one of the most prestigious career achievements awards given to a scientist working in the biomedical field by the government of Quebec. … Read More
NeXXt Scholars Initiative to encourage women from predominantly Muslim countries to pursue STEM careers: In a special video address, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced the creation of the NeXXt Scholars Initiative, an innovative education initiative designed to encourage women from predominantly Muslim countries to pursue science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers at U.S. women's colleges ...Read More
One-of-its-kind laser observatory in Riyadh
The Saudi Laser Ranging Observatory at the King Abdul Aziz City of Science and Technology monitors Saudi Arabian satellites. The observatory, located 45 km northwest of Riyadh, was commissioned in 1995 and updated in 2001 with the most advanced equipment…Read More
Young Tunisian Wins Prize for Scientific Creativity and Technological Invention
A young Tunisian Akram Mourad and a Syrian doctor Madine Safi have jointly won the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (ALECSO) Prize for Scientific Creativity and Technological Invention. The award given to young Arab researchers who have achieved great accomplishments in their innovative fields, was dedicated this year to the field of energy and environment…Read More
Dr. Hassan Azzazy team wins a Prize for developing a hepatitis C
An Egyptian research team has won a prize for developing a hepatitis C test using gold nanoparticles. The test could become a cheap and rapid way to screen people and blood banks for the virus. Dr. Hassan Azzazy, chair of the chemistry department at The American University in Cairo (AUC), and his team, won third place at the Intel Global Challenge held at the University of California, Berkeley, in the United States, last month (7–10 November)…Read More
Scientists find desert cure for date disease:
Poisonous plants from the Sahara desert have proven effective in killing a fungus that is ravaging date palms in Algeria and Morocco ? raising hopes that a cure might finally have been found for the century-old problem.An Algerian research team said that four plants are effective against the fungus that causes Bayoud disease…Read More
Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, Tunisia
While elsewhere in Africa the often-heated biotechnology debate continues to unfold, largely focused on genetically modified crops, researchers at the the Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS) are busy exploring biotechnology’s wider applications – in particular, seeking practical solutions to local and regional problems in agriculture, industry, health and the environment. Published with support of The David and Lucile Packard Foundation.…Read More
20 December. Science could be both a source and beneficiary of the dramatic changes taking place in the Arab region. But progress will only take place if the movement stays true to its abiding principles of democracy and transparency…Read More
Saudi science shortages need 'proper planning'
Scientists have urged the government to prioritise needs for higher education to tackle the shortage of scientists in critical fields. Participants at an education forum held in Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia last week (27-29 November) said that proper planning, rather than more funding, would ensure that the mixture of science graduates meets the needs of the labour market.…Read More
Kuwait announces boost for higher education
Kuwait has announced a four-year plan for education — including the creation of a new university offering science and technology courses. Speaking to the Kuwait News Agency, the country's minister of education Adel Al-Tabtabai explained that the strategy included 68 projects that would cost a total of 500 million Kuwaiti Dinars (US$1.7 billion).…Read More
The winners of the L'Oreal-UNESCO Pan-Arab 2011 for Women in Science Fellowship
Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF) announced the winners of the l'Oréal-UNESCO Pan-Arab for Women in Science Fellowships program 2011. The fellowships covered 17 Arab countries and now in their second year in the Pan-Arab region, promote the importance of ensuring greater participation of women in science by offering awards to outstanding female postdoctoral researchers… Read More
ARAB STATES: New centre to tackle genetic disorders
In an effort to boost the development of education and research in inherited diseases and genetic disorders in the Arab world, a molecular medicine centre has opened in Bahrain… Read More
The blueprint includes justifications for forming a NYA, along with suggested activities, outcomes, measures of success, model principles and statutes for a hypothetical NYA… Read More
Egyptian scientists to make diabetes drug from bitter fruit - SciDev.Net
A national pharmaceutical company and the National Research Centre (NRC) signed a contract last month for the manufacture of a drug based on an extract from the fruit, which is also known as balsam pear (Momordica charantia)… Read More
Jordan centre to support tech research and innovation
The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) has launched a centre to monitor and support technology research and innovation opportunities in its member countries, and develop them in accordance with their needs.The ESCWA Technology Centre for Development (ETC), inaugurated last month (15 November) at the El Hassan Science City in Jordan, aims to help ESCWA's 14 member countries, and public and private organisations, acquire the tools to accelerate socioeconomic development, according to ETC executive director Fouad Mrad… Read More
Qatar, Spain sign deal for joint solar research projects - Energy - ArabianBusiness.com The Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) has signed a deal with Spanish counterparts to develop joint solar research projects.The agreement with the Spanish Research Centre for Energy Environment and Technology (CIEMAT) will see new ground-breaking research developed in Qatar, a statement said… Read More
African Women Scientists Honoured with Science Awards
Seven of Africa’s top women scientists have been honoured with the Kwame Nkrumah Science Awards for 2011 for outstanding achievements and valuable scientific discoveries at ceremonies to mark the founding of a new Pan African University… Read More
Anas Eshtaya from Palestine scoops top award at 2nd Annual Intel Science Competition – Arab World.
Anas Eshtaya from Palestine won the first prize for his movement and gas detection project followed by Sara Al Nasser and Hayfa Al Bassam for 2ndh and 3rd places for their projects in the fields of Medicine and Health Sciences and Behavioral Social Sciences… Read More
‘Lack of proposals, not funds, holding back scientific research’
A lack of proposals is a greater impediment to scientific research in Jordan than a lack of funds, an official from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research said on Monday. Nasri Rabadi, head of the ministry’s Scientific Research Fund, said the fund routinely fails to spend more than a small portion of its allocations because it does not receive enough requests for funding… Read More
Arab scientists call for funding for regional collaborations - SciDev.Net
Arab scientists have called for an increase in funding for research partnerships between the Arab states, whether by governments, civil society institutions or the private sector.The level of scientific collaboration in the Arab region has been minimal, leading to a duplication of efforts and limited research impact, they said at a workshop in Qatar last week (20–22 November)… Read More
Science: a force for the common good - SciDev.Net
Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan of Jordan discusses how global cooperation on science can benefit a knowledge-hungry world. Science can help to fulfil people's hopes and, properly applied, is our main defence against threats to our existence… Read More
Moroccan innovation centre aids start-ups
The Moroccan Innovation Centre (CMI) is designed to support businesses in critical sectors to implement new projects. The CMI was founded in July by the industry ministry, finance ministry and the National Agency for the Promotion of SMEs (ANPME), on the principle that encouraging innovation helps to stimulate job creation and foster a culture of entrepreneurship. .. Read More
Egyptian scientists to make diabetes drug from bitter fruit - SciDev.Net
Bitter gourd, a plant long held to have anti-diabetic properties, is to be turned into tablets that Egyptian scientists hope will provide an alternative to insulin injections. A national pharmaceutical company and the National Research Centre (NRC) signed a contract last month for the manufacture of a drug based on an extract from the fruit, which is also known as balsam pear (Momordica charantia). .. Read More
120 Arab students gather at 2nd Annual Intel Science Competition - Arab World
The 2nd Annual Intel Science Competition – Arab World gets underway today, with 120 Arab students battling out for $40,000 of prize money and six scholarships… Read More
Egypt's science city to spawn national research network - SciDev.Net
Egypt is to establish a network of universities and research centres that will collaborate with the country's planned US$2 billion science city, which is scheduled to open its doors to students in September 2012… Read More
Tunisia to boost its S&T with US$16.5 million project - SciDev.Net
The Tunisian government has launched a US$16.5 million project to support the country's scientific research and innovation systems. The three-year project, funded by the European Union, will aim to improve governance of the country's research and innovation sector, revitalise research and develop new national and international collaborations, according to Abdelaziz Rassaa, minister for industry and technology… Read More
Egypt team wins at Intel challenge for Hepatitis C detection
A team of entrepreneurs from Egypt came in third place at the seventh annual Intel Global Challenge at UC Berkeley, winning $10,000 for an innovation that can detect Hepatitis C.NanoDiagX of Egypt uses gold nanoparticles to develop a virus test that can detect Hepatitis C in less than an hour, and at one-tenth the cost of current commercial tests, according to an Intel statement… Read More
ARAB STATES: Quality low despite privatisation boom
Despite dramatic growth since the 1990s in the number of private institutions, which make up about 45% of all Arab universities and have a market size of US$1.2 billion in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates alone, these institutions continue to have little impact on the development of higher education systems in the Arab world… Read More
IRAQ: Sweeping higher education reforms planned
Iraq plans to rebuild its war-torn higher education system by giving financial and administrative independence to universities, establishing specialised institutions and allowing foreign universities to open branches in the country… Read More
In a global economy that depends on sophisticated innovation and knowledge to drive growth and wealth, a new World Bank report on higher education suggests that low- and middle-income countries should resist the temptation to establish world-class universities to cash in on research earnings and court global prestige before educating their own citizens to high tertiary standards… Read More
