WCSJ2011 – hello Doha!

Posted on 26 Jun 2011 by Mohammed Yahia

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The journey of moving the World Conference of Science Journalists 2011 from Egypt to Qatar was, to say the least, a monumental feat.

So much effort went into moving everything that the organizers had worked on for nearly a year and a half to Doha, Qatar in just three months. It often seemed like an impossible task but today all the pieces fell together. A beautiful reception dinner opened the conference, with over 600 science journalists from around the world coming down to the city of budding science.

While the last WCSJ, held in London in 2009, attracted nearly 1,000 people, the WCSJ2011 this year has the largest number of participants ever from the developing world, making it truly the first global science journalism meeting. Over 30% of the participants come from African and the Arab world actually.

I’m going to try to blog from some of the more interesting sessions here. I’m producing one session on reporting science in languages other than English (with speakers who report in Afrikaans, Arabic and Urdu) while I’ll be speaking in another session about House of Wisdom and science blogging.

Do you report on science in a local language other than English? Share your experience here – it would be helpful while producing the session!

FameLab finale creates a science buzz in Egypt

Posted on 27 Mar 2011 by Mohammed Yahia

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The second season of FameLab in Egypt came to an end yesterday in a large event held in the Cairo Opera House last night. The winners will be training to represent Egypt in the international leg of the competition, held in August during the Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK.

According to the organizers, this year’s competition saw a much greater number of applicants than last year. The contestants are tasked with presenting a scientific topic in a simple, accessible way that is easy to understand for a layperson audience in three minutes.

The room was completely packed with people who came to watch the 12 finalists make their presentations and to get a chance to vote on who walks away with the “audience prize.”

“After the revolution, I got a little bit pessimistic as I thought everyone was into politics now rather than science. Obviously, I was wrong,” said Mahmoud Abu Khedr, who won first place in the competition.

The varied presentations brought a mixed bag of interesting performances, with one contestant using a guitar and song while making his presentation, to another who drew analogues between the 2011 Egyptian Revolution and how the immune system on the body works.

Amr Salama, Egypt’s new minister for higher education and scientific research, presented the winners with their prizes, which included netbooks and blackberry phones. The winner also received a fully funded trip to attend all the Cheltenham Science Festival where the international leg of FameLab will also take place.

“I’m hoping the day would come when Egypt is organizing this international competition and the world will come to us to attend,” he said.

This year, in order to encourage more participation from students, the organizers added a special award for students. The best two presenters were selected to attend the International London Science Forum.

While the competition itself is an interesting endeavour to get people interested about science, I think the interesting part is how to capitalize on the skills taught and the talents discovered to increase science communication in Egypt. The organizers said they will be forming the “FameLab Club” which will bring together this year’s and last year’s FameLabers and encourage them to come up with ideas for science communication with the public. One of the organizers, the Research, Developmetn and Investment (RDI) programme promised to work with them on these ideas.

Did a Saudi Arabian scientist really win UN water award?

Posted on 23 Mar 2011 by Mohammed Yahia

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This blog post started very differently from what it is right now.

A few weeks ago I was very pleasantly surprised to read on the website Arab News about a Saudi Arabian female scientist winning the United Nations’ Water for Life, Best Practice Award.

I quickly found the same story on nearly every other Saudi Arabian English-language news outlet – in the exact same wordings. In short, the news piece is claiming that the researcher, Mashael bint Mohammed Saud Abdurrahman from the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), received the “Water for Life” Best Practices Award for her use of modern techniques in environment, water and desertification in her researches.

The information is then attributed to the Global Institute for Water Environment and Health (GIWEH).

Now this is where the story gets very peculiar on many levels.

1) A quick visit to the GIWEH website will find absolutely nothing on this story. I did an extensive search and there is nothing about Mashael winning that award. So the source of the news that all those news outlets have been picking up is probably wrong, and none of them have bother to check this very simple fact.

2) A second visit to the UN’s “Water for Life” website will find there is no mention at all of Mashael. In fact, the webpage announces the two winners of the “Best Practices” awards. The first is a programme in the Philippines, and the other in South Africa. None in KACST. Saudi Arabia is not even mentioned on the website. This leaves another glaring hole in the story reported and carried by dozens of media outlets.

3) The funniest part is the fact that there is no mention of the award at all on KACST’s own website. You’d think that if one of their researchers won such a prestigious award it would be over the front page of the website right away. Well it is not. It’s not even mentioned anywhere on all the website.

So did Mashael really win this award? I strongly doubt it – but if anyone can confirm this please do leave a comment. But if this is indeed a fabricated story then it brings up very important issues with regards to the quality of science journalism in the Arab world. It is a story with glaring problems that should have never appeared online without verification (and that would have been very easy).

Sadly, it was carried along through dozens of websites without a single one of them trying to check the facts of the story – which a quick, few minutes search would quickly discredit.

But if I am wrong, then I really look forward to someone pointing it out below because, right now, I am very disappointed this happened.

WCSJ2011 moves to Doha, Qatar

Posted on 20 Mar 2011 by Mohammed Yahia

The fact that the World Conference of Science Journalists 2011 (WCSJ2011) was coming to Egypt has been an ongoing source of excitement for me for the past two years. Ever since we presented our bid during the WCSJ2009 in London, UK, and won – it has been an exciting rollercoaster ride. Tiring, yes, but very very exciting.

Now, in light of the current situation in Egypt, it became impossible to hold the conference in three months in its original venue. After many heated discussions and a lot of tears shed, the organizers decided to move it to neighbouring Qatar.

The exciting conference, coming 27-29 June, is an event that science journalists wait for every two years to get together and talk and learn of all that is new in their profession. The co-bid presented by the Arab Science Journalists Association (ASJA) and the National Association of Science Writers (NASW) promises the strongest programme for a WCSJ yet.

“One of the few complaints about previous WCSJs was that sometimes the audience was more diverse than the program. So this is by far the most global conference in terms of this content, with strong presentations from not only the Arab region, but Africa, Latin America and Asia,” said Deborah Blum, the programme chair.

While many were disappointed with the move, the Qatar venue is still a very exciting option, especially for science journalists. The Arab world is, arguably, one of the most interesting regions in the world right now for emerging science. Qatar is at the forefront of this science renaissance, This science, however, is oft underreported. This will be an opportunity for visiting science journalists to report on this exciting science.

The leading WCSJ2011 sponsor, the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is also promising many surprises and opportunities for attendees. They have been strong supporters of WCSJ2011 since the very beginning. Coupled with the well-known genuine Arabian hospitality, I would say visitors are in for quite a treat!

WCSJ2011 breaks many new grounds. It is the first one to be held in an Arab state, it is the first one to come to the developing world, and I expect it will do wonders for science journalism in the region. It has already generated much interest in science journalism (which is a profession that was hardly known of in the region a few years ago).

The organizers have been traveling around the region, talking with government and non-government entities about the conference. The buzz this generated is probably the biggest gain that Arab science journalists could hope for in the future. “The amount of support and enthusiasm we’ve been receiving has been tremendous. So many regional organizations are already thinking of programs to support science journalism and the communication of science in general. A community is being created to support this profession,” said Nadia El-Awady, president of the World Federation of Science Journalists and co-director of WCSJ2011.

All in all, this year is an exciting time to be a science journalist in the Arab world.

“Before the revolution happened, we wanted to bring science journalists to the region in order to report on the science happening here. Now that the winds of change or blowing over the Arab world, we’re even more excited for participants to come to the region. We want them to see the new reality we’ve created for ourselves. We want them to see how proud we are. We want them to share our excitement and hope for a better future,” added El-Awady

How exciting can a medical career be?

Posted on 13 Mar 2011 by Mohammed Yahia

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Most students in Arab states would not be able to answer that question by the time they finish their high school. For many (me included when I was younger), going into university is a blind shot.

Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) is trying to do things different by opening their doors to students to learn more about what a medical career promises – hoping to excite them about pursuing one.

Medicine Unlimited, WCMC-Q’s annual recruitment fair which was held last week, opened the college up to students and their parents who got to interact firsthand with faculty, students and even staff members. They shared simulations and demonstrations that reviewed the workings of genes, molecules and the human body.

“We want high school students to gain an awareness of the many potential careers the fields of medicine and science can open for them. We also want them to see our facilities, which are truly world class,” Noha Saleh, director of student recruitment, said in a press release. “Our goal is to highlight the excellent program we offer here in Doha.”

Medical students used medical models and mannequins to explain to the high school students how the human body works while faculty members discussed all kinds of disorders, from psychiatry to pediatrics.

Senior biologists opened their labs to students to show them genetic engineering works while chemistry professors used balloons to help students understand the shapes of molecules and how these can affect the chemical properties of compounds. Quizzes and prizes were on location to keep people excited as well.

“Our goal is to introduce prospective students to WCMC-Q in a fun and relaxed atmosphere,” said Chris Triggle, professor of pharmacology and assistant dean for admissions, who served as master of ceremonies for the event.

Women in science in the Arab world

Posted on 08 Mar 2011 by Mohammed Yahia

Today is the 100th anniversary of the International Women’s Day – and there is no better time to celebrate the amazing influence that some women scientists are having in the Arab world. They are an aspiration to both men and women, and are true superheroes of science!

Here are a few of my favourite examples (please note, this list is far from inclusive):

Faiza Al-Kharafi

Al-Kharafi is a well-known Kuwaiti scientist who has studied in the Ain Shams University in Egypt. She has been involved in science since a young age. She won the 2011 L’Oreal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science for her work on the corrosion of metals, a problem of fundamental importance to water treatment and oil industries (and, obviously, of paramount importance to Kuwait.)

In 1993, she became president of Kuwait University, becoming the first female to head such a large educational institute in the country.

For many girls and women with ambitions in science she became a symbol and inspiration.

Today, she is the vice-president of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, and a strong supporter of female scientists in the Arab world.

Nadia El-Awady

El-Awady has often set the track for science journalism in the Arab world. A doctor by training, she moved into science journalism and became a strong supporter of this profession in the Arab world during its infancy.

Her career then is a series of “firsts”. She was the founding president of the Arab Science Journalists Association in 2007. In 2009, she became the president of the World Federation of Science Journalists, becoming the first Arab to hold this position.

During the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, she was on the front lines as a revolutionary protester and a dedicated journalist, reporting to international media outlets about the ongoings on the street on a regular basis.

Last (but definitely not least) she has been my mentor since my early days in science journalism, something I’m immensely grateful for!

Nagwa Abdel Meguid

Abdel Meguid was the first Arab laureate for the L’Oréal Awards for Women In Science. The Egyptian geneticist won the award for her research in same blood marriages (very popular in the Arab region) and their effect on the higher rate of birth defects and genetic disorders.

Women scientists are often under-represented in Egypt. On receiving the award, Abdel Meguid commented how this award was a major step for women in the Arab world. “We can and do make a difference in the international field of science and it is my hope that my achievement today is yet a further inspiration to these women,” she added.

In 1994, she introduced a new service of early intervention in the genetics department in Cairo. Children, especially those with Down Syndrome, are evaluated and their development is tracked and monitored with computer assisted techniques designed by her team. As a result regular improvements in cognitive and motor skills have been achieved, thus improving some children’s overall quality of life.

Hayat Sindi

Sindi is an inspirational young woman researcher born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. From a very young age, Sindi says she has been inspired by science and scientists, such as Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Al-Khwarizmi, Einstein and Marie Curie. Inspired by her young superheroes, Sindi chose to become a scientist to “make a difference to the world.”

She is the first woman from the Gulf States to receive a PhD in biotechnology from Cambridge University.

Hayat Sindi is today a nanotechnology researcher working to deliver affordable point-of-care diagnostic solutions to the developing world through the not-for-profit Diagnostics For All. She has invented a machine combining the effects of light and ultrasound for use in biotechnology.

She was described by Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi ambassador to the UK, as “a model Arab woman.”

Like I said earlier, there are many, many more equally inspirational Arab women scientists in the region. If you have other suggestions to add to the list, please do post in the comments section below.

But for now, lets acknowledge the important role that women scientists play in our communities – and the need to maximize on that and increase it since they still have a long way to go towards gender equality.

Government scientists: More transparency please!

Posted on 17 Nov 2010 by Mohammed Yahia

During Canada’s Right to Know Week, Kathryn O’Hara, president of the Canadian Science Writers’ Association, sent out a call on Nature asking federal scientists for more transparency. And you know what, I will send out a similar call to government scientists in Arab states: Please, science journalists cannot do their job, which is essential for yours, without more transparency.

A few years ago, I used to work in an office that was just across the street from the Egyptian National Research Centre. I remember my managing editor used to say that it is much easier to get information about goings-on in a university in the US than it is to know what is happening inside the walls of that centre. As a matter of fact, most of the research being conducted within those walls, which is funded by taxpayers’ money, still remains pretty much mysterious to all on the outside.

Recently, a science reporter who was doing a news story for Nature Middle East about the H1N1 pandemic alert cost for developing countries was offended, shooed, and mistreated when she tried to get an official position from the Ministry of Health in Egypt. Ironically, this came from the press officer of the ministry, who told her that they hated the headache the journalists cause.

This is an ever-repeated story for science journalists all over the region. Transparency when it comes to science and health issues is near non-existent. In fact, in many cases, the scientists are given specific orders by their superiors to not talk to any members of the media. I remember several times getting in touch with a researcher, only to have them tell me in a scared voice that they would be “in serious trouble” if their bosses know they gave statements to the media and thus would refuse to talk to me.

Now I understand why this is happening to a certain degree. Politicians and the government want to “look good.” They don’t want messy issues leaking to the media. However, on the other hand, this stifling of communication is overall harmful to their work.

The average person on the street has no means of knowing what kind of research is being done in their home countries. The initial impression they will get is that “nothing worthwhile is being done there.” This is unfortunate, and counterproductive to these governments that are trying to put out a good impression. Sometimes they are actually doing some really good work – but no one will hear about it, nor appreciate their efforts – unless a science journalist reports on it. If you exclude the science journalists to prevent leakage of messy information, you are inadvertently blocking all positive reporting too.

On the other hand, this shrouded air of mystery will immediately be suspicious to me – as well as practically every other science journalist. I would love to believe that excellent work is being conducted, the money is perfectly invested, the research is helping the country and everything is going all dandy. But when I’m prevented – sometimes violently – from seeking any information on a certain topic, I can’t help but feel suspicious. It’s only human nature.

Finally, an integral part of the mandate of science journalists and science communicators worldwide is to get people excited about science. And if there is one region in the world that needs that, it is the Arab world. All the huge efforts and billion dollars investments to increase science output would fall flat if there are no home-grown young people interested in pursuing science careers. But if science journalists are constantly kept in the dark, then there is no way we can get anyone excited about science – simply because, like us, the public will remain in the dark about any and all science research being conducted here.

The media is not the enemy. In fact, we might just be the best friend that researchers and researcher centres have in the world. All we want to do is highlight the work being done as accurately as possible. That is why we would like to have easy access to researchers, research centres, and universities. No, a scripted press release is not enough.

The media will remain the link between scientists and the public and the industry. The truth is, without proper, reliable and regular access for the media to the scientists, their work will remain inside their high walls – and the people outside will remain suspicious. Yes, sometimes the things the media may report may not be in the best interest of government scientists, but that’s the way of life: You win some, you lose some.

And the winnings far outweigh the losses here.

Lebanese professor wins big for “popularization of science”

Posted on 10 Nov 2010 by Mohammed Yahia

If I was asked to name one topic that brings a smile to my face, it would have to be “making science accessible to a mainstream audience.” Apparently, I’m not alone.

The Academy of Science for the Developing World (TWAS) has recently announced the winners of its “regional prizes for public understanding and popularization of science.” The winner for the Arab region is the pioneering Lebanese professor Elias Baydoun.

Baydoun, who has been working in the American University in Beirut’s (AUB) Department of Biology for over 20 years, has spent most of his life trying to bring science to the public. When he first joined the AUB, he was the only full-time member of the department with a PhD. He was chairman of the department from 1987 to 1993. Today, there are several other PhD holders in the department, there is a brand new laboratory, and he has renovated the biology building – as well as the science curriculum.

In 2002, he was the main force behind establishment of the Arab Academy of Sciences, for which he was the inaugural secretary general.

TWAS are recognizing Baydoun for his efforts to bring science to a larger audience through teaching at AUB, translating textbooks, and organizing international conferences through the Arab Academy of Sciences.

“Everything has to do with science, so we should help people appreciate it,” he said in a press release from the AUB.

However, he is quick to reiterate that there is a serious challenge here. “Even politicians don’t understand the importance of science. The first thing they cut from their budgets is [funds] for science and education. Unfortunately, this is a trend around the world, but it’s particularly worse in the Arab world.”

Outside the university, Baydoun has invested much of his time regionally. He has helped develop biology curricula for secondary schools and community colleges in Oman and has written school biology textbooks for Jordan.

So what drives Baydoun to do all this? According to the AUB press release, it is a larger dream he has. A dream to see the Arab world fully embracing modern science, engineering, and technology so that young people will not have to leave the region in order to develop their careers.

Well I’ll take a deep breath and shout a loud and clear “Amen!” to that wish!

In memory of the 80’s greatest Arab science communicator

Posted on 31 Oct 2010 by Mohammed Yahia

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Exactly one year ago, arguably the greatest science communicator in the modern Arab world passed away.

Moustafa Mahmoud, passed away on 31 October, 2009. His 88-year long journey from a rebellious child to a philosophical writer has taken him across the world, always in search of the elusive “truth”.

While Mahmoud is a prolific writer, he is best remembered for the TV series “Science and Belief” (Al-Elm wa Al-Eman). The show produced 400 episodes throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s. Those who grew up in the 1980’s will always remember the show fondly. For many of us, this was our first encounter with science communication.

The premises of the show was quite simple, yet it captivated audiences in every home across the region every Monday night. We would gather around the TV in the living room as the Mahmoud presented captivating science stories, coupled with documentary videos. The topics were quite diverse, ranging from how ants can form fantastic cooperating communities to touring the wide Milky Way.

Unfortunately, since the show stopped airing, there hasn’t been a similar science TV show. Most young teenagers now do not even know there was once such a successful science show airing weekly.

Interestingly enough, this TV show was the inspiration for many, if not most, of the 1980’s generation to be fascinated about science. It was a far call from the boring science curriculum in schools, it was actually interesting, fascinating science that captured the imagination of the children watching. That generation had the largest percentage of high school children who wanted to go into science careers.

Nowadays, the number of school children in Egypt who want to pursue a science career is dwindling rapidly. There is no interest anymore in science. Curriculum science courses are still uninspiring, but there is no outside influence to get children to love science.

Mahmoud’s journey in science was driven by a hunger to learn more. This hunger led him down many diverse paths, exploring his spirituality as much as his science. This journey created a man with a vision and a distinct belif in science that was electrifying.

Here’s to wishing that the upcoming second decade of the 2000’s gives children a similar science communicator that would reignite the love if science in them again, in this much needed time.

Stars of Science – Take Two

Posted on 28 Oct 2010 by Mohammed Yahia

Stars of Science

I have to admit that when I first heard about the first season of Stars of Science, a prime time TV show focusing on science and innovation in the Arab world, I was very skeptic. I doubted they’d pull it off, let alone that a second season would see the light. However, I was very pleasantly surprised. High production values (make that extremely high production values), backed by the huge and resourceful Qatar Foundation, gave us an exciting show. I found myself tuning in every week to see who will leave the show that week and voting on my favorite inventions. Towards the end, I was actually routing for my favourite contestants.

Now, the show organizers have announced they just finished the screening phase of season two. They held auditions in all Arab countries, travelling from the Gulf states to the Levant and on to northern Africa.

The show is setup along the same popular formula of X-Factor – only the contestants are convincing the jury they are innovative scientists rather than talented artists. During the screening phase each hopeful contestant must present their idea in a few minutes to the jury, hoping to convince them to pick him/her for the show itself. The ideas can range from the practical, such as motorized trolleys for the handicapped to the outright wild, such as a height-controlled electrical heel for women.

After the screening session, 27 young scientists made it through, but were later screened down to 16 contestants who will carry on to the full programme. Starting with the next prime time episode, aired Sunday 31 October, 2010, the contestants will go through a series of challenges, to prove their concept and the importance of their innovation to the jury. Each week a number will be eliminated, until a final winner is left standing.

Interestingly enough, the show was picked up by 15 different TV channels in the region, with a complete guide available for broadcasting times.

I know I will personally be tuning in next Sunday for the first challenge, the “Proof of Concept” challenge, where the contestants need to convince the jury that their ideas are feasible.

Kudos to Qatar for pulling this. Science shows are not very popular worldwide, and are even less so in the Arab world. Here’s hoping the show will excite more people about science in the region.

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Category Archives: Science Journalism