Early morning on 17 March, 2010, and after months of preparations, Nature Middle East was officially launched and unveiled to the world.
For so many months now, I have been working day in day out on the website. It has been a thrill exploring every nook and cranny of the website. It has been particularly exciting learning about all the research going on in the Middle East, and seeing first-hand how it is slowly, but surely, gaining a prominent role in the fields of science and medical research.
However, for newcomers to the website, it might sometimes feel like there is too much going on. So let me take you through a tour of the different sections on the portal.
Research highlights
I personally find this one of the most exciting sections on the portal. In short, it highlights the best researches taking place that involve Middle Eastern scientists, or are particularly important to the region.
The best thing about the section is it is written in a way that simplifies the research without losing its essence. This makes it easily accessible and allows scientists or people interested in science from different branches to understand the research, even if it is not in their own field of expertise.
As the amount of research in the Middle East grows, this section is expected flourish with good science taking place in the region.
The best thing about this section is that the best research highlights will also be translated in Arabic, making them for the first time accessible to people in the region in their native language. This has never been done before and will definitely help these researches reach a wider base of scientists and science students.
News & Features
This section is where you can get the latest science news, commentaries, features and science policy information. It will probably attract the widest readership since we aim to make it the best stop for science news for all readers interested in these issues.
Issues covered here will be quite diverse, from the latest in climate change to water security to science journalism. Leading science figures in the region will also contribute with commentaries on issues of concern to people interested in the Middle East
Latest Jobs
Through the extensive NatureJobs service, this section will offer the latest, high-caliber science jobs in the Middle East. It is an invaluable resource to people in the region holding science degrees. The section is regularly updated as news jobs become available.
Editor’s blog
This is the House of Wisdom blog (which you are reading right now). This is a direct place to interact with the editor of Nature Middle East and the rest of the community over certain topics of interest to scientists, researchers and people interested in science in the region.
The blog will often be linked to current events taking place and hot topics. It is also a place to extend on a story or research that appears on Middle East and generate a discussion about it.
Our picks
This is one of the most valuable services provided through Nature Middle East. Through this section, we will regularly bring you, the readers, selected items from all across the Nature Publishing Group (NPG) spectrum that are relevant to the region.
The best thing about this? Access to these items, which usually requires subscription, is free to Nature Middle East registrants! This service is only available through the “our picks” section.
From the forum
This is the place where the Nature Middle East community can meet, interact, and discuss the latest issue. This section is run by the readers, for the readers. We hope to see many thrilling, interesting discussions take place here to bring the Arab science community closer together.
So this is it. I hope you enjoy the new portal which I personally believe will play a prominent role in the transformation of the Arab world into an important science centre.
Remember that to enjoy the full website you need to register (which is free). The link to register is available in the top right of the website. This registration works across all of the Nature journal network as well so it is worth it!