In the past two blog posts, we did a round up of the best research conducted in the region and the most exciting science news stories from 2011.
In our final roundup of the year 2011, we look at the most interesting features from Nature Middle East in 2011, based on how popular they were with our audience.
1) The autism enigma: This special spanned several of the Nature-branded publications to bring wonderful coverage about autism from all the different angles. Nature Middle East contributed with two features on autism in the Arab world, with Addressing autism in the Arab world looking at how the medical community needs to change its approaches to better diagnose and handle autism at younger ages, while Turning tides of autism looks at the potential of autism research in the Arab world, where there are large consanguineous families that can offer a new genetic look at the condition.
2) The woes of Egypitan PhD students: Working on your PhD is not easy, but it is especially hard and taxing on Egyptian PhD students. It is so bad that success rates in some Egyptian universities is as low as 5%. Very low funding, lack of adequate labs and equipment and disinterested supervisors means these students often find themselves having to handle and pay for everything on their own. Many apply for their PhD’s overseas were the odds are not so insurmountable or apply in private universities – when they can afford it.
3) Extreme Red Sea bacteria pack protein potential: Researchers are turning to the Red Sea, one of the least studied waters in the world, and realizing it could be a rich source of extreme enzymes for use in industry and biotech. Researchers at the Saudi Arabia-based KAUST are discovering unique microbes adapted to live in harsh conditions underwater, such as in brine pools. They are hopeful these bacteria, which have novel metabolic processes, may yield new enzymes of commercial use.
4) Nile University’s future in doubt following the Egyptian revolution: While Egyptians rejoiced following the popular uprising in January 2011 that toppled long-time president Hosni Mubarak, Nile University staff found themselves in a tough situation, as they were prevented from moving onto a new purpose-built campus due to accusations of corruption and links to the previous regime. Their new campus was then allocated to the newly announced Zewail City of Science and Technology, further putting the univerity’s future in doubt.
5) Foreign researchers flee Yemen leaving conservation programmes in trouble: Following a popular uprising in Yemen inspired by the Arab Spring, foreign researchers working in the biologically rich Socotra Archipelago south of Yemen had to leave their work behind in fear of escalated violence. Both local and foreign biologists are worried that conservation efforts in one of the region’s richest areas for biodiversity, are under threat, triggering the question of how to conserve biodiversity in a changing world.
What was your favorite feature on Nature Middle East in 2011? Tell us what you think in the comments section below!