In their new-found focus on world class science, Gulf states in the Arabian Peninsula have spared no expense in setting up world-class universities with top of the line laboratories. That was the easy part.
The hard part, however, remains attracting worldwide scientific expertise to kick-start these facilities and create the needed science culture to become international research hubs.
The NatureJobs Career Expo, taking place in London on 23rd September, 2010, would be a very good opportunity to search for the science expertise these universities need. The annual event, which is expected to attract more 1,000 attendees, focuses exclusively on the scientific world.
It is the UK’s largest career fair for the science community. However, it attracts an international audience. Among last year’s attendees, 25% came from outside the UK.
The task of attracting international scientific expertise is particularly daunting for universities in the region due to stereotypical views of science and research in the Arab world. This is especially true to a university like the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), which may have a hard time convincing researchers to make the move to Saudi Arabia.
The expo could be a wonderful opportunity to expose researchers to the university, and to dispel many of the fears they have about moving to Saudi Arabia. Exhibiting the vast opportunities researchers have there could attract scientists and researchers better than many other venues.
It is also a wonderful chance to network with the other top players in the science world around the world. Confirmed exhibitors this year already include The Royal Society, DAAD, the European Commission and the European Research Council.
With a mandate to bring their countries to the forefront of the international community, these new Gulf universities will need to make use of such opportunities to increase their exposure, and convince international universities that the move to the Gulf is well worth their efforts.
SA In this regard, one of the greatest obstacles has two faces. On one hand is the strange colonial hangover that is embedded in the minds of most (not all) MidEast states and their citizens-that the Western “white” scientist is superior to be chosen over a non-white. This mindset is understandable in the past, but it overlooks that the greatest advantage Western white scientists had was
technical financial information resources. These allowed a certain superiority to develop. When such resources ARE available, as they are now, in the midEast, there is very little if any difference to speak of. If we accept this, then we should now focus on attracting Muslim scientists and technical staff to USE the superior resources made available in the Middle East. There are many supporting reasons to do so (perhaps a blog post could address that).On the other hand, we are proud to show that Muslim (mainly Spain to India)-scientists COULD do all the stuff exhibited in this successful exhibition, but we still seek to recruit preferentially in the western countries. Western scientists come, enjoy the tax free privileges but have very little commitment to our science for many reasons.
Thank you for your comment Riyad.
To a degree, I agree with much that you say. There is an unhealthy fascination with everything that is Western.
However, I don’t agree that the only asset the West had was vast financial resources.
Today, Western scientists can still bring something to fledging, yet very well financed science institutes in the region, and that is to help jump start a science research culture in the region.
If Arab scientists can make use of that, then a science renaissance that would take decades can be done in a fraction of the time.
First of all, I applaud this initiative of creating a window on science in the Middle East.
I deeply apologize for not publishing my full name, but I desire my comment to be read without being categorized or contextualized within the culture of my home nation.
To my western-educated point of view, which certainly is biased in a number of respects, the possibility of genuine scientific inquiry is inextricably bound to lands where an atheist, rationalist mindset can be freely expressed. Europe had its Enlightenment, during which a number of intellectual taboos fell, eroding the authority that the catholic faith maintained in almost all aspects of public and private life.
On the other hand, as you may know, the concept of “Europe” is still problematic, and is not unitary; indeed it is a collection of diverse cultures, some more nurturing, some more conservative.
Nevertheless, my guess is that “western” intellectuals are still somewhat intimidated by the strong influence that Islam has on many (all?) aspects of life in the Middle East: they don’t understand it, or maybe they are downright scared.
On the other hand it is certainly true that preconceptions are to be broken down, understood and overcome.
My question to you is: do you think that a scientific culture can be created in the Muslim world, without questioning the very foundations of its civilization?
How can a true intellectual dialogue between the two civilizations be initiated, as painlessly as possible?
Thank you for your work and for the attention.
Hi M
Thank you for raising an extremely important and well-formulated point.
You make an excellent remark and one that I have personally often considered.
I believe that the growth of a scientific culture in any region must be done alongside that place’s culture. In the different regions around the world, science has nurtured in different ways to suit the local cultures.
In Europe, the science revolution was born out of the Renaissance. Because it had its origins in the rebellion against the iron-fist hold of Catholicism, that became essential to nurture science.
While Europe is the most prominent example, there are other variations. Take India, for example. India is a religious country that has been able to create a very unique and worldwide important science culture.
China has gone its own way, and created its science culture in a completely new way.
The one common thread that I can find, and the one ingredient that I think is essential to the creation of a science culture, is free-thinking. Without that one factor, I think there is no hope.
And I think that is what terrifies Western scientists from coming to the Arab world to conduct research. However, Saudi Arabia, the most conservative state in the region, was able to promote free-thinking (with the newly opened KAUST as the best example).
So in my opinion, yes, you can create a scientific culture in the Muslim world. But for that to work, then an analysis of the Muslim Golden Age of Science is important.
If there was indeed a science renaissance in the region before, then what caused it? And how did it die? In my opinion, it died when certain religious authorities decided to wipe out freedom of thinking. So there is a historical lesson here to refer to.
On the second part of your question, I think science is the best way to initiate dialogue across cultures. More Muslim countries are starting to realize the importance of collaboration on science, and the independent nature of science. I think as they start becoming important world players in the international science community, we will start to see much more dialogue using a common language: science.
My apologies for the long rant – but your question is quite an interesting one to me.