Bulletin of the American Physical Society
2007 APS March Meeting
Volume 52, Number 1
Monday–Friday, March 5–9, 2007; Denver, Colorado
Session J7: Scientific Cooperation in the Middle East |
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Sponsoring Units: FIP FPS Chair: Arthur Bienenstock, Stanford University Room: Colorado Convention Center Korbel 4A-4B |
Tuesday, March 6, 2007 11:15AM - 11:51AM |
J7.00001: Bridging the Rift -- Scientific Cooperation between Israel and Jordan Invited Speaker: Bridging the Rift is a project designed to develop scientific collaborations between scholars from Jordan and Israel. Over the past three years scholars from five Jordanian universities and all the Israeli universities have participated in research together. The fields of emphasis are Microbiology and Ecology. Joint field trips, research planning meetings, and laboratory studies have already been carried out. A physical institution spanning the Israeli-Jordanian border is planned as the home of this long-term collaboration. [Preview Abstract] |
Tuesday, March 6, 2007 11:51AM - 12:27PM |
J7.00002: SESAME \& Scientific Cooperation in the Middle East; the Perspective from Iran Invited Speaker: |
Tuesday, March 6, 2007 12:27PM - 1:03PM |
J7.00003: SESAME, A Scientific Collaboration In The Middle East : Personal and Israeli Perspectives. Invited Speaker: SESAME is an effort to nurture both high quality research and a novel scope of scientific collaboration in the Middle East. I will present a personal and an Israeli perspective on how the project came about, where it is now and where it may head for. [Preview Abstract] |
Tuesday, March 6, 2007 1:03PM - 1:39PM |
J7.00004: Creating an enduring framework for scientific cooperation in the Middle East Invited Speaker: There are few channels for Israelis and Arabs to communicate directly when tensions are high. Scientists, who always have channels open for scientific communication, have a special responsibility to remain in contact with their counterparts on the other side to provide an avenue for reasoned discourse. Jordanian engineer Dr. Hani Mulki, former foreign minister and now science advisor to the King of Jordan, once said that scientific cooperation should not be a byproduct of peace, but a driving force. Many of the senior Israeli, Palestinian, and Jordanian scientists know each other and know how to work together, but it can be difficult for them to meet or even to speak without the cover of an invitation from a foreign organization; younger scientists unknown to the foreign organizations have fewer opportunities. The activities sponsored by APS, NAS, AAAS, and others are playing an important role, but what also is required are national and regional scientific organizations that can independently convene meetings and provide an umbrella for collaborative research. The academies of sciences of Israel and Palestine and the Higher Council for Science and Technology of Jordan have been working together for nearly two decades on joint research, studies and conferences, but always under the sponsorship of the U.S. National Academies or other international organizations. They should be able to convene regional meetings and provide an umbrella for cooperative research that can be sustainable without a foreign presence. Since they are only a driving distance apart, there is much they can do together for little money. Strengthening these academies, especially the relatively new Palestine Academy for Science and Technology, should be a high priority. Foreign scientific organizations should include the academies of the region in their activities, as co-sponsors if possible, to enhance their stature and encourage a role as independent conveners and sponsors of cooperative research. [Preview Abstract] |
Tuesday, March 6, 2007 1:39PM - 2:15PM |
J7.00005: Mobilizing the Global Scientific Enterprise to Foster Cooperation with the Middle East Invited Speaker: International science cooperation - e.g. science for diplomacy - has long been an important tool in the US foreign policy approach. Cold War science exchanges and development of institutions such as IIASA in Vienna, Austria played a critical role in increasing contacts and building trust between the adversaries. American - Chinese science exchanges starting in the 1970's laid the groundwork for increased interactions between the two countries. While such a deep history of exchange with the Muslim world U.S. policy, scientific diplomacy should now be a central point of any broader diplomatic engagement with these countries. Although perceptions of the U.S. are at historical lows throughout the region, recent polling continues to show that U.S. science and scientists remain highly respected. In part as a response to this unpopularity of the U.S. throughout the broader Middle East, President Bush appointed Karen Hughes, one of his most trusted advisers, to serve as the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy - a position that is charges with improving the U.S. image abroad. This presentation will demonstrate that Under Secretary Hughes has valuable resources within the scientific community that are willing, able and proactively engaging with the Muslim world. The paper will highlight some of the key areas of cooperation, and highlight areas and programs that AAAS is using to further engage elements of the Muslim scientific community. [Preview Abstract] |
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