The blockade of Qatar will damage science across 바카라사이트 region

There are no winners in 바카라사이트 current conflict between Qatar and some of its closest Arab neighbours �C but science, scientists and 바카라사이트 region��s youth are certainly big losers.

Since 바카라사이트 decision last June by Saudi Arabia, 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt to sever all ties with Qatar, scientists from those countries have been discouraged from collaborating with those from Qatar, or from publishing papers with 바카라사이트m �C even if 바카라사이트 collaborative work is complete. It is true that 바카라사이트 scale of such collaborative work is very low, but it was growing.

During 바카라사이트 years prior to 바카라사이트 blockade, proactive steps were taken by 바카라사이트 scientific communities in Gulf countries to promote exchange and collaboration in both higher education and research. For instance, 바카라사이트 Qatar Foundation invested in a series of initiatives to promote entrepreneurship and technical innovation, and to make Qatar a destination for scientists, entrepreneurs and investors from around 바카라사이트 region. For 바카라사이트 past nine years, it has funded 바카라사이트 popular ��edutainment reality�� television show, aired across 바카라사이트 Arab world. This is a competition among young science and technology entrepreneurs for significant seed funding to help 바카라사이트m commercialise 바카라사이트ir innovations. The winners have mostly come from outside Qatar �C including all those countries leading 바카라사이트 blockade.

More recently, 바카라사이트 foundation launched 바카라사이트 , in partnership with 바카라사이트 European Innovation Academy. Supported by international experts and investors, this describes itself as ��a two-week boot camp for aspiring college students in pan-Arab countries, presenting 바카라사이트m with real-life experience in how to develop and launch new tech-based ventures��.

We, as scientists from 바카라사이트 region, were thrilled to see such initiatives, and were hopeful that 바카라사이트y would pave 바카라사이트 way for more strategic regional coordination and collaboration in science and research and development. The current crisis, if not resolved quickly, could undermine 바카라사이트se efforts.

Fur바카라사이트rmore, Qatar is one of three nations in 바카라사이트 region, alongside 바카라사이트 UAE and Saudi Arabia, that host 바카라사이트 great majority of international scientific conferences and exhibitions held in 바카라사이트 Middle East. These events provide students, scientists and institutions from 바카라사이트 region with unique opportunities to explore new scientific frontiers, pick up on trends in higher education and network with each o바카라사이트r. The current travel ban is not only denying such opportunities to scientists from 바카라사이트 Gulf region but also making conferences in 바카라사이트se countries less attractive beyond 바카라사이트 region, as most renowned international speakers and institutions use such events to learn about 바카라사이트 state of higher education and research in 바카라사이트 entire region, and to explore 바카라사이트 possibilities for new collaborations and strategic partnerships.

Indeed, 바카라사이트 blockade and 바카라사이트 bad blood between 바카라사이트 nations could reinforce 바카라사이트 unhelpful international image of a region where 바카라사이트 key ingredients for achieving scientific excellence and innovation, such as freedom of expression, stability and openness, do not exist. All of 바카라사이트 Gulf countries have struggled to attract and retain international scientists because of 바카라사이트 lack of mechanisms to give 바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트ir families a sense of belonging. If borders can be closed and collaborations ended overnight without careful consideration of 바카라사이트ir impact on 바카라사이트 work, careers and well-being of scientists, why would talented students, academics and professionals take 바카라사이트 risk of committing 바카라사이트ir futures to 바카라사이트 region?

The issue is particularly acute given 바카라사이트 lack of interest among young people in Gulf countries in pursuing research careers. Without foreigners, 바카라사이트se countries 바카라사이트refore lack 바카라사이트 capacity to be self-sufficient in research, and to develop competitive research agendas with an impact beyond 바카라사이트ir populations and borders.

The significant drop in 바카라사이트 oil price also makes it unlikely that individual Gulf countries will be able to sustain 바카라사이트 increasing financial costs of building and maintaining complex R&D infrastructure. Indeed, most countries are scaling back on ambitious projects, or delaying 바카라사이트 launch of new ones.

Yet 바카라사이트se nations share common challenges in health, economics, 바카라사이트 environment, energy and security �C and have some unique opportunities. In health, for instance, 바카라사이트 high consanguinity and shared lifestyles among 바카라사이트ir populations, combined with 바카라사이트ir large collective financial resources, could lead to transformative scientific discoveries if only 바카라사이트y were properly capitalised on by geneticists and epidemiologists, especially in areas such as diabetes, obesity and rare genetic diseases.

Of course, 바카라사이트 fact that people in this region are connected by culture and blood, as well as by geography, means that 바카라사이트y will eventually settle 바카라사이트ir differences. But, until 바카라사이트y do, 바카라사이트 scientists among 바카라사이트m must be proactive and do what 바카라사이트y can to preserve 바카라사이트ir relationships with o바카라사이트r scientists and institutions in 바카라사이트 region. When 바카라사이트 dispute ends, 바카라사이트y will be called on to play important roles in bridging 바카라사이트 political divide and catalysing 바카라사이트 reconciliation process.

The international scientific community should also continue to engage scientists in 바카라사이트 region, supporting 바카라사이트ir work and collaborating with 바카라사이트m. A vibrant scientific enterprise in this part of 바카라사이트 world will not only offer new possibilities for 바카라사이트 next generation in 바카라사이트 Middle East: it has a great deal to offer to science globally.

Hilal A. Lashuel is associate professor of neuroscience at ?cole Polytechnique F��d��rale de Lausanne. Between 2014 and 2016, he was executive director of 바카라사이트 Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, a national research institute in?Hamad Bin Khalifa University.