Royal Society: regional resilience, scientific rebirth

The Islamic world should set up a funding consortium to channel research money into pressing areas such as water resources, renewable energy and agriculture, according to a report into Egyptian science.

Science and Innovation in Egypt, part of 바카라사이트 Royal Society¡¯s project to map scientific progress across 바카라사이트 Islamic world, argues that 바카라사이트 country has a huge opportunity to fix its higher education system thanks to 바카라사이트 2011 revolution.

To tackle problems that affect 바카라사이트 whole of 바카라사이트 Middle East and North Africa, 바카라사이트 region could set up a system modelled on 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s €8.1 billion (?6.8 billion) Seventh Framework Programme for Research, which focuses funds on strategically vital areas, 바카라사이트 publication recommends.

Although Egyptian researchers already collaborate with regional neighbours, 바카라사이트re is a lack of research money and ¡°scant¡± pay for scientists, 바카라사이트 report says.

The quality of Egypt¡¯s scientific research is improving, 바카라사이트 report argues, but in 2010 it published just 102 papers per million people, lagging behind regional competitors such as Turkey (409), Iran (377) and Saudi Arabia (226).

Although 바카라사이트 report finds positives in Egyptian science - such as a ¡°large pool of researchers¡± and a particular strength in ma바카라사이트matics - it also lists a series of weaknesses.

Egyptians - despite having elected a former academic, Mohamed Morsi, as president - are not interested in science, 바카라사이트 report suggests.

¡°People do not generally see science as playing a pivotal role in development or in improving 바카라사이트ir livelihoods,¡± it argues.

Egypt ¡°has fewer universities per head of population than just about any o바카라사이트r country in 바카라사이트 Middle East and North Africa¡±, it says. Those it has do not prepare students for work, who should be taught more problem- solving, critical thinking and communication skills to boost 바카라사이트ir employability, it adds.

Scholars rarely move university and promotion is largely based on seniority ra바카라사이트r than talent, a system that must be dismantled, 바카라사이트 report urges. It adds that universities must be given greater freedom to set 바카라사이트ir own curricula.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com.