Number: 2002-061-1-020
Title: Frontiers of chemical sciences: research and education
in middle eastern countries
Task Group
Chairmen: Zafra M. Lerman
and John M. Malin
Members:
William F. Carroll, Mostafa El-Sayed, Ernest L. Eliel, Robin Hood, Morton
Z. Hoffman, V. J. Shiner, Thomas J. Spiro, and P H. L. Walter
Completion Date: 2004
Objective:
- To use the vehicle of a small symposium to bring together scientists
from a number of countries in the Middle East in order to identify
unique opportunities for collaboration among chemical scientists to
solve environmental and educational problems.
- To attempt, via this symposium, to generate trust among the scientists
and to capture the attention of adversarial national governments on
ways that chemistry can address the problems of the region.
Description:
The chemical sciences occupy a central position in the world economy,
offering the possibility to cultivate mutual understanding through joint
research projects and economic development. A general desire to improve
the quality of life and political stability in the Middle East could
be fulfilled by identifying unique opportunities for network creation
and collaboration among chemical scientists to solve environmental and
educational problems.
Progress:
The American Chemical Society has organized a symposium entitled "Frontiers
of Chemical Sciences: Research and Education" and including representatives
from the United States and Middle Eastern nations including Egypt, Israel,
Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia and Syria.
A principal goal of the Symposium was to capture the attention of national
governments by inviting the best-qualified chemical scientists from
those countries to discuss how chemistry can address the problems of
the region. To that end, the organizers have enlisted six Nobel Prize
winners eager to participate as plenary lecturers and conferees. They
are: Dr. Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, Dr. Roald Hoffmann, Dr. Yuan T. Lee,
Dr. Mario Molina, Dr. Jean-Marie Lehn, and Dr. Ahmed Zewail. The opportunity
to interact with this eminent panel attracted distinguished scientists
from Middle Eastern nations who are, in turn, in the strongest position
to influence national policy in their own countries and to help develop
international collaborations.
Acknowledgements. The work of the organizing committee
is gratefully acknowledged. The committee consists of Dr. Zafra Lerman,
Chair, and Drs. Paul H.L. Walter, William F. Carroll, Jr., Ernest Eliel,
Mostafa El-Sayed, Morton Z. Hoffman, Robin Hood, Stanley Langer, John
Malin, Nina McClelland, Bassam Shakhashiri, Jack Shiner, Thomas Spiro,
and Omar Yaghi.
Also acknowledged are contributions from Columbia College Chicago, the
U.S. National Science Foundation, the American Chemical Society, The
Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc., UNESCO, IUPAC, the Royal
Society of Chemistry, Dr. Alfred R. Bader, Mrs. Beatrice Friedman, Dr.
Vernon J. Shiner, Dr. Michael Strem, the Susman and Asher Foundation,
Ms. Sharon Oberlander, Dr. William F. Carroll, Jr., the Academy of Sciences
and Literature, Mainz, Germany, Dr. Howard G. Clark and Mr. Michael
Rose.
See report - "MIDDLE EASTERNERS MEET IN MALTA.
Chemistry symposium aims to forge scientific links in a troubled region",
by M. Freemantle, C&EN Dec 15, 2003, p. 10 >online
> A follow-up feature article has been published in Chem.
Int.
May-June 2004, p. 7.
project completed
Last update: 18 May 2004
If you
want to update this information, contact us by e-mail
Do not forget to include the Project Number,
your name and relation with that project