Are scientists born scientists? Is it a matter of luck? Or is it a result and merit? These questions always revolted in my mind during my search for what was the secret or mechanism that was behind the success of most influential scientists in the history of the world, and through my readings of the biography of my favorite scientist Albert Einstein, who mentioned in his very interesting article: «God does not play dice» Most things in the universe go according to an organized method.
From here I can say as an academic researcher and with full confidence that the Emirates are on the right path to prepare scientists, and they will have an influential role in improving the life of mankind in the near future.
Many of my fellow scientists and university professors may differ, and they consider this view very optimistic, and that there is still a long way to go for UAE scientists to have such a weight in influence as other scholars in western countries. But my answer to them was simply; just as Zayed’s ambition to space was a dream that no one expected to verify from a 48-year-old country; making distinguished Emirati scholars, and obtaining scientific prizes such as the Nobel Prize is very possible. There are many Emirati scholars today who have published and quoted their research in the most powerful scientific journals and prestigious universities, such as Dr. Ahmed Eid Al-Muhairi, Dr. Siham Al-Din Galadari, and the two brothers, Doctor Ali Al-Mansoori and Dr. Ibrahim Al-Mansoori.
Making the world needs three important things: the nucleus and the material of the researcher, the right incubator, and early guidance. Through my travel to various prestigious scientific universities, in which there are Emirati students at the undergraduate or graduate level, I can assert that the Emirati student lacks nothing, and vice versa that the children of Zayed are distinguished by the love of exploration and the same challenge, as their grandparents did.
As for the correct scientific incubator, I mentioned in many other interviews that the UAE has succeeded in the establishment of many scientific research incubators at various levels and specialties in the past few years. For example, the establishment of the Council of Scientists, vocational schools and scientific research complexes, which helped many young Emiratis to identify and contact with scientists and experts from different countries of the world.
As for the third factor, which is, in my opinion, the most important, citing the saying of the Egyptian Arab scientist Dr. Ahmed Zewail: “The West are not geniuses and we are not stupid; they only support the failed to succeed, and we fight the successful until it fails.” Hence, I invite all scholars and academics, citizens or residents of the UAE, to adopt emerging scientific talents and direct them at an early age as a volunteer work. Now the work of the world is not confined to discovering and disseminating scientific research. Rather, it is his societal duty that embraces and cultivates young scientific talents at an early age.
I also cite the statement of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, at the end of his speech at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Council for Future Generations in 2017: “We are all responsible, and that the future generation must be better than the previous one.”
Dr. Ghanem Kachwani: Academic researcher at New York University Abu Dhabi