Iraqi Academy of Science forms

Leading scientists want to direct research toward the benefit of the Iraqi people | By Stephen Pincock

LONDON—Iraqi scientists are meeting here over the next two days (November 27-28) to begin the process of setting up an independent Academy of Science.

The 12 leading researchers, nine of whom still work in Iraq, are holding their inaugural meeting at Britain's Royal Society because of the current security situation in Baghdad. Their goal is to establish a free voice for Iraqi science after decades of abuse under Saddam Hussein.

"The Iraqi Academy of Science will be an autonomous, self-governing organization of distinguished scientists dedicated to employing their talents for the advancement of science in Iraq," said UK-based chemical engineer Hussain Al-Shahristani, who initiated the meeting.

For decades, Iraqi science for any purpose other than military has been starved of resources and researchers have been cut off from the outside world through sanctions, Shahristani added. "This led to a serious depletion of civil research," he told reporters. "The situation now is very, very poor."

Given this, one of the main aims of the new academy will be to draw attention to the parlous state of Iraqi research, and to look for assistance from the rest of the world. The initiative has the backing of the French Academie des Sciences and the US National Academy of Sciences in addition to the support of the Royal Society.

Shahristani told The Scientist that the group hoped to encourage international academies and research organizations to help with funds and other kinds of support. "Many universities and research institutes have shown interest," he said. "We have to discuss with them how to get resources quickly."

Stephen Cox, executive secretary of the Royal Society, told The Scientist that more support would be available. "Its one of a series of confidence-building measures we've just got to get involved in," he said.

Another important role for the academy will be to develop an ethical framework for science in Iraq, the researchers said. They want to employ Iraqi scientific talents for the benefit of the Iraqi people.

"We will be reluctant to invite [to join] any scientists who have been involved in developing weapons of mass destruction, particularly biological and chemical weapons that have been used against the Iraqi people and its neighbors," Shahristani said.

Some other priorities in the early days of rebuilding will be reviving scientific research at universities, particularly in the disciplines of engineering, medicine and environmental science, added Ghazi Derwish, a former professor of chemistry in Baghdad.

"There is also a need for rehabilitation of scientific education," he said. "We are in need of a radical reorganization of the education system from kindergarten to the universities."

During the next two days, the founders of the academy--three of whom could not make the meeting--will each nominate another scientist to join the Academy Council. They plan to hold a meeting of that council some time next year, in Baghdad, to elect members.

Very good news. Thank you, visualops.
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''During the 1990’s Saddam cut spending on public health by over 90 percent with predictable results for the lives of his citizens.''

''Today we have increased public health spending to over 26 times what it was under Saddam. Today all 240 hospitals and more than 1200 clinics are open. Today doctors’ salaries are at least eight times what they were under Saddam.Pharmaceutical distribution has gone from essentially nothing to 700 tons in May to a current total of 12,000 tons. Since liberation we have administered over 22 million vaccination doses to Iraq's children.''
Paul Bremer, 6 months post Baghdad liberation day. ~ http://www.cpa-iraq.org/transcripts/20031009_Oct-09Bremerpresscon.htm

For more insight into Saddam's lack of concern for the welfare of the Iraqi people, a letter to Freeper Pan_Yan's Wife from an Iraqi medical intern, response to a letter appearing in Scientist magazine: 8 Letter from Iraq ~ email | 9/9/03 | Ahmad Al-Attar

Original letter:

"For the time being, our labs and scientific institutions would welcome anything you could send us. Please do not be shy to send a 10-year-old piece of equipment or a couple-of-years'-old journals, fearing that it would be of no use. We can use all the help that we get. The lab I work in (The histopathology lab at Al-Zahrawi Hospital) is in a very poor shape. It is poorly equipped, and that would be true of all hospital labs in Iraq. So please, feel free to send anything you want or don't need. It would be appreciated. Your ideas of offering sabbaticals and paying for conference fees would be great too. Many, including myself, would welcome the opportunity of going abroad and learning new techniques in the developed world, an opportunity I (and many others) never had. Now, after liberation, we can look forward to making our country a place where others would love to live. You see, the difference now is that we have hope ... we finally have our country back to ourselves ... a country we can call ours, not Saddam's. Thanks again for your kindness."

Ahmad Al-Attar Al-Zahrawi Hospital Mosul, Iraq Ahmadalattar2003@yahoo.com

1. S. Jaffe, "Rebuilding Iraqi science," The Scientist, 17[14]:22-5, July 14, 2003.

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Iraqi Academy of Science forms

Leading scientists want to direct research toward the benefit of the Iraqi people | By Stephen Pincock