Category: Education

U.A.E: Emirati student Ali Al-Loughani receives a sash, a leadership medal and two gold medals at the London Inventions Exhibition

Emirati student Ali Humaid Al Loughani received the Leadership Sash and Medal at the 6th International Exhibition of Inventions and Trade held in the British capital, London, in which he participated under the patronage and support of the Dubai Digital Authority, outperforming 285 inventors from different countries of the world, despite being the youngest participant in the international event.

Emirati inventor Ali Al Loughani presented two of his inventions: the “Ship Accident Prevention Project,” which relies on artificial intelligence technologies and aims to protect ships and enhance safety in the maritime navigation sector to high levels, in addition to the “Hydropower” project for generating hybrid energy, which combines solar energy and hydrogen fuel cells, and employs Internet of Things technologies.

 for the two projects he participated in, and was honored by the Inventors Association of Romania, Norton University of Cambodia, and the National University of Science and Technology in Bucharest.


Al Loughani’s project, a ship accident system based on artificial intelligence technologies, is an advanced innovation that aims to enhance safety levels in the maritime sector through advanced technologies that monitor and analyze potential risks during navigation.

The technology of this project relies on collecting detailed data on sea conditions, ship speed, and weather conditions in real time, and analyzing them using artificial intelligence techniques.

Based on these analyses, the system can make proactive decisions to avoid collisions and marine accidents that could threaten the safety of passengers and cause significant damage to ships and marine infrastructure.

This innovative project can be part of global efforts to enhance sustainability in maritime transport, as it contributes to reducing the environmental impacts of marine accidents, such as oil spills and the resulting pollution. In addition, the system contributes to protecting marine life and ensuring the smooth and safe continuation of global trade.

 combining solar energy and hydrogen fuel cells to provide a sustainable and efficient energy source.

The project depends on converting solar energy into electrical energy using solar panels, and then using this energy to produce hydrogen through the electrolysis process.

The hydrogen is stored and later used to generate electricity through hydrogen fuel cells, which contributes to reducing dependence on fossil fuels and reducing carbon emissions.

The project consists of solar panels that convert sunlight into electrical energy, hydrogen fuel cells that generate electricity by reacting hydrogen with oxygen, a charge controller to regulate the electrical voltage, batteries to store electrical energy, and an electrolysis generator to produce hydrogen from water.

The project aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, enhance energy sustainability, improve energy storage efficiency, and contribute to achieving sustainable development goals, especially in the field of clean energy and climate action. It is considered a model for renewable energy that can be widely applied in the future.

Student Ali Al-Loughani has a long record of creativity and invention, as he has previously won a number of awards and honors for his efforts and achievements.

Last year, 2023, he won the 34th edition of the Technology, Innovation and Invention Exhibition in Malaysia for his invention of a robot that helps senior citizens in their daily lives using Internet of Things technologies.

He won second place in the Young Inventors category out of 700 competing inventors from 19 countries around the world.

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

_______________

___________________________________

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

OMAN : Maria Mohammed Al Rahbi student of Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) Wins 02nd place in International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP) 2024 competition

Maria Mohammed Al Rahbi, a student of Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), won second place at the individual level in the World Photography Cup for Universities and Higher Education Institutions 2024.

Maria Al Rahbi is a computer science major at the University’s College of Science and a member of the photography group at the Deanship of Student Affairs. She took part in the contest as part of a team representing SQU after the competition was announced to all higher education institutions around the world.

Each institution is allowed to participate with a maximum of 5 students. Each student can compete with 4 photos.

The competition was organized by the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP) and it saw the participation of 88 universities from around the world.

The jury included prominent specialists in the world of photography, including photographers from National Geographic society, the Silk Road Photography Organisation, and officials from the International Federation of Photographic Art or “Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique” (FIAP).

It is worth noting that the award will be presented at a ceremony in China in October 2024 as part of similar events that include an international conference and a photography exhibition.

Fifteen of Maria Al Rahbi’s works of art will be displayed in FIAP wings. On the sidelines of the award ceremony, Maria will participate in a workshop to be attended by international photographers.

source/content: timesofoman.com (headline edited)

_____________

___________

OMAN

    FUJAIRIAH- U.A.E: Mohammed Al Sharqi meets Gharib Al Yamahi and congratulates him on winning first place in the “Arab Reading Challenge”

    H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, stressed the role of reading and knowledge in developing the skills of the individual and providing him with the expertise and knowledge that enhance his human and societal awareness, pointing to the support and follow-up of H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, for the achievers among the sons of the Emirates and their empowerment in the process of building the present and future of the nation.

    This came during His Highness’s meeting, in his office at the Emiri Diwan, with the student Ghareeb Mohammed Al Yamahi from the Emirate of Fujairah, who won first place in the People of Determination category at the conclusion of the Arab Reading Challenge qualifiers in its seventh session at the level of the UAE.

    His Highness congratulated the student, Ghareeb Al Yamahi, praising his determination and willpower in facing challenges, overcoming them and achieving the greatest ambitions. His Highness stressed the pivotal role of the family in instilling the value of love of knowledge and learning in the souls of its children, and supporting them to continue their creativity and excellence in various fields.

    Gharib Al Yamahi expressed his happiness at meeting His Highness the Crown Prince of Fujairah, extending his thanks and appreciation to His Highness for his supportive and encouraging words to the people of Fujairah towards achieving more accomplishments.

    The meeting was attended by His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Hamdan Al Zeyoudi, Director of the Office of His Highness the Crown Prince of Fujairah. 

    source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

    ______________



    ________________________________________________

    FUJAIRAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

     

    EGYPT: ‘Da7e7:’ The Digital Brainiac Who’s Making Learning Fun Again

    When you think of YouTube sensations who can turn any topic into a binge-worthy experience, this name is the one that pops up.

    In a world overflowing with content creators, this Egyptian YouTuber stands out as a modern-day educator, transforming dry subjects into exhilarating lessons wrapped in humor and charisma.

    With a knack for breaking down complex topics into digestible chunks, “Da7e7’s” videos are like your favorite comfort food — if comfort food could explain quantum physics or the intricacies of ancient civilizations. 

    With a channel boasting 1.93 million subscribers and 208 videos, this Egyptian YouTuber has become a beacon of educational entertainment

    But Da7e7’s reach doesn’t stop at his own channel. His videos have also found a home on the New Media Academy Life YouTube channel, a hub dedicated to content creation and education. 

    This platform aims to amplify the presence of Arabs in the digital space, and Da7e7’s engaging content is a perfect fit. 

    Through this collaboration, his insightful and humorous videos are reaching an even broader audience, making education not just accessible but highly entertaining.

    His channel, a treasure trove of knowledge and wit, has garnered millions of subscribers who tune in not just to learn but to be entertained. 

    Who knew that physics could be as gripping as a season finale of your favorite drama?

    Da7e7’s approach is anything but ordinary. Imagine sitting in a lecture where the professor actually understands memes, pop culture references, and can make you laugh while dropping knowledge bombs. 

    That’s Da7e7 for you. His ability to connect with a diverse audience, from teens to adults, is what makes him a standout in the digital realm. 

    It’s like he’s the cool teacher we all wish we had, minus the 8 a.m. classes.

    In a landscape where educational content often feels as exciting as watching paint dry, Da7e7’s channel is a breath of fresh air. 

    Each episode feels like a lively conversation with a brilliant friend who has a way of making even the most daunting topics approachable. 

    Plus, his knack for storytelling and his infectious enthusiasm mean that viewers aren’t just learning—they’re eagerly anticipating what will come next.

    So, the next time you’re in the mood for some brainy fun, turn on Da7e7’s channel. 

    Whether you’re a lifelong learner or just someone looking for a few laughs mixed with some knowledge, this YouTube genius has got you covered. 

    Think of it as your personal TED Talk, but with a lot more pizzazz and a lot fewer PowerPoint slides.

    source/content: moroccoworldnews.com (headline edited)

    ________

    __________

    EGYPT

    SAUDI ARABIA : The First International Artificial Intelligence Olympiad (IAIO) begins in Riyadh

    The first activities of the International Artificial Intelligence Olympiad (IAIO) began yesterday, Sunday, which is organized by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), for the first time in the world, in cooperation with the International Center for Research and Ethics in Artificial Intelligence (ICAIRE) and the International Research Center for Artificial Intelligence in Slovenia, and under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with the participation of more than 25 countries.

    The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that the Olympiad, which will continue until September 12, 2024, contributes to strengthening friendly international relations between technology and software experts and artificial intelligence teachers in various countries, drawing the attention of young people to these modern technologies, and encouraging other countries to organize similar competitions in the future.


    The Olympiad aims to motivate participants to engage in active discussions to explore the various applications of artificial intelligence, and encourage exceptionally talented young people in this field, which is of increasing global interest.


    It also contributes to enhancing the organization of artificial intelligence competitions for secondary school students, and motivating them to find smart solutions by designing algorithms based on learning, data structuring, and programming.


    The Olympiad enables male and female students, artificial intelligence specialists, and influencers in the world to delve into the future landscape of artificial intelligence, keep pace with the rapid changes the world is witnessing in this field, and provide young cadres with modern technical skills

    source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

    ___________

    __________________

    SAUDI ARABIA

    ARAB AWARDS: 8 University Lecturers on Shortlist for Most Innovative Teacher in Arab World

    Times Higher Education has announced a shortlist of eight finalists for its Most Innovative Teacher of the Year in the Arab World award.

    The winner will be announced in December during the Arab Universities Summit in Jordan. Times Higher Education (THE), a British higher-education data company widely known for its World University Rankings, is organising the award in partnership with the University of Jordan and Al-Ahliyya Amman University.

    The most innovative teacher award is part of a competition called THE Awards Arab World, which aims to “identify and promote innovative and inspiring work taking place at higher education institutions, whatever their size, reputation, or focus, and wherever they may be located.” Candidates for the awards may come from internationally renowned institutions or lesser-known institutions operating in challenging circumstances.

    Times Higher Education said it had received over 400 entries from 15 countries for this year’s awards, which have 12 categories. To see the full lists of shortlisted candidates in each category, please click here.

    Phil Baty, Times Higher Education’s chief global affairs officer, said it had been a huge challenge to narrow down the field and select the “elite group” of candidates for the most innovative teacher shortlist. “Those who made it should be very proud of their achievements,” he said.

    The finalists for the Most Innovative Teacher award are:

    The awards website gives a brief summary of each competitor. Following are excerpts from those descriptions:

    Ibrahim Issa Al Balushi. Al Balushi is a senior lecturer and head of entrepreneurship and business incubation activities, as well as the head of the Curriculum and Instructional Resources Committee at the College of Engineering, National University of Science and Technology, in Oman. Known for his innovative teaching strategies and student support, Al Balushi received the Academic Excellence Award for Best Teacher in the College of Engineering in 2021. He also plays a key role in national projects aimed at developing entrepreneurship courses.

    Fatma Alzahraa Abdelsalam Elkhamisi. Elkhamisi is an assistant professor of pathology and director of the International Student Unit at the Faculty of Medicine at Helwan University, in Egypt. She has implemented a continuous cycle of student-centred approaches, emphasising clinical relevance, diverse learning styles, and motivation theories. Elkhamisi is known for designing engaging learning environments using digital tools, collaborative work, peer teaching, and reflective learning.

    Mohamed Amin. Amin is an associate professor and coordinator of social responsibility activities at Alamain International University, in Egypt. He teaches an elective course called “Community Participation in the Development of Modern Egypt” using innovative methods such as the flipped classroom model, game-based learning, and project-based learning.

    Abir Enany. Enany is a faculty member and vice dean of the Faculty of Science at Egypt’s Misr University for Science and Technology. In the spring semester of 2023, she introduced a new approach to teaching a course on ancient Egyptian archaeology from the Middle Kingdom. Her innovative plan involved transforming course topics into sustainable development projects, with each site assigned to a student group for development, making the material more engaging and understandable.

    Amer Hijazi. Hijazi is recognised as one of the top 10 influencers at Jordan’s Ahliyya Amman University, where he is transforming educational standards by engaging students as active participants. His innovative teaching methods, including software clinics that reflect industry standards, focus on creativity rather than traditional metrics, significantly impacting sustainable development goals like quality education and sustainable cities.

    Mohamed Ismail. Ismail is a professor of physics at the Faculty of Engineering at Egypt University of Informatics. Upon returning to Egypt after earning his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from Kansas State University, in the United States, he introduced innovative teaching methods. He developed a mobile application for interactive student feedback, real-time comprehension assessments during large lectures, and live demonstrations. Ismail also leads faculty initiatives to support students’ academic, social, and psychological well-being. Additionally, he founded a popular YouTube channel that has become the most-watched physics channel in the Arab world, expanding his teaching reach globally.

    Zahy Ramadan. Ramadan is a professor of marketing and management at the Lebanese American University, in Beirut. Times Higher Education quotes from Ramadan’s application: “As an academic with 20 years of experience in marketing across the Middle East, Gulf, and Asia Pacific regions, I believe in a holistic learning approach that emphasises continuous high engagement, interactive scenario building, market simulations, integrating advanced research into the curriculum, and learning by doing.”

    Rami Abdullah Wahsheh. Wahsheh is an associate professor in the departments of communications engineering and electrical engineering at Jordan’s Princess Sumaya University of Science and Technology. Wahsheh said: “My goal as a teacher is to help students understand the subject matter and learn how to teach themselves beyond structured learning, by focusing on fundamental problem-solving skills.”

    He added: “To encourage students to continuously learn, explore knowledge, solve problems, and connect course content to job market skills, I have revised my approach to recording lectures. This involves linking examples given to real-world practical applications. I have also adopted new techniques in teaching and learning.”

    YouTube Channel Leads to Job Offer

    When he heard he had been shortlisted for the Times Higher Education award, Ismail told Al Fanar Media: “I’m thrilled, as it honours over twenty-two years of my career in higher education.”

    Ismail said he joined Egypt University of Informatics at the request of students. “The students, who were following my YouTube channel and struggling with physics, went to the dean of the college, Dr. Amr Elmasry, and asked for my help. The university then reached out to me via email with a great job offer, and I decided to join them.”

    Last year, YouTube gave Ismail a YouTube Creator Award for his scientific content’s widespread popularity. His channel, “Physics for Engineers,” has over 198,000 subscribers and has garnered millions of views.

    source/content: al-fanarmedia.org (headline edited)

    __________

     Times Higher Education announces the shortlist for its Most Innovative Teacher of the Year in the Arab World award.

    ________________________________________

    EGYPT / JORDAN / LEBANON / OMAN

    EGYPTIAN Ahmed Omar, UAE’s Walt Disney, leaves a legacy at 85

    Omar created and launched Majid Magazine for children, and an array of adorable characters, in 1979.

    Just as Walt Disney founded one of the world’s largest and most influential entertainment conglomerates, an Egyptian journalist is hailed as the “Walt Disney of the UAE” for his pivotal role in shaping the region’s media landscape with Majid Magazine.

    For many Arab adults now in their 50s, the magazine and its beloved characters, like Majid, Kaslan Jiddan and Captain Khalfan, are cherished symbols of childhood joy. Yet, few recognize the creative genius behind these treasured memories: Ahmed Omar, who passed away on Aug. 9 at the age of 85.

    His vision and storytelling prowess were crucial in shaping the magazine’s enduring legacy.

    Born in Egypt in September 1939, Omar embarked on a lifelong journey with words and stories.

    His passion for reading blossomed at a young age, and school and public libraries became his sanctuaries, where he delved into a world of diverse books and nurtured a profound love for literature.

    Omar’s frequent visits to Cairo’s Azbakeya Book Market, where he discovered affordable secondhand books, helped him build a personal library filled with diverse titles. His extensive reading played a crucial role in shaping his vision and enriching his ideas, which later shone through in his literary works.

    He read to build a deep reservoir of knowledge, with classical literature captivating him from an early age. Naguib Mahfouz’s novels, which delve into the intricacies of life in Egyptian neighborhoods, had a profound impact on him. Omar was also shaped by the works of renowned Egyptian writers like Yusuf Idris, Gamal El-Ghitani, Mohamed Hassanein Heikal and other prominent authors.

    He began his professional career at the UAE’s Al-Etihad newspaper, where he was a founding member and contributed to laying its foundation. He later managed the local news section.

    The most significant achievement of his career was establishing Majid Magazine for children and becoming its editor-in-chief in 1979. The idea for the magazine was born within Al-Etihad daily and eventually transformed into one of the most important children’s magazines in the Arab world.

    Omar recognized the need for Arab children to have a publication that represented them, stimulated their imagination and nurtured their minds. Working alongside a talented team of journalists and illustrators, he turned the magazine into a platform for expressing the thoughts and emotions of Arab children through words and drawings.

    Through his tireless efforts, Omar made the magazine a symbol of Arab childhood and a cherished part of the memories of successive generations.

    He spent most of his time in the magazine’s offices, creating, planning, overseeing writers and content, and preparing issues. When a new issue was printed, he had several weeks’ worth of issues ready in advance.

    The inaugural issue of the magazine was published on Feb. 28, 1979, with 5,000 free copies that quickly vanished from the shelves. Majid, a character representing human values rather than superpowers, struck a chord with children. Majid Magazine maintained a weekly publication schedule every Wednesday without fail, gaining significant popularity throughout the region.

    Omar oversaw and managed the magazine with ultimate care and interest for almost 30 years. He provided guiding articles for children and wrote scripts for comic stories, enriching each issue with beloved characters such as Zaki the Clever and Captain Khalfan, among others.

    His editorials in Majid Magazine served as weekly lessons for both children and adults, filled with educational messages and moral guidance. His contributions established him as an educational pioneer, as he dedicated his knowledge to serving the younger generation and imparting valuable lessons.

    Through his deep understanding of the nuances and secrets of childhood, Omar succeeded in capturing the attention of children from across the Arab world. The magazine’s readership grew to hundreds of thousands of young readers.

    The late journalist believed that nurturing a love of reading in children is a collective duty of families, schools and magazines alike. He famously remarked: “Instilling a reading habit early in life is crucial, as it is difficult to cultivate later on. Introducing a child to a magazine is not just about providing entertainment — it’s a crucial step toward nurturing a lifelong passion for reading.”

    Since the inception of the magazine, Omar was dedicated to imbuing it with a distinctly Gulf Arab flavor, reflected in its content, stories and characters. He attracted leading children’s writers and cartoonists, ensuring the magazine resonated deeply with young readers across the Arab world by preserving the unique identity of Gulf children.

    Notable characters such as Kaslan Jiddan, Fadooli, Abu Al-Dhurfaa, Zakiyah Al-Zakiyah, Shamsa and Dana, and Captain Khalfan and his assistant Fahman became beloved figures among the magazine’s young audience.

    Omar emphasized that his magazine was designed to appeal to children growing up in a traditional environment, instilling religious values, cultural awareness and pride in their Arab heritage.

    As a testimony to his magazine’s success, mail subscriptions to Majid flourished throughout the Arab World as fans eagerly awaited each issue every Wednesday. For decades, it managed to compete with translated comics magazines such as Mickey (licensed from Disney and translated in Egypt) and Little Lulu (licensed and translated in Lebanon).

    Consequently, the magazine evolved alongside the UAE’s social progress and embraced digital advancements with a YouTube channel and a website, although critics would argue that it is nowhere as influential today — despite the additional reach provided by modern technology — as it once was in the 1990s and 1980s.

    source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

    _______________

    __________

    EGYPT

    SAUDI ARABIA: The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL) launches books on promotion of Arabic in 4 countries

    • – Four publications are part of The Arabic Language in the World series
      • – Publications aim to build bridges of communication with Arabic- speaking peoples around the world

    The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL) launched four new publications on Thursday.

    According to a statement, the four publications are part of The Arabic Language in the World series, and include the books: “The Arabic Language in Chad,” “The Arabic Language in Thailand,” “The Arabic language in Kyrgyzstan: A Critical Analytical Descriptive Study” and “The Arabic Language in the Comoros.”

    The publications aim to build bridges of communication with Arabic-speaking peoples around the world.

    Language researchers, academics, and institutions inside and outside the Kingdom can view the books on the KSGAAL website via: https://library.ksaa.gov.sa/index/view/78.

    Dr. Abdullah Al-Washmi, secretary-general of KSGAAL, said the academy’s Specialized Global Research Track project includes a variety of disciplines and arts related to the Arabic language.

    The Arabic Language in the World series seeks to deepen communication between institutions and individuals concerned with the language.

    The program involves about 1,100 researchers from 76 countries around the world.

    KSGAAL is tasked with supporting the Arabic language, enhancing its status, preserving its integrity in speech and writing, documenting its origins, methods, vocabulary and grammar, and facilitating learning inside and outside Saudi Arabia, Al-Washmi said.

    source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

    ___________

    The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL) has launched four new publications. (Supplied)

    _________________

    SAUDI ARABIA

    ARAB AMERICANS: The Innovative Flair Arab Inventors Bring to America

      Our research shows the impact Arab and Middle Eastern inventors have had on innovation in the U.S.

      Although Donald Trump’s administration believes that “making America great again” involves limiting certain visitors and immigrants from entering the country, data shows that immigrants from the Middle East have consistently made innovative contributions to the United States. Examples range from GE inventor Hassan Kamel Al-Sabah, a Lebanese-born innovator in the 1920s and 30s to Farouk Al-Baz, the NASA and MIT scientist, originally from Egypt, who helped plan the Apollo landing, to Algerian-born Elias A. Zerhouni, director of the National Institutes of Health. 

      Immigrants from Muslim-majority countries have contributed to American ideals and icons. A Saudi and two Moroccans were part of the core team of scientists that recently discovered the seven planets around the star Trappist-1; Shahid Khan, a Pakistani-born entrepreneur, was on the cover of Forbes representing The American Dream in 2012; a Syrian immigrant is often credited with the invention of the ice cream cone, and famously, the child of another Syrian immigrant created the iPhone.

      Despite these positive stories, there is little research on the extent of Arab inventors’ contributions to American innovation. So we set out to document it.

      What’s in a name?

      We started by matching Arabic first names with international patent applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) from people residing in the U.S. and around the world. This approach has been used before in the study of ethnic innovation in the U.S. as well as in the study of female inventors.

      First names like Mohammad, Ali or Omar are not unique to Arabs and some Arabs may have non-Arabic names such as George or Anthony. We tried to mitigate this issue by excluding non-Arab variations of Arabic names that are common for non-Arab Muslims. Another shortcoming is that we are not able through names only to know whether someone is U.S.-born or foreign-born. This overlap between Muslim and Arab identity is not relevant because both are targeted in Trump’s immigration policy. For this piece, we’ll refer to both groups as Arab inventors.

      We found that 8,786 U.S. PCT patent applications from 2009-2013 had at least one Arab or Muslim inventor. 3.4 percent of patent applications had at least one Arab or Muslim inventor from a population that represents only 0.3 percent of the total population of the U.S. As patents usually have multiple inventors and Arab inventors often co-patent with non-Arabs, 2961 patents or 1.2 percent can be contributed to only Arab inventors.

      Where Arab inventors are found

      In fact, the U.S. is the main home for Arab inventors globally, distantly followed by France (513 patent applications), Canada (361), Germany (342), Saudi Arabia (307), Japan (279) and the United Kingdom (273).

      Not only is the U.S. the centre of Arab inventors, but since 2000, their share of patent applications has increased 137 percent.  With 1134 in California alone, Arab or Muslim innovation is more than doubly represented in a single state than in France.

      Arab inventors show some specialisation in the fields of information and communication technologies, as well as medical and veterinary sciences. They are statistically over-represented in electrical and communication technology, computing, calculating and counting.

      America’s tech scenes in Silicon Valley, Boston and elsewhere show Arab inventors contributing significantly to America’s global innovation prowess. Tech entrepreneurs, such Amr Awadallah, co-founder of Cloudera, Rana El Kalioubi of Affectiva, and Mo Gawdat of Google, are a few examples of Arab inventors making major contributions.

      Who comes to America

      Looking at visa patterns, the bulk of Arab inventors settle in the U.S. through immigration channels such as family reunion and as refugees. This has an implication for the current immigration debate. In 2013, there were approximately 1.02 million immigrants from Arab countries residing in the U.S., representing 2.5 percent of the nation’s 41.3 million immigrants. About 43 percent of Arab immigrants (ages 25 and over) had a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 28 percent of all immigrants and 30 percent of native-born adults. Skilled Arab immigrants thus are arriving to the U.S. on non-skilled visas as people from MENA generally do not benefit from the H1-B visa, receiving collectively less than 10 percent of total visas granted to foreign-born skilled workers. While there were around 108,000 students from MENA in the U.S. in 2016, not many were PhD candidates at U.S. universities.

      The recent visa ban of citizens from six countries from the Middle East and Africa has negative implications for the American innovation system. Not only do immigrants from these countries tend to be in possession of higher education levels than average population or other immigrant groups, research also points to positive impact on trade between sending and receiving countries. In fact, research suggests that highly skilled individuals in business development roles generate over ten times the value of trade than average migrants. Highly educated immigrants in general are also most conducive to trade flows. President Trump should examine the evidence about how “great” innovation in the U.S. can be, thanks to inventors from all over the world, before banning visitors from the Middle East and North Africa.

      Sami Mahroum is a Senior Lecturer, and Academic and Executive Director of INSEAD’s Innovation and Policy Initiative, based at the school’s Abu Dhabi campus. He is author of Black Swan Start-ups: Understanding the Rise of Successful Technology Business in Unlikely Places and, with Yasser Al-Saleh, Economic Diversification Policies in Natural Resource Rich Economies.

      Georg Zahradnik is a scientist at the Austrian Institute of Technology, Center for Innovation Systems and Policy.

      Bernhard Dachs is a senior scientist at the Austrian Institute of Technology, Center for Innovation Systems and Policy.

      A version of this article was published in the Harvard Business Review.

      source/content: knowledge.insead.edu / (Sami Mahroum) (headline edited)

      ____________

      _____________________

      AMERICAN / ARAB

      EGYPTIAN Researcher records new unknown genus of rodents dating back 34 million years

      About 34 million years ago, in the Eocene period of the Paleogene (the period from 66 to 23 million years ago), and in a tropical-like environment with forests and swamps in what is today the Qatrani Desert in Egypt’s Fayoum Depression, a genus of rodents that was not known before, used to live. 

      In a new study published in PeerJ, researcher Shorouk Al-Ashqar, a member of the “Sallam Lab” team specialised in vertebrate fossils at Mansoura University, studied two skulls and a large group of mandibles of fossils belong to the “Qatranimys Safroutus”.

      “But it wasn’t easy; the samples were very small and very thin and adhered to the solid rocky clay, which made preparing the samples for study very difficult. We had to make accurate CT scans to be able to study them in a three-dimensional image,” said Hesham Sallam, the lead author of the study. 

      The newly discovered genus of rodents was called “Qatranimys Safroutus” which refers to the location of the discovery in the first word, whilst “safroutus” means too small in the Egyptian Arabic dialect.

      The length of the molar of Qatranimys Safroutus was one millimetre, and its skull was about 1.5 centimetres long, and its weight did not exceed 45 grams. 

      Jebel Qatrani Formation is famous for its rich rodent assemblages from the Eocene–Oligocene deposits, which contributes to enhancing our understanding of the origin and paleobiogeography of what scientists call the “Hystricognathi” which are an infraorder of rodents, distinguished from other rodents by the bone structure of their skulls.

      Al-Ashqar said that the samples used in the study showed clear differences in the morphological characteristics of the upper and lower teeth. And by comparing these samples with the discovered rodents from Afro-Arabia, it was clear that it belongs to a new genus that has never been discovered before.

      “We did not only record a new genus and species, but we were able to record the first bones of the skull of a large group to which the discovery belongs, called the “Phiocricetomys”, she added. 

      Researchers from Mansoura University, the American University in Cairo, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Duke University and the University of Salford participated in the study.

      source/content: dailynewsegypt.com (headline edited)

      ________

      _________

      EGYPT