The Journey of an Arab American Scientist

1
The Journey of an Arab American Scientist

• Rima Kaddurah- Daouk, Ph.D.
• Duke University Medical Center

2
Science in the Middle East

• An early start at home The parent educator
• Jordan a short lived journey
• Apprenticeship at the American University of
  Beirut
• Science in war time The Dream and Uncle Sam

3
In the Beginnings. 1862 The Syrian Protestant
College Later, American University of Beirut
4
Let them have lifeand have it abundantly Daniel
Bliss, Missionary and Founder of AUB
5
Research Laboratories overlooking the
Mediterranean..
6
The Trip to the USA

• A ticket to visit the USA
• A stop at Hopkins to visit a friend
• A transformation
• Transition to Boston institutions and the spirit
  of the North East
• On the path to entrepreneurship

7
The Invisible Helping Hand

• First advisor at Hopkins Hamilton Smith
• The Harvard link Robert Kingston
• The MIT launching board
• Paul Schimmel
• Lita Nelson
• The Melting pot _at_ Duke
• Above all the men in my life!

8
Professional Challenges in the US

• Funding for big vision
• Woman in science
• Starting a family and competitiveness

9
The Arab American Network

• Doing great science in the US
• An incredible resource
• Could play key role in bridging the east and the
  west
• Unused as an effective tool
• Should be empowered

10
Examples of things we tried to do to bridge east
and west

• Experience in Jordan the ASTA experience
• http//www.asta-net.org/
• Experience in Lebanon Back to the AUB
• http//www.aub.edu/
• Experience in the UAE
• ASTF
• Biotechnology park
• http//www.dubiotech.com/
• The MIT experience MISTI
• North Africa Qatar vision

11
Bottom Line

• Pre industrial revolution
• No value on science and scientists
• Great minds no ability to do and impact
• Governments with different priorities
• Science is language of logic- much needed
• Biggest hope for reaching out and away from
  irrational thinking
• Desperately need the scientific way of thinking
  at a very young age.. Transform minds!

12
Back to the Middle East how can we help?

• Continue our enabling positions in the US
• Adoption and adaptation
• Translate cultural differences both ways
• Negotiate initiatives with host countries
• Help train young minds and send them back

13
What can be done

• Early education in scientific ways of thinking
• Governments need to be educated
• Economic benefits
• Technology projects that uses expertise and low
  cost labor towards manufacturing and moving
  economies
• Funding for collaborative projects between
  researchers in US and ME
• Science is a universal language
• Role of multinationals in spreading science and
  technology
• Role of universities in globalization of ST
• Role of Scientific organizations such as AAAS
• Role of Government agencies

14
How can the US Help

• Science as a diplomatic tool among nations
• Helping the industrialization process
• Helping in the pre-college education
• Helping those who want to help their countries of
  origin
• Scientific and educators exchange
• Projects across the pond Use of remote education
  and teleconferencing

15
Hope

• The coming generation
• High school
• College experience
• Science is a universal language
• Economic benefits
• Role of multinationals in spreading science and
  technology
• Role of universities in globalization of ST
• Role of Scientific organizations such as AAAS
• Role of Government agencies