Arab Expatriate Scientists Symposium Opens

Doha, November 19 (QNA) - With participation of 80 scientists and researchers leaving abroad, the Arab Expatriate Scientists Symposium began here this evening to network and discuss the best research proposals and ideas that could benefit the Arab region. Organized by QF s Arab Expatriate Scientists Network, the event brings together scientists and researchers of Arab origin who stay in their home countries and those that have left, connecting them to international and local colleagues, stakeholders and students. Director of Arab Expatriate Scientists Network Dr. Nabeel Al-Salem told reporters that this third edition of the conference is a preparation for a bigger forum for Arab expat scientists in April next year in Doha to examine the proposals and ideas resulting from this event as well as to transfer them into a reality. He added that the Arab Expatriate Scientists Network have currently around 5,000 Arab scientists as members, adding that the Network is a platform for the scientists to put forward their research ideas and turn them into reality, to connect them with each other and with Qatar Foundation and its search centers. AES - Network's history goes back to 2005, when HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser brought together select Arab Expatriate Scientists to help develop her vision for building a strong scientific research network in the Middle East, with Qatar as its hub. Since then, the network of scientists has grown and reconvened twice in 2006 and 2007. At their last conference the scientists laid down the roadmap for the three research institutes that QF eventually launched: Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), and Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI). "We will celebrate the realization of this recommendation as three national research institutes under Qatar Foundation have been launched and are now fully operational," said AES Network s director. "We are proud that the directors and scientists running these institutes are returning Arab expat scientists, and hope that the research they do will draw more Arab talent back to where it belongs." (QNA)