JEDDAH, 11 September 2007 -- Eleven Nobel Prize laureates including scientists and economists have agreed to offer their services to King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh under a program aimed at strengthening Saudi Arabia's position in the fast developing science and technology sector.
The 11 are: Dr. Louis Ignarro (Medicine 1998), Dr. Robert Mundell (Economics 1999), Dr. Gunter Blobel (Medicine 1999), Dr. James Heckman (Economics 2000), Dr. Antony Leggett (Physics 2003), Dr. Finn Kydland (Economics 2004), Dr. David Gross (Physics 2004), Dr. Richard Schrock (Chemistry 2005), Dr. Thomas Schelling (Economics 2005), Dr. Muhammad Yunus (Peace 2006), and Dr. Edmund Phelps (Economics 2006).
In a two-page advertisement published in local Arabic newspapers, KSU said its Nobel Laureates Program was aimed at promoting science and technology, boosting research and development, spreading a culture of science and inventions in society and transforming the Kingdom into a knowledge-based economy.
Other objectives behind the program, which is the first of its kind in the Arab world, are: Enhancement of the university's research and consultancy capabilities, encouraging teaching staff, students and researchers to make innovations, and allowing students to have interaction with Nobel laureates in order to make use of their knowledge and expertise.
In its announcement, the university called upon companies, banks and public organizations to make use of the university's research and consultancy capabilities and facilities at King Abdullah Research & Consulting Institute, adding that they are manned by well-qualified hands including Nobel Prize winners.
Last April, the university announced plans to launch a major research and development program with the support of businessmen. "We call upon princes, princesses, businessmen and women, banks and companies to finance research chairs in areas such as medicine, pharmacology, engineering, science, computer science, architecture, agriculture, food, water, gas, oil, economy, business administration, law, political, information, society and private education," the university said.
Individuals have been requested to contribute SR2 million in the first year and SR1 million annually for three or more years while companies and banks have been asked to contribute SR4 million in the first year and SR2 million annually for three or more years or a specific amount for a program for a specified period.
The university offers a number of benefits to contributors. The chair will be named after the contributor and his or her name will be placed on a golden plaque, and on the chair's workshop and all published research works. "Priority will be given to the contributor in making use of the research and consultancy services of the chair," the university said. The contributor will also be honored by presenting its plaque during events related to the chair.
The university's research development project is significant as the Kingdom currently spends only 0.50 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on research. The government intends to spend over SR32 billion ($8.6 billion) on research and development as part of a 20-year National Science and Technology Plan.
The KSU said its research and development program was also aimed at making optimum use of its expertise and facilities. The university has more than 3,000 teaching staff and researchers as well as 10,000 students in its higher education departments.
By P.K. Abdul Ghafour
© Arab News 2007
