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Her Majesty meets with Phi Science Institute, discusses shortfalls of scientific research in Jordan, region
AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania met with members of the Phi Science Institute in Amman on Monday to learn about its efforts in promoting innovative educational approaches among children and youth.
Now with 140 members, the initiative began three years ago as a small club created by Hashemite University medical student Ahmad Jadallah to offer engaging workshops and conduct scientific research after struggling in his first year with rigid teaching methods and curricula, according to a statement from Her Majesty’s office.
His initiative soon evolved to spread wider awareness about the importance of science and scientific research for youth development through five core programmes.
The Queen joined Jadallah and several other members of the institute in a discussion about their personal experiences with the Jordanian education system and the shortfalls of scientific research in Jordan and the region.
Queen Rania highlighted the importance of investing in scientific educational programmes that rely on innovative and engaging teaching techniques, and called for active collaborations between scientific institutions that work in the same field in order to benefit more Jordanian students.
Her Majesty stopped by PhiNova, the institute’s main writing, translation and publishing programme, which publishes more than 600 translated scientific articles onto Phi’s website, and Phi Scientific Research Society, a community platform for research that connects veteran Arab researchers and students.
She also dropped by PhiQuarks, the initiative’s experimental branch, and PhiSci, which deals with video programming and specialised courses.
The institute has produced more than 40 educational video programmes in mathematics, medicine, geology, biology, chemistry and physics, and aims to launch them on an electronic platform soon for science enthusiasts to use, the statement said.
The Phi Institute’s five-core programme also includes PhiEvents, which runs events such as scientific debates, film screenings, courses, competitions and workshops throughout the year.
© Jordan Times 2017
