Zewail: I owe my prize to my country of origin 

Egyptian scientist Dr. Ahmed Zewail said he owes a lot to his home country and his family for the Nobel prize awarded to him. 

In a press conference he held after he won the prize, Dr. Zewail said he wishes Egypt all prosperity and welfare, describing it "mother of civilization". In an exclusive statement to Al-Ahram newspaper Dr. Zewail said that  what accounts is the scientific value of the prize. 
 
He hoped that the prize would teach Egyptian youth the lesson that success can be gained by hard work and science. He added that the prize mirrors to world's interest in science and technology. 

Egyptian scientist Ahmed Zewail called for establishing world scientific university 
in Egypt to face the challenges of the 21st century. This came in an international press conference held within the framework of celebrations of  Kafr El-Sheikh and Al-Behera governorates to honor the celebrated scientist 
 

The Future of Science in Egypt 

by Dr. Ahmed Zewail 

In my lecture on "Egypt and a new era of science", the controversial point of the debate was about the future of science in Egypt. But first we have to talk about the scientific society. Can science grow without a scientific atmosphere? Of course the answer shall be No. There are social prerequisites for science, and without them no development or improvement could be effected. Science is not a gift or a grant, rather it is honestly a hard work. And no scientist can discover, invent, or improve without an availabe scientific society. The scientific society has three pillars; science, technology and society. Science creates technology which in turn helps to develop it, and both are available only in a society that appreciates science. 

Here I would like to mention that a society may take a long time in order to be coloured with a scientific colour, but it is not a wisdom to stand waiting for such colour. We have to jump as some countries have done, and succeeded in so doing. We have to jump by establishing high-levelled scientific centers or academies according to international standards. Such centers can cooperate to achieve excellent and high-level success in all fields, in spite of all the surrounding poverty. I am one of the admirers of such countries that succeeded in applying the scientific centers. Egypt is in bad need of doing such attempt, and making good use of its form in order to achieve the desired progress and prosperity. 

An existing scientific society is based on the freedom of research and economies geared for such research. Concerning the freedom of  research; the most serious problem that can face it, is more arguments that bring out further controversial points. Of course, this can endanger the scientific research. I mean that there must be limits for the scientific research. A scientist should not break his national and moral chains in his approach. Donators and tax-payers should limit their financial support to scientific bodies that preserve national and moral conventions. 

A scientific society is a prerequisit for progress because of three potential factors: First; reasoning that can create a mature public opinion. Second; trust in the ability of achieving the desired aims. Third;national pride of able minds that can support youth efforts, while the coming generations can make use of their makings. 

Now back to the theme of my article; what is the future of science in Egypt? How can Egypt acquire a proper position in the new century? We can apply that by working on three basics, which I name "the Egyptian fundamental trio". 

First; establishing enlightening scientific centers, which would be the starting point for a national trust in the necessity of the scientific research. Such centers will be wordly respected and will be attractive for foreign scientists, and in turn there would be a top-level mutual exchange. Such centers could participate on the political level, by playing a good role in the peace process. Second; restructuring the scientific research nationally. We have to give a chance to the best of scientists, and support them in our best effort. 

Third; the national doctrine; we should have a firm belief in the conventions of Egyptian civilization. My proposal is to establish two bodies able to serve the purpose: First; the National Association for Science and Technology, that works with a new spirit of responsibility tending to divide the approaches of research. It is better, in the beginning, to make use of foreign scientists. Such Association shall choose the most important researches in Egypt and examine them by means of accuracy and scientific importance. The approved research would have the proper financing to be able to participate internationally. 

Second; the National Council for Science and Technology, which should be under the sponsership of the President. Such sponsership will result in a trust and a hope to develop and improve our scientific approaches. People will understand the importance of science,especially we are on the doorsteps of the 21 Century. 

I would like to conclude that I hope and trust that Egypt will achieve the scientific progress by honest work of its citizens. Egypt is able to break the chains and upgrade to the international level. But we have to start now, we should not waste time. 

 Egypt is able to complete the role of its ancestors, and become a scientifically top-level country.