The Mustafa Prize is a top science and technology award granted to the top researchers and scientists of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states biennially. In its first round, the prestigious prize was granted to the Laureates, Professor Jackie Y. Ying from Singapore and Professor Omar Yaghi from Jordan.
What follows is Mustafa Prize Secretariat interview with Prof. Aliasghar Mirarefi, a faculty member at University of Illinois, US, and also the AUIP Program Director:
How do you evaluate the status of the Islamic World in scientific advancements and in technology-based achievements?
Definitely much below that in the developed countries that have invested a lot of resources to science and technology.
What is the share of scientists from the Islamic World in the science and technology progress?
Developed countries have benefited a lot by attracting scientists from Islamic World and giving them the opportunities and funding to carry out research and contribute to their advancements. Unfortunately Islamic World has not invested enough to be among the beneficiaries of the outcomes of research in developed countries.
How can we achieve even faster progress in science and technology development in the Islamic countries and benefit from the existing capacities?
Investing in attracting expats who are anxious to bring the result of their research to Islamic World countries and commercialize the outcome of their research that can bring economic growth to Islamic World. Industrial involvement can be very important in this respect.
How can the Islamic golden era pioneered through science and technology progress be revived?
Following the guidance of Prophet (PBUH) who emphasized seeking knowledge from birth to death. He made it a necessity for every man and woman to acquire science and encouraged traveling even to China to fulfill their thirst for knowledge. Islamic World need to pay more attention to these facts and invest much more in education and research. They need to facilitate collaborations with scientists from the Western World who are keen to make contribution to advancement of knowledge. Advancement of knowledge and research in the developed countries became possible because these countries invested a lot in attracting top ranked talented researchers and educators and providing an environment that enabled them to flourish and develop their ideas that improve lives.
How do you evaluate science and technology prizes as an instrument for increasing research and development of scientists for regional development and improving the welfare of human beings?
Definitely draws attention, acknowledges, and rewards researchers and research that ultimately contribute to human capital development, bring economic growth to the Islamic countries resulting welfare of human beings.
How do you evaluate the necessity of the Mustafa (PBUH) Prize in developing science and technology in the world of Islam and its role in promoting the quality of the life of people?
It is a very good step to advertise and market the value that Islamic World gives to research and education.
Professor. Aliasghar Mirarefi is a faculty member at University of Illinois, US, and also the AUIP Program Director.
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