Speaker Details

Biovision Next Speaker Details

Biography

Professor Mohammad Ahmed Hamdan, BSc (Cairo University), PhD (Sydney University) Professor Hamdan received the BSc in Mathematics (with honors) from Cairo University in 1957, and the PhD in Mathematical Statistics from Sydney University in 1963. He was appointed Senator at the Upper House of Parliament in Jordan in December 2007 by a Royal Decree. He served as Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Jordan for three terms, and as Secretary General of the Higher Council for Science and Technology from September 1998 to July 1999. He joined the Arab Open University as Rector and Founding Member from 1999 to 2001 and as Senior Advisor from October 2001 to August 2002. He had to leave the University to serve as Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research from September 2002 to November 2003, but immediately after his term ended, he was re-appointed Senior Advisor of the Arab Open University; a post which he still holds to present day. Besides the Arab Open University, Professor Hamdan is currently Vice President for Jordan Academy for Arabic Language and Vice President for The World Academy of Science/ Arab Region (TWAS), President of the Union of Arab Statisticians, he was also President and Founding Member of two public universities in Jordan: the Yarmouk University and the Hashemite University. Earlier in his career, he held several posts at the University of Jordan including Professor of Mathematics, Dean of Faculty of Science, Dean of Scientific Research and Dean of Student Affairs. At the academic level outside Jordan, Professor Hamdan served as Faculty Member (Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor) at the American University of Beirut, Beirut (1965-1976), and as Visiting Professor of Mathematics at the American University of Cairo, Egypt, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA, and Riyadh University, Saudi Arabia. In terms of academic research, Professor Hamdan is Member of the Editorial Board of several research journals. He supervised several PhD dissertations and MSc theses throughout his career, and was keynote speaker in numerous scientific conferences; and national and international consultations in the areas of Mathematics, Mathematical Statistics, Education and Higher Education. He is also member of reveal academic and cultural institutions, particularly: Arab Thought Form, Islamic Academy of Sciences (IAS). He published numerous papers in the area of Mathematical Statistics.

Abstract

New Life Sciences: Some Bioethical Issues

New Life Sciences: Some Bioethical Issues* M.A. Hamdan (TWAS Fellow) Arab Open University Abstract It has been established that the freedom of science and research, scientific and technological developments has been, and can be, of great benefit to humankind in increasing life expectancy and improving the quality of life, and emphasizing that such developments should always seek to promote the welfare of individuals, families, groups or communities and humankind as a whole in the recognition of the dignity of the human person and universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms. In fact, decisions regarding ethical issues in medicine, life sciences and associated technologies may have an impact on individuals, families, groups or communities and humankind as a whole. Besides, moral sensitivity and ethical reflection should be an integral part of the process of scientific and technological developments and that bioethics should play a predominant role in the choices that need to be made concerning issues arising from such developments. In light of such considerations, UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee (IBC) issued its third Declaration: Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (UDBHR), which was adopted by UNESCO’s General Conference in (2005). This paper presents briefly the scope, aims, principles, application and promotion of UDBHR. Hence, based on the principles delineated in UDBHR, and in the light of the rapid advancements in research related to medicine, life sciences and associated technologies, the paper addresses critical ethical issues which are highly relevant to human rights, human dignity and fundamental freedoms. * Paper presented at 4th TWAS/BioVision NXT 2016, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, 12-14 April 2016.