Speaker Details

Director, Center for Remote Sensing, Boston University, Boston, MA, U.S.A, adjunct Professor, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Biography:

He received a B.Sc. degree (1958) in chemistry and geology from Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; an M.S. degree (1961) in geology from the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, Rulla, Missouri; and a Ph.D. degree (1964) in geology from the University of Missouri, after performing research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts (1962-63). He taught geology at Assiut University, Egypt (1958-60), and the University of Heidelberg, Germany (1964-1966). In 1989, he received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from New England College, Henniker, New Hampshire. He participated in the Apollo program from 1967 to 1972 as Supervisor of Lunar Science Planning at Bellcomm, Inc. of Bell Telephone Laboratories, Washington, D.C. During these six years, he was Secretary of the Site Selection Committee for the Apollo lunar landings, Chairman of the Astronaut Training Group, and Principal Investigator for Visual Observations and Photography. Beginning in 1973, and for the next ten years, he established and directed the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies at the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. In 1975, he was selected by NASA as Principal Investigator for Earth Observations and Photography on the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, the first joint American-Soviet space mission. From 1982 to 1986, he was Vice President for International Development and for Science and Technology at Itek Optical Systems of Lexington, Massachusetts. Dr. El-Baz served on the Steering Committee of Earth Sciences of the Smithsonian Institution, the Arid and Semi-Arid Research Needs Panel of the National Science Foundation, the Advisory Committee on Extraterrestrial Features of the U.S. Board of Geographic Names, and the Lunar Nomenclature Group of the International Astronomical Union. In 1979, after the United States and China had normalized relations, he conducted the first visit by U.S. scientists to the desert regions of northwestern China. In 1985, he was elected Fellow of the Third World Academy of Sciences and represents the Academy at the Non-Governmental Organizations Unit of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. He also served as Science Advisor (1978-1981) to the late Anwar Sadat, President of Egypt. He is known for pioneering work in the applications of space photography to the understanding of arid terrain, particularly the location of ground-water resources. Based on the analysis of space photographs, his recommendations resulted in the finding of ground-water resources in the Sinai Peninsula, the Western Desert of Egypt and in arid terrains in northern Somalia and the Red Sea province of Eastern Sudan. Furthermore, during the past 20 years, he contributed to interdisciplinary field investigations in all major deserts of the world.

Presentation Abstract:

Human history repeatedly proves that knowledge is the basis for civilized life and the progress of societies. It also shows that while educational institutions are ideal for the diffusion of information, scientific research centers are the most productive agents of the increase of knowledge. Therefore, it is heartening to note that countries in the Arab region have recently embarked on strengthening existing research institutions and initiating new centers for science and technology. Although it is fashionable to name new establishments as “centers of excellence,” it must be cautioned that this description is vastly misleading. Excellence is not granted by a label; it is earned by sustained high-caliber work that results in consistently advancing knowledge. Long-term support of highly focused efforts, which result in cumulative contributions, is required to achieve excellence in any field. Thus, in our plans for the future of scientific research, it is advisable to select a finite number of endeavors. This assures reaching the goal of making a significant impact on society and a tangible contribution to human knowledge. Leading international organizations of science and technology have recently identified the most pressing research areas for the next century. One example is the “Grand Challenges for Engineering” by the U.S. National Academy of Engineering. Meeting such challenges in the future requires well-focused basic and applied research breakthroughs to serve as bases for engineering advancements. Scientific research organizations in developed countries have already specified fields to concentrate their efforts in the foreseeable future. Selection of fields for future scientific research centers in the Arab region can benefit from such forward-looking ideas and plans. For examples, topics that particularly apply to the region include food (agricultural products), water (groundwater and desalination), health (disease and pharmaceuticals), energy (oil and gas) and renewable energy (solar and wind). These designations are to illustrate the need to depart form the conventional thrusts of research establishments of the last century. Identifying the objectives for new centers of scientific research in the Arab region can benefit from the fact that the field is wide open. It requires, first, the identification of areas where local researchers have the capacity to innovate and excel. Second, it necessitates the enumeration of priorities and timelines for the various endeavors. These objectives should also take into account the potential benefits to economic development for long-term support, financially by policy makers and morally by the general public. This support encourages the unleashing of the intellectual energy of researchers to contribute to the increase of knowledge for the benefit of society.

Status: Confirmed