The development and encouragement of scientific research must begin with the student, from the moment they sit on school benches in their early stages of education, before entering the university, and must continue through their years of preparation for life, even after graduation. It is clear that employing scientific research methods and training in their use prepares individuals for creativity, the effective use of their acquired knowledge and sciences, and develops their abilities to overcome obstacles and solve problems they face in their daily lives.

Science and technology cannot flourish in any society without building a foundational base for scientific research activities. Such a base is the starting point and the only means for developing knowledge, inventions, and innovations. A society cannot develop and succeed in its developmental plans and projects—in its economic, social, and cultural aspects—without applying knowledge and technical skills.

Technology and science are the weapons of developed countries to control developing nations, subjugate them, plunder their wealth, and sentence them to a position of dependency. In light of this, developing nations, including our Arab world, have no choice but to work diligently to catch up with the technological revolution sweeping the world through the gateway of scientific research, as the alternative is backwardness, which harms countries, societies, and individuals.

The developing world suffers from inequality in investment patterns for research and development. Investment is concentrated in European countries, Japan, and the United States, while the investment in dozens of other countries amounts to a tiny fraction of the total investment. This is clearly reflected in the relative progress of the growth rate in these countries.

Those in charge in developing countries justify the stumbling of scientific research policy with constraints such as political administration responsible for providing resources: trained manpower, institutions, funds, services, and the isolation of development plans from studies on science and technology. Others blame colonialism, both old and new, the destructive role of multinational corporations, and the unfair and biased international economic system that favors developed countries.

All these justifications combined are correct, but the most important of all is the inaction of those in charge in developing countries in formulating a scientific research policy in their homelands. This is particularly evident in the low regard for the importance and role of scientific research, even though they are well aware that the real key to the development of advanced countries is the scientific achievements realized daily, thanks to scientific research and the support, encouragement, financial spending, respect, and appreciation it receives, along with the effort to create a scientific community through reading and follow-up. Meanwhile, we find the societies of developing nations struggling for a loaf of bread, toiling to feed their stomachs, without awareness of the importance of feeding their minds.

We often complain that the habit of reading is almost non-existent in our society. Writers, authors, and researchers often live in poverty, without any attention or support from official and unofficial institutions. Although we are a nation whose book began with the word "Read," we have become a nation that does not read. The reason for this is a shortcoming in educational policies and ignorance on the part of those responsible for education, higher education, and all institutions, both official and unofficial, concerned with the importance of having a literate citizen who can use their mind and leverage broad knowledge.

Dedicating oneself to scientific research in our countries means poverty and hunger. Although many researchers are far more interested in their educational and cultural ambitions than in material returns, research for its own sake is viewed with suspicion, if not resentment. The curiosity that accompanies a researcher must be guided, and society must have the final say in controlling the direction of scientific research, its pace, and the application of its results. (Dickinson)

Despite some attempts to spread the culture of scientific research in society, the understanding of this culture remains low because we have not been able to shed our daily behaviors in dealing with life and people. Credibility, transparency, objectivity, and scientific integrity are words we often repeat, but in practice, they are completely absent because they are not rooted in our consciousness. Hence, our dealings with researchers are marked by a lack of understanding of their capabilities and efforts, even though their work is a component in the creation of wealth. From this perspective, it is necessary to recognize scientific research, appreciate researchers, and provide for their needs, work requirements, and living standards, because they are a national treasure whose efforts transcend the individual. Scientific research must be treated as an activity important in creating national wealth, and researchers are the ones who contribute to this wealth for all elements of society. Therefore, we must establish a profession for scientific research, and this profession and its members must be provided with material and moral rights that the state and society work to achieve, without neglecting the duties imposed on them by their belonging to the community.

• Weight: 0.82 kg
• Dimensions: 17 x 24 cm
• ISBN: 978-9957-12-325-3