Milestone
Report of the First Joint Meeting of Iranian Top Scientists
USERN took the initiative to invite Iranian top 1% scientists to a consultative meeting on the last day of year 2015. Here is what they think of USERN and theirs comments on this initiative.
This meeting was held on December 31st 2015 (Day 10th 1394) in the Central Shora Hall of Tehran University of medical sciences. The meeting began with a short lecture from Professor Robert G. Hill from Barts and the London Medical School who is also among the top 1% scientists in medicine and was visiting Tehran for a few lectures on the “Process from Idea to industrial product”. Dr. Nima Rezaei Head of the meeting and the deputy of international affairs of TUMS and one of the world’s top 1% scientists since 2012, continued his lecture with a brief overview on the issues produced as a result of confining science with geographical borders and the separation of different branches of science as a result. He mentioned the process of networking as a solution to resolve the problem of harsh borders between different branches of science. He clarified that closer collaboration between scientists today could be an alternate to the previous paradigm of ancient worlds “Hakim” who had to excel in all of their contemporary knowledge; people like Zakharia Razi and Jaber-ibn Hayan. Dr. Rezaei named his initiative the Universal Scientific Education and Research Network or USERN a network in which worlds Nobel Prize winners and top 1% scientists determine the current flow and day to day directions of each branch of science, as supreme advisers of the network in a framework of two main boards the Executive and the Advisory Board.
Dr. Rezaei designated USERN as a second house for every scientists which determines the overall policy according to which research endeavours and scientific acts would be conducted to reach the most efficient way to respond the day-to-day demands and the gap in knowledge in that field. Young Scientists would be linked to top scientists via USERN and conduct research projects and educational programs or take part in such programs under such framework. Seniors and top scientists would take a role in upbringing young scientists and constructing their own Scientific Pedigree.
Later in his speech Dr. Rezaei mentioned some positive regards and amiable replies from 60 top scientists and Nobel laureates about the USERN initiative.
The USERN network will also hold a series of meeting and symposiums next November 8th-10th as the USERN prize congress and the Closal ceremony of USERN Prize 2016 (for juniors) on the last day of the congress, November 10th which is named by the UNESCO as the World Science Day for Peace and Development. The USERN prize will be bestowed to young scientists under 35 years old in all five main branches of science: Medical, Social, Physical, Formal and Biological sciences. Arbitration and Proof checking profile of the applicants and their proposed work for the Prize would be performed by the top scientists and volunteer members of the network as the advisory board of the Prize.
The consultative meeting continued with each of the present Iranian top scientists expressing their comments and attitudes toward the USERN network and the USERN prize initiative.
Dr. Mousavi Movahedi head of the Biophysics and Biochemistry research centre of the University of Tehran; the IBB affirmed that this institute is a supporter of USERN and the USERN Prize congress and reminded that Iran has a pure and bright background in science that could be equally compared to the Nobel prize laureates achievements and that European Renaissance stems from the Muslim Knowledge, 80% of whom were Iranian Hakims. He clarified the fact that wisdom is strong link between different areas of knowledge and that Iranian History of science is full and enflavoured with Hikmat or the pure wisdom. Dr. Movahedi also suggested that USERN prize winners would be nominated as honorary doctorates and professors in Iranian universities to further introduce these young scientists in an international stand.
Dr. Peyman Salehi form Shahid Beheshti University and the head of major projects section at presidential deputy for science and technology, announced the endorsement of Iranian National Network for Medicinal Plants of USERN and the USERN prize and stated that “as an ambassador of USERN” he would kindly broadcast news and updates on this network to the scientific society.
Dr. Aghamohammadi from TUMS was the next speaker named some of the main characteristics of a successful researcher and credited the existence of a “team work spirit “formation of questions and seeking an answer as a result as essential components of a successful scientific progress. A more detailed consideration to other elements of nobility and leader ship in science was another point mentioned by Dr. Aghamohamadi.
Dr. Abbasbandy from the International University of Imam Khomeini criticized lack of proper involvement of top 1% scientists in higher education decision makings and welcomed future presence of managers of Higher Education Ministry in similar meetings. Dr. Abbasbandy also suggested that implementation of the similar pattern of the IPM (Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences) recruitment of PhD. Students and project assignment, could be beneficial to USERN as well.
Dr. Azadbakht from the Nutrition faculty of TUMS expressed here pleasure about the USERN initiative and Iran as the host to the first USERN prize. She also proposed that a research grant and a joint project with the advisory board of USERN are two good incentives as part of the award for the prize winners to extend their collaboration with USERN network.
Dr. Saboori also from the IBBM, expressed his regrets on that the USERN initiative should have been suggested earlier from members of other Iranian scientific networks and stated that the mean number of project participants in Iran is about 4 which is far less than the international mean of 9 co-researchers.
Dr. Soleimani from the Tarbiat Modares University emphasised that supporting young scientists and top students could give them as valuable human resources an incentive to get back to their home country to further pursue their scientific endeavours. He also demanded that Iranian scientists make their best effort to develop international scientific collaboration in all areas of science.
Dr. Faridbod from the chemistry faculty of Tehran University reminded that the top 1% scientists list of the SCOPUS website is upgraded every two months and that these updates should be taken into account when addressing the advisory board of USERN.
Dr. Morteza Mahmoudi mentioned that the idea of science without boarders was also proposed by Dr. Hesabi the renowned Iranian scientist. He added that the point of starting research activities is an important issue in evaluation of young scientists.
Dr. Kheradmand the chief deputy of TUMS international affairs endorsed USERN and its goals and suggested the “Education Iran” portal as a mean to further facilitate to exchange international students and scientists.
Dr. Tavazoi from Sahrif University, Dr. Daneshmand from University of Alberta, Dr. Mahmoudi from Rang institute of science and technology, Dr. Hamidi from Zanjan school of pharmacy, Dr. Paktinat from IPM, Dr. Ashrafi from Kashan University, Dr. Karimi from Amirkabir University, Dr. Tavakkoli from industrial engineering faculty of Tehran University, Dr. Nourozi from Tehran university school of chemistry and Dr. Fatemi ghomi from industrial engineering faculty of the AmirKabir university, Dr. Akbarzade from Tabriz university of medical sciences, Dr. Shemirani from Tehrna University, Dr. Abdollahi and Dr. Nikfar from school of pharmacy from TUMS and Dr. Jolayi from Industrial engineering faculty of Tehran University were among other members of this meeting.
The meeting ended with all attendees taking a photo on the rooftop of Central Building of TUMS.