Iran in the forefront when it comes to stem cell research
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Pasban
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Despite international sanctions in all aspects of scientific development, I personally state that Iran serves as an example of a country that shows that advancement can be achieved despite the set odds given enough impetus to domestic education, training and research programs. What stands out is the fact that over seventy percent of Iranians engaged in such efforts and indeed the bulk of the Iranian scientific base are all women. When put into the context that Iran is unfortunate in having a very severe, and I stress severe, brain drain problem coupled with problematic politics, it's surprising that Iran's scientific ability remains alive and progressive. The sanctions levied on Iran make it difficult for Iranian universities and institutes to even buy equipment and even to attend scientific community gathering.
On a political and ideological note, the revolution always stressed that Iran's demise, as well as that of the Muslim community in general, lay in technological backwardness which allowed it to be manipulated by more advanced nations throughout it's history. Beyond that, the revolutionaries viewed this backwardness as the sole reason for a bias against weaker or undeveloped states in general. If I were to point out at one true success of the revolution, then it lays in the field of education. The Iranian clerical body has stressed the union of Islam and modern sciences and this is taken by their most ardent supporters as the reason for Iran's advancement.
Our national bugdet though is very small and stands at less than one billion dollars and this has remained unchanged unfortunately. Moreover, Iran only allocates 0.4-0.5% of its GDP to research-- this lags behind extremely compared to more developed nations which spend 1.2-1.5 percent and even the general world average of 1.4 percent. The government has raised this quiet recently but it remains below 1 percent by almost all estimates.
There are some particular areas where government support has been espcially active-- nanotechnology, biotechnology, stem cell research and IT. We have two bodies through which the government regulates the scientific community in Iran. One is the Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST) and the National Research Institute for Science Policy (INRISP)-- which sets guidelines and aims. The general body is of course the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. One beneficial policy was when quiet recently Iran cleared all debts on the accounts of every Iranian research institute and university. There are one too many hindrances still including burecracy and corruption. Iran needs a clear-cut, dedicated and calculated policy concerning the sciences.
On a political and ideological note, the revolution always stressed that Iran's demise, as well as that of the Muslim community in general, lay in technological backwardness which allowed it to be manipulated by more advanced nations throughout it's history. Beyond that, the revolutionaries viewed this backwardness as the sole reason for a bias against weaker or undeveloped states in general. If I were to point out at one true success of the revolution, then it lays in the field of education. The Iranian clerical body has stressed the union of Islam and modern sciences and this is taken by their most ardent supporters as the reason for Iran's advancement.
Our national bugdet though is very small and stands at less than one billion dollars and this has remained unchanged unfortunately. Moreover, Iran only allocates 0.4-0.5% of its GDP to research-- this lags behind extremely compared to more developed nations which spend 1.2-1.5 percent and even the general world average of 1.4 percent. The government has raised this quiet recently but it remains below 1 percent by almost all estimates.
There are some particular areas where government support has been espcially active-- nanotechnology, biotechnology, stem cell research and IT. We have two bodies through which the government regulates the scientific community in Iran. One is the Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST) and the National Research Institute for Science Policy (INRISP)-- which sets guidelines and aims. The general body is of course the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. One beneficial policy was when quiet recently Iran cleared all debts on the accounts of every Iranian research institute and university. There are one too many hindrances still including burecracy and corruption. Iran needs a clear-cut, dedicated and calculated policy concerning the sciences.
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