نشریه نشاء علم
سال دوم شماره 2 (پیاپی 4، خرداد 1391)

Nowadays many states in their attempt to resolve economic, political and national security problems, tend to move towards developing appropriate science and technology diplomacy that are aimed for promoting cooperation between different nations. This in turn, signifies the importance of science and technology diplomacy in resolving some of the pressing problems that are confronted in our current conflicting world situation. The use of this diplomacy is of such significance that different countries are in the process of vast investments aimed for promoting their relationship and collaboration with other countries. It seems in light of programs and goal oriented investment plans made by different states, science diplomacy will be recognized as an important and instrumental element in ensuring scientific dominance and superiority of different states. It can readily be seen that such a measure is now being used in ranking of different universities. It can also be stated that an adaptation of appropriate science and technology diplomacy, can provide the necessary platform facilitating the transfer of knowledge and technology to the country. On this line, it is seen that often scientists and researchers in implementation of their research projects as well as training of necessary research personnel, need necessary technical know-how, material as well as equipments that are often acquired from other countries and as such scientific collaborations provide the necessary platform to promote an overall knowledge of both collaborating parties. Realization of diplomacy in science and technology, requires efforts and commitments by all states engaged in devising such diplomacy as to desired policy making and development of necessary grounds for partnership where the first step requirement, is long range planning and political commitment for allocation of necessary resources and budget to be used for promoting expertise knowledge, promoting scientific gatherings and finally carrying out joint collaborative research projects. On this line, it is noted that any advancement made in Iran in science and technology, can provide a source of aspirations not only for Islamic world, but also for other developing countries. It is believed that developing a suitable diplomacy in science and technology, can play a significant role in transferring Iran to a reference example of developed state among developing countries. On this line, devising of necessary training programs tuned towards developing appropriate science and technology diplomacy for policy makers, academicians, scientific associations, journalists and other related groups about the role of science and technology in promoting competitiveness at the international level as well as developing skills necessary for international dialogues and collaboration, is of major importance. Efforts to be made on promoting science and technology diplomacy in light of the current unjust sanctions that are aimed to make obstacles on the road towards progress in technology and innovations in our country of Iran known for “ Innovator breeder” is an important step which needs to be intelligently planned for and guided towards realization of desired goals that consist of participation in promotion and advancement of our knowledge in science and technology and removing obstacles and international barriers hindering our country’s progress.

Based on the number of scientific documents indexed in the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) of Thomson Reuters in 2011, total number of Iranian scientific documents is 23724 (1.59% of the world documents) with an increase of 32% relative to the before year in science and 957 (0.41% of the world documents), showing 47% improvement relative to the before year in social sciences. Now, Iran is ranked 19 for scientific production in the world, showing an upgrade of three steps from rank 22 of previous year. There are 40 Iranian scientific journals that are indexed in the Web of Science of Thomson Reuters. “Chemistry, Multidisciplinary” has the first position in science the same as the year before and “Engineering, Electrical & Electronic”, “Materials Science, Multidisciplinary”, “Engineering, Chemical” and “Chemistry, Physical” take the second to fifth positions. In 2011, University of Tehran, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tarbiat-Modarres University, Sharif University of Technology and Amir Kabir University of Technology are the first five universities in producing scientific documents, respectively. Currently, 0.4 percent of journals indexed in Web of Science are Iranian with majority belonging to science.

Nowadays, the trade of Halal products especially Halal food is considered a profitable economic program by the majority of Muslim and even Non-Muslim countries. While Muslim countries are also considered target markets for the trade of Halal products by Non-Muslim countries, production of Halal products by Islamic countries can create job opportunities for Muslims as well as new markets and new ways for the replacement of Halal products by non-Halal ones. Currently some of the Eurasian countries are preparing trade plans for their Halal products. Thanks to the better quality of Halal products and despite the fact that they are 20 to 30 percent more expensive than non Halal products, public interest in Halal products has grown. Some companies in France and Britain are active in the supply of Halal products to both Muslims and Non-Muslims and this trade has turned out to be a lucrative trade. Meanwhile, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) with 57 active members is planning to design a unified standard mark for the products of the Islamic countries so that these countries with their cooperation can take the market for Halal products.

Multiple Sclerosis or Muscular Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that affects the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord) and optic nerve. During an MS attack, inflammation occurs in areas of the white matter of the central nervous system in random patches called plaques. This leads to destruction of fatty-protein (myelin) protecting nerve cell fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Myelin allows for the smooth, high speed transmission of electrochemical messages between the brain, spinal cord and the body. When myelin is damaged, neurological transmission of messages may be slowed, resulting in diminished function. MS is considered an autoimmune disease that most often affects young adults. The immune system attacks myelin and oligodendrocytes cells that make myelin. An increased incidence of MS has been observed over the past two decades. The most recent epidemiological features possibly associated with environmental risk factors such as a vitamin D deficit, low life-long ultraviolet radiation, viral infection, aging and the high-latitude locations. Several effective drugs and complimentary therapies have been provided for MS patients to slow down the progression of their disabling disease. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of this dreadful disease along with progression of stem cells research may bring hope for those who suffer from MS disease.

The increasing competition in international market and development of advanced technologies as a dynamic tool used for more profit, have increased the number of players trying to win larger shares of world resources though with little concern about its end results such as destruction of natural resources, increase in environmental pollution, poverty and inequality. Emergence of these problems has made the approach of sustainable development (sustainability) as an alternative paradigm replacing traditional growth paradigm. Traditional paradigm development is seeking to achieve economic growth at any cost while in the new paradigm, the quality of the environment and social justice are also considered. Higher education, because of its high impact factor in increased awareness and developing capabilities needed by members of the society, has the potential to initiate and promote sustainable development movement. Thus, with the emergence of sustainability paradigm and changes in fundamental assumptions, higher education system must also adapt to and comply with new situations in all sectors of its organizational structures- especially in the field of education. The purpose of this article is to investigate the role of universities in teaching and education for sustainability development. In this article the concept of sustainable development, the role of educational systems- particularly universities- educational approaches and key competencies needed for sustainable development are examined. Finally, certain recommendations for institutionalization of sustainable development are presented.

Since the models designed to predict future climate are not producing optimistic results, climate change and global warming is a subject of growing concern today. An increase of about 2-5 ˚C in average temperature induced the melting of around 1 meter of polar ice in the end of 21th century would be catastrophic. Accumulation of greenhouse gases especially methane gas in the atmosphere gets the most credit in climate change and global warming and there is a strong connection between them. Varieties of anthropogenic sources, mostly agricultural and industrial contribute to methane discharge. Half of methane emitted by human is related to the agricultural sector. Domesticated ruminants and rice fields have a high potential for methane production due to the anaerobic processes. Methane which is emitted this way is dependent on variety parameters, which if controlled can lead to a significant reduction in the level of methane emission.

Nowadays, increasing energy demand is one of the challenges that confront the humankind. Limitation of fossil fuels source clarifies the importance of new and renewable energies. Renewable energy is derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly. Solar energy is one of them. The sun contains extreme amount of energy. The solar energy is not uniformly distributed on the earth’s surface. Insulation is a measure of solar radiation energy received on a given surface area and recorded during a given time. Little contribution of solar energy in the world energy usage is due to the distribution on a very wide area and periodic variations. Nevertheless, the solar energy is safe and free, so it is the best alternative for fossil fuels. Modern technologies serve as approaches to make it more applicable and pervasive.

Among the various academic awards in the field of physics, the Nobel Prize is considered the most prestigious international award. Since 1901 the Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded once a year by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. There have been a few years in which the Nobel Prize was not awarded, particularly during World War I and II. The Nobel Prize in Physics was not awarded on six occasions: in 1916, 1931, 1934, 1940, 1941, and 1942. It has been awarded 105 times to 192 Nobel Laureates between 1901 and 2011. John Bardeen is the only Nobel Laureate who has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics twice, in 1956 and 1972. The youngest Nobel Laureate in Physics is Lawrence Bragg, who was 25 years old when he was awarded the Nobel Prize with his father in 1915. Bragg is not only the youngest Physics Laureate; he is also the youngest Nobel Laureate in any Nobel Prize area. The oldest Nobel Laureate inPhysics to date is Raymond Davis, who was 88 years old when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2002. The United States has won the more Nobel prizes in physics. In Asian countries, only Japan, China, India and Pakistan have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. Among them, Japan is in the 1st place with winning 7 prizes. Mohammad Abdus Salam, Pakistani theoretical physicist is the only Muslim scientist who has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. There are only two women in the world who have been won the Nobel Prize in physics.

Dissemination and popularization of science within a society is one of the principle elements influencing the extent of scientific awareness and promoting scientific knowledge in the society. Its significance, in part, is due to its role in promoting public understanding of science and enhancing the scientific point of view within the general public. Therefore, dissemination and promotion of science in the society in general and its popularization in particular, should be considered as part of human resource development in the national development programs. Other aspects of national development and considerations such as technological, industrial and economic development including sustained development (in light of awareness about the side effects of development) are also directly intertwined with the public understanding of science. If we view science as an entity with its own structures and outlook, public understanding of science may be considered as one of the pillars of such structure. This in turn provides an opportunity for all people in the society to develop a correct understanding of a science and the scientific outlook. The success of science education and institutions and programs promoting science, depend strongly on the extent of enhancing public understanding of science and scientific view in the society. In this note we study structure of science and society communication in Iran and propose ways to promote scientific view in the Iranian society.

International political relations among different countries can be influenced by the extent of scientific and technological collaborations that may prevail among scientists of these countries. History provides many evidences of how scientific cooperation could help and bolster diplomatic ties and cultural exchanges between different nations. Condition of living in twenty-first century with all its complexities and development of means of communication, requires that we build a greater person to person or people-to-people relationships and this interaction can be made possible through cooperation in science & technology and collaborative science diplomacy. Collaboration in Science and diplomacy of science is not new, it is however, now broader, wider and in depth, and more visible than ever before and where its importance continues to grow. Science and Technology are driving motors of modern societies towards process of globalization. Through science & technology diplomacy, geographical borders can be set aside beyond those of public diplomacy and where no obstacles stands in the way of scientific relations or prevent from development of such relationship for a longer duration. This paper presents a comprehensive definition of science &technology diplomacy and its crucial role in developing relations between countries. It also depicts Iran approach to this important notion and draw attention of both policy makers in all scientific & technological institutions & political organizations to such diplomacy.