OIL RICH, SCIENCE POOR

摘要

When Nature surveyed the prospects for science in the Arab world in 2002, our reporter picked out three subjects in which the region excelled. One was, and still is, important: desalination technologies to combat water shortages. But the other two highlight the regions threadbare research record. Camel reproduction and falconry research might excite Arab sports enthusiasts, but they are unlikely to set the scientific world on fire. The monarchies of the Gulf are the richest of all Muslim nations, but little of that wealth is spent on research. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait spend about 0.2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on science - less than one-tenth of the developed-country average of 2.3% and about a third of that spent by less wealthy Iran. The oil monarchs have the financial clout to launch major research efforts, but have yet to do so.