In the image of the Pen Association of Diaspora Poets, which was founded by Arab poets in New York City at the beginning of the last century, in 2010, Arab expatriate scholars established the Association for Scientific and Technological Advancement in the Arab World (SASTA), which aims to gather Arab energies and competencies residing in the diaspora to support scientific research in the Arab world.
The founders of “SASTA” believe that it is not possible to achieve a scientific renaissance in our Arab world without the active and pioneering participation of scholars from abroad, because they live at the heart of the scientific transformations and events that take place within international universities and the large scientific research centers in the world. Read also Moroccan researcher Nozha Majad: Italian universities are distinguished in marine sciences Tunisian Professor Nader Masmoudi elected to the American Academy of Sciences and Arts Mohamed Attia, researcher at Northwestern University of America: These are the advantages of studying in Japan and realizing the dream in America The Secretary-General of the Arab World Organization of Young Scientists, Jawad Al-Kharraz: We support young researchers and these are my advice to them
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The owners of the association say that the main task of “SASTA” is to recruit all possible means from experts and non-governmental bodies in order to contribute to a qualitative take-off of scientific research in the Arab world.
Starting from Qatar
Dr. Wael Al-Dulaimi, a professor of public health at the University of San Diego in the United States, said in a telephone statement to Al Jazeera Net, “The idea was born during a conference organized by the Qatar Foundation in the capital Doha for the benefit of expatriate scholars in 2006, which aimed to discuss how to involve diaspora scholars in crystallizing the Qatar Renaissance Project.” Scientific”.
In 2007, the second edition was organized, during which programs and projects that could contribute to supporting the scientific research sector in the country were presented. According to Dr. Al-Dulaimi, many scientific research institutes and centers there were the fruit of this activity. After these two conferences, many scholars agreed to expand the idea of Qatar Foundation from a national project to a project that includes all Arab countries.
After many meetings that brought together scholars at the World Economic Forum in 2009 in Switzerland, and then in Jordan of the same year, Yemeni Dr. Hilal Al-Ashwal was chosen to head the association for a short time before returning to Al-Dulaimi to coincide with the registration of the association in America in 2010 under the name Sasta or (Society for the Advancement of Science and Technology in the Arab World (SASTA).
Lack of funding and political unrest
Dr. Al-Dulaimi believes that the launch began with great enthusiasm, as two major conferences were held at the League of Arab States in Cairo in 2011 and 2012, during which high-end scientific research projects and programs and distinguished and innovative ideas were presented, in which scientists from the region participated in 3 disciplines: energy, health and technology.
But the university was not able to finance the project due to the problems that the Arab world experienced at that period, because the political conditions that characterized the region after the events of the Arab Spring affected the quality and quality of cooperation.
Al-Dulaimi asserts that it is not possible to achieve a scientific renaissance in the Arab world or any of the third world regions without the participation of emigration scholars, because they are at the heart of scientific events, and are more familiar with what is happening in terms of scientific innovations and trends in the world of scientific research.
In the United States, for example, as Al-Dulaimi asserts, Arab scientists are among the most active and innovative scientists in their fields, and there are scientific studies that have confirmed that most members of the Arab community in the diaspora are intellectuals and researchers, unlike many other communities.
Dr. Al-Dulaimi explains, “Every Arab country strives on its own. There are some countries that have taken a path in the path of scientific renaissance, but that is not enough. We always call for cooperation between these countries to achieve integration, and this requires political will that is not currently available.”
Dr. Dajani’s touches
Jordanian Dr. Rana Al-Dajani was not among the founding team of “SASTA”, but her presidency in September 2019 gave her a new breath, as several prestigious scientific projects and programs were launched during her tenure.
Dajani says that the existence of a network that benefits from the experience of diaspora scholars in supporting scientific research in our Arab world is necessary because the contributions of expatriates are indispensable to achieving scientific renaissance.
She was chosen to head the association for a limited period of time because she is currently studying at the University of Richmond and Harvard University, and after returning to her original position at the Hashemite University in Jordan, a new president will be elected.
Currently, in the membership of the SASTA office, we find brilliant scientists in their field, such as Omar Yaghi from Jordan, a professor of chemistry at Berkeley University, and the Algerian Kamel Toumi, a professor of robotics at MIT University.
The association also supports exceptionally young cards such as Dr. Jawad Al-Kharraz, head of research at the Middle East Institute for Seawater Desalination in Bahrain, and Alia Abu Kiwan, a young researcher residing in Germany who leads a project to simplify science on social media.
Scientific projects and programs on the horizon
In addition to the scientific reports it issues from time to time, SASTA has participated in many scientific projects and launched many quality programs, some of which are in the preparation stage.
ومن أهم هذه المشاريع: تأسيس جامعة إلكترونية موجهة للباحثين اللاجئين الذين اضطروا إلى هجرة أوطانهم لعدة أسباب سواء في الوطن العربي أو خارجه، وهو مشروع لايزال قيد التحضير لأنه يتطلب دعما ماليا كبيرا.
Dr. Dajani returned to say that the association is currently working on organizing a large conference next spring, in which many associations of diaspora scientists from countries such as France, Spain and Japan will participate, in cooperation with the Italian Authority “TWAS”, the Third World Academy of Sciences, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
She explained that the association cooperates with many scientific bodies and societies inside and outside the Arab world, with UNESCO, for example, and the SHE Center for the Sustainability of Health Education.
Al-Dajani talked about a project with the Harvard University’s Dana Farber Cancer Center, where she is cooperating with him on a project related to health, education and women, and the Catalyst 2030 (2030) network that works in the field of sustainable development.
SASTA is also among the supporters of the Arab Science Week, the World Science Forum, and many major scientific events such as the Phi Conference on Scientific Research and Innovation, and has contributions to many scientific journals. 
Participation in a session on health at the World Economic Forum in Jordan alongside Princess Dina Murad (Al Jazeera)
Young Arab researchers in diaspora
SASTA works to provide assistance to all young researchers who are facing difficulties in adapting in the diaspora.
Dr. Dajani says that the association supports Arab researchers who are looking for help, whether they are from Syria, Yemen or others who were forced to leave their countries, as it established cooperation with “Tawas” in the framework of the “Displaced Scientist” project, which aims to support forcibly immigrant researchers .
But all of these projects still face a lack of funding, according to Dajani, who confirmed that the association is non-profit and relies mainly on grants and donations.
“Unfortunately, we in the Arab world are still far behind in this aspect of funding scientific projects. Contrary to what is happening in America, the private sector’s contribution to funding research and scientific projects within our Arab world is still very weak, and this is for several reasons, including the lack of awareness of the importance of science and research,” she said. scientific research, and distrust of Arab scientists and researchers, especially those residing within it.”
SASTA continuity policy
What is remarkable about SASTA’s work policy is that it relies in its work and the continuity of its programs on the initiatives of the members, so any project can only be launched if it is issued by one of the members, who after his acceptance will be the supervisor and the first responsible for its implementation.
Dajani says, “The projects in SASTA belong to the member, and this is our policy because the president changes and the members stay, everyone walks in his journey. This is our strategy to ensure continuity as it is based on the member, and this philosophy works in many European and American universities that attach great importance to scholars as they are appointed to the boards It may also be attracting distinguished scholars from abroad at Harvard University, students and graduates are the ones who raised its status, not the dean or director. This policy is not found in the Arab world, where there is currently no university that, for example, recruits distinguished members of researchers or scholars.