Stressing that solar energy is an important characteristic that Saudi Arabia should utilize

Obama's envoy to Al-Eqtisadia Newspaper:

KAUST is an unprecedented challenge that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques took up in a scientifically backward area


Dr. Elias Zerhouni, the envoy of U.S. President Barack Obama for Science and Technology, described King Abdullah University of Science and Technology ''KAUST'' as almost the only university in the world which gained international reputation before it even started, with the support of the vision and insight of its first founder and sponsor the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

Dr. Zerhouni said in an exclusive interview with ''Al-Eqtisadia'': KAUST has become very popular although it has only existed recently, and gained an excellent reputation internationally which many of universities could not achieve in this phase of its life cycle. In other words, KAUST was able to place itself among the giants although it’s still in its conception as I mentioned earlier. Dr. Zerhouni, who is one of the three American envoys for science & technology to the Muslim world, pointed out that KAUST started immediately in building lines of cooperation and joint research with the leading and most important universities around the world in order to start up where others stopped. It also created “fierce” competition but a benign one between the universities within and outside the Kingdom. The presidential envoy addressed during the interview the reasons for his visit to the Kingdom. He illustrated as well that this visit stems from the desire of U.S. President Barack Obama in realizing his vision which he mentioned at the Cairo Conference, by extending bridges of cooperation with Arab and Islamic worlds in all areas including science and technology. He added: ''I came without a specific action plan, but to have an idea about development occurring within the Kingdom and get a full perception of this development path, and then transfer the right image and the ideal advice for Obama''. The dialogue addressed many important aspects related to research and science in the fields of energy, and the impact of the global financial crisis on them, along with a variety of other topics

Here are the details of the interview:

At the outset we would like to welcome you Dr. Zerhouni in the Kingdom, and we would like to inquire about the purpose of this visit to Saudi Arabia?

In fact, there is no unified action plan. This visit comes in the context of the efforts by U.S. President Barack Obama to realize what he said in Egypt regarding his desire to build bridges of cooperation and communication with Arab and Islamic worlds. The Kingdom, of course, is one of the most important countries in this regard. We also came to listen. The world today has become one village indeed. We had several meetings and visits to King Saud University in Riyadh, KAUST, and King Abdul Aziz City for Science & Technology. We have a genuine desire to listen to the needs of Saudi Arabia in the field of scientific cooperation at all levels. Let me stress here that the American President is interested in the advancement of science led by the Kingdom in the region. The Muslim world suffers from a lot of internal problems that have nothing to do with policy issues and peace in the region, and they need a partnership between the two parties to overcome them. Based on this, we have identified a number of priorities that will be implemented during the next phase in cooperation with the countries of the region and Saudi Arabia is on the top of the list. The list includes: providing jobs for the unemployed citizens, issues of water, energy, health, climate change, food safety, technology and educational policy. Obama stated during his visit to Turkey and Egypt his desire in starting a new phase of relationships between America and the Islamic world which had encountered some fluctuation during the last decade. Obama's vision is the separating line between the thorny political issues and other issues of economics, technology, sciences, and he refuses a complete boycott between the two sides for any reason. President Obama wants to bring back cultural and scientific prosperity to the area that was once the source of knowledge and science, and a cultural and scientific center. This will be through the creation of a knowledge-based society. He stressed that there will be practical programs to help countries in the region to overcome these problems. There will as well be partnerships to help poor countries who lack resources. He emphasized that strengthening these partnerships in the fields of science and technology does not mean ignoring the political issues that serves as parameters in determining the course of the relationship, including the Middle East case. President Obama stresses on the importance of giving priority to the issue of peace between Palestinians and Israelis.

What have you seen so far through these meetings and visits that you made? What is the impression that you will communicate to President Obama regarding the current assignment?

In fact, I visited Saudi Arabia in 2004. I have expected an improvement, but I did not expect it in this size and pace. Indeed, there is a significant change led by King Abdullah to make Saudi Arabia a real competitor in the field of science and technology. I noticed a quantum leap in the size of investment in education associated with the growth of the number of Saudi students internally and externally, the number of scholarships, the universities and their majors and quality. In short, I can confirm that there is considerable convergence between King Abdullah's vision for developing education and universities and the vision of President Obama when he launched a plan for U.S. universities rehabilitation. I can as well verify that Saudi Arabia is on the right track and just needs some time.

You spoke about your visit to King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). How do you evaluate it? And what is the image that you had about it before coming to Saudi Arabia?

KAUST became famous before it even started. It has a good reputation in international circles although it is still in the conception phase. It has placed itself among the giants and gained an excellent reputation since its inception. It has created “fierce” competition but a benign one locally and internationally. The reason I believe is three fold: First, it’s a challenge game that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques took up in a scientifically backward area. It is also a new way to achieve the growth and progress which Saudi Arabia is pursuing. Moreover, not all countries in the area can afford establishing a university of this level and cost.

Are there any programs or large-scale projects undertaken by universities and American companies with KAUST?

Yes, KAUST extended bridges of communication and cooperation with the most important universities and the largest American companies from the outset. There are even more. There are cooperation in different areas of energy research and medical research. Not to mention the cooperation in the field of Nanotechnology which is actually with King Saud University. We conduct research opportunities in an appropriate way. America has a huge budget to spend on research that amounts to 3% of United States GDP. It did not stop here, there is also cooperation in the production of thermal energy and developing technologies for oil extraction. In fact, universities and Saudi companies has been collaborating in programs such as Saudi Aramco for many years and they are growing in a satisfactory manner.

What are the opportunities you believe that the Kingdom enjoys and you think could be utilized in the fields of science and research?

The Kingdom and the region in general is rich in resources and opportunities and the most important is energy of course. I am not talking about oil energy only but also the new energies, including solar energy, which I think has become a new feature that Saudi Arabia has to focus on. They should develop research in converting solar radiation into energy at low cost along with the methods of its storage. The major focus of the sun radiation is on this area. But it’s an industry that needs concentration. This energy will not only produce electricity but will help also in desalination. This means achieving a difficult equation which is the food and water security for the Kingdom and the region. Nanotechnology is also an opportunity that the Kingdom currently is concerned about developing and is capable to do so by utilizing this technology in the right way that would serve the community and the world.

Have researches in the areas of science and technology been affected by the global crisis, both within the United States or the international level?

The impact was only on small companies in America, which had depended on bank financing in conducting research and innovation. The lack of funding affected the work pace. At the level of government, large corporations, and universities, the research did not stop. Government expenditure on research has grown more than ever before. At the international level, research is still moving at the same pace despite the minor effect of the crises.

Some experts are talking about a possible collapse of the Internet as a result of the massive usage for its services. Do you feel that this is a threat and how can we confront it?

This is not true. Although there is a concern from the huge expansion in Internet uses, however, depending on the ability of the human being to modify the technology and previous experiences, I can say that the technology will solve its problems by technology. There are many examples to confirm that. Hence, I do not agree with the idea that the Internet would collapse or stop working, even though it’s so much under pressure. There are many of giant companies that have embarked on advanced research to develop the Internet after it became a place for all business. There are huge sums of money dedicated to avoid such a risk.

Technology has contributed lately in affecting the U.S. relationship with China on the background of ''Google'' issue. It caused as well a leak of information of millions of credit cards in America. Any comment?

Technology is a double-edged sword. This is the case with every thing. I could use the bomb to kill someone and I could use it to make a road that facilitates people’s transportation. Technology uses are subject to the social environment they are used in. Information today became an important pillar that could cause crisis. Although the issue is political here, but I would like to emphasize that “Google” has nothing to do with this issue as it is only a means for transferring information and is not responsible for the nature of the information and that depends on the users themselves.

In recent years, natural disasters that affect countries resources and the lives have grown dramatically. Some say that the technology has not done its part in this aspect. How do you respond?

This is not true. Despite the fact that the frequency and the impact of disasters have accelerated, which is caused in the first place by the changes caused by humans on earth’s nature, research and technology has contributed and will continue to alleviate the impact of disasters as well as developing the means of forecasting it. Technology today has contributed to the identification of the most vulnerable areas to disasters and natural phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanoes. Also it contributed to providing innovations in the field of construction in places prone to hazards. This has happened in Japan in a beautiful way. Technology also contributed to risk prediction, monitoring and tracking it around the clock and warning people ahead of time anywhere in the world.

One last question: Are you the one who advised the President of the United States to adopt technology and Internet sites in the elections and holding of the first presidential dialogue on “youtube”?

No I did not do so. In fact, the technology is one of President Obama’s concerns since he was a student in high school. He is passionate about deploying it in all aspects of his life. These technologies had a positive impact in the course of the last elections. The President believes that technology and the Internet is the language of the new century. When he came to the presidency, he requested a BlackBerry device to be able to communicate with his advisers and his assistants in the White House. He believes in the power of electronic communication.