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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Atlantic/Canary:20110531T000000
DTEND;TZID=Atlantic/Canary:20110531T010000
UID:iactalks-280
X-WR-CALNAME: IAC Talks: Open Astronomy Seminars
X-ORIGINAL-URL: /iactalks/Talks/view/280
CREATED:2011-05-31T00:00:00+01:00
X-WR-CALDESC: IAC Talks upcomming talks
SUMMARY:Astronomy in the Middle East - Current Status & Future Challenges 
DESCRIPTION:Astronomy in the Middle East - Current Status & Future Challeng
 es \nProf. Athem Alsabti\n\nIn recent years, many countries throughout the
  Middle East - in particular the more prosperous states - have made great 
 progress in education, higher education, and scientific research. However,
  this has not often been matched by equivalent progress in astronomy and i
 ts related fields, despite the fact that many nations in the region consid
 er astronomy a fundamental part of their cultural and scientific heritage.
  The current status of astronomy in the individual countries of the Middle
  East will be reviewed. The positive decision of the International Astrono
 mical Union (IAU) (Commission 46) to take a proactive role through visits 
 and consultancy in the region will also be discussed, including the foundi
 ng of MEARIM - the Middle East and Africa Regional IAU Meeting (first meet
 ing held in Cairo 2008). The challenges and proposals to move forward teac
 hing and research in astronomy in the Middle East will be considered, with
  comments relating North African countries and new trends, including space
  research along with astronomical activities.
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