Scientists from Singapore, Jordan Win 1st Mustafa Prize
Jackie Yi-Ru Ying from Singapore and Omar Yaghi from Jordan won the prestigious award in the fields of biotechnology and medical sciences and nanotechnology, respectively.
Born in 1966, Ying is a nanotechnology researcher and the executive director of the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore.
Addressing the Friday ceremony, she hailed the event as a gathering of Muslim world scientists that helps the promotion of science and technology in the Muslim world.
Omar Yaghi, who was selected for his extensive research in the field of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in the category of nanoscience and nanotechnology, thanked the organizers and said he was greatly honored to receive the prize.
Also addressing the ceremony was Iranian Vice-President for Science and Technology Affairs Sorena Sattari who said the Mustafa Prize is aimed at reviving 12 centuries of Islamic civilization’s pioneering role in science and technology.
He added that Muslim countries ought to be the forerunners of humanitarian use of science and technology to strengthen the foundations of peace, welfare, security and health for all humanity.
Sattari also hoped that the prize would lead to enhanced cooperation among scientists and scholars around the world.
The Mustafa Prize is a top science and technology award granted to the top researchers and scientists of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states biennially.
The Prize seeks to encourage education and research and is set to play a pioneering role in developing relations between science and technology institutions working in the OIC member countries.
It also aims to improve scientific relations between academics and researchers to facilitate the growth and perfection of science in the OIC member states.
According to mustafaprize.org, the Prize is awarded in four categories, namely "Life Science and Medical Sciences”, "Nano Science and Nanotechnologies”, "The Information and Communication Science and Technologies”, and "Top Scientific Achievement in other fields”.
The laureates in each section will be awarded 500,000 USD which is financed through the endowments made to the Prize. The winners will also be adorned with a special medal and certificate.
The Mustafa Prize started its job in 2013. The Policy making Council of the Prize which is tasked with supervising various procedures of the event is comprised of high-profile universities and academic centers of OIC member states.
The prize is granted to the works which have improved the human life and have made tangible and cutting-edge innovations on the boundaries of science or have presented new scientific methodology.
