Scientists need exposure

Sharjah: Scientists need more media exposure if youths are to take up studies and subsequently careers in science and engineering to curb the shortage of those opting into science professions.

Professor Nidhal Guessoum, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) spoke at the Belief in Dialogue conference hosted by AUS last week. The conference was held in conjunction with the British Council.

"If we want people to pursue science we need to give the scientists more importance by at least some exposure," said Guessoum. "There is not enough regional interest in science and this is a societal issue that chooses to give some professions either big or small importance."

Societal issue

Guessoum added the emphasis the media and society places on celebrities and sports stars is what gears the aspirations of the majority of youths towards those professions.

"If I ask a class of students to name famous scientists the numbers don't compare to if I ask them to name footballers or entertainers," he said. "This is because they [footballer and entertainers] are constantly on TV and make big money and live the good life."

Scientists, in comparison, are not privy to any of these career perks.

"Scientists have none of this, they are never on TV, they don't live the good life and they don't get big salaries," said Guessoum. "So people think who wants to be like that." However science is and has always been central to a society and its people as it is the root of all of its developments.

"Science is central in the life and minds of societies and this has been the case forever," he said. "People need to realise that science is absolutely crucial for modern societies just as they were for old and past ones."

Teaching science in Muslim world

Contrary to scientific teaching principles in the West, Guessoum believes science and religion cannot be separated or segregated in university classrooms in the Muslim world.

"When I teach, especially astronomy, I will invariably have students bring in their religious knowledge and relate it to scientific principles," he said. "We find ourselves always having to deal with these things in this part of the world or the non-Western world, where long ago they established some sort of separation."

He added his students always seem to address the relation to what science says and what they have been told from their religious backgrounds and therefore establishing a direct relation between the two.

However, for science and religion to co-exist in the classroom, science clearly needs to be outlined and defined as a mere methodology of achieving results and not a belief system.

"Teaching science is to teach the methods by which we reach certain results so therefore by definition it is separate to religious studies," he said. "It is not necessary to reject one or the other but just distinguish the methodologies."

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UAE and Turkey to conduct counter-piracy naval exercises

Dubai: The UAE and Turkey will conduct counter-piracy naval exercises on Sunday to promote security and stability at sea, while contributing to the world's peace, a top naval official has said.

"Our mission is a counter-piracy operation, to deter the piracy at sea in the Gulf of Aden in the internationally recognised transiting corridor and Arabian sea and in the Indian ocean and conducting naval diplomacy," said Rear Admiral Sinan Ertugrul, Commander of the Turkish Task Force.

Speaking on board the Turkish warship TCG Barbaros docked at Mina Zayed, Rear Admiral Ertugrul praised the Emirati navy as, "very capable and very powerful. And we believe that we can enhance the level of interoperability between the navies of the two countries."

Hijacked ship

Special forces from the UAE stormed a hijacked ship in the Arabian Sea, east of Oman, in early April, rescuing the crew and capturing all of the pirates who had seized the vessel only a day before.

The operation was conducted in co-ordination with the Bahrain-based US 5th fleet.

During his five-day visit, Admiral Ertugrul will have talks with his Emirati counterpart Commander of the UAE Naval Forces, Staff Brigadier Ebrahim Salem Al Beloushi to promote the ability of the two countries to work together and share intelligence and expertise.

Admiral Ertugrul stressed piracy was a threat to peace and prosperity not only in the region but worldwide because piracy had a great effect on maritime trade and security.

Well organised

"We coordinate all the activities we conduct with all the forces in the area, it is not national, it is very well organised and coordinated," he said.

As part of its global anti-piracy mission, Turkey is deploying four frigates, which conducted joint exercises with Oman.

Similar joint training exercises will be conducted with Qatar, Pakistan, India, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.

The four warships are part of the Turkish Maritime Task Group (TMTG), which was set up as part of the Turkish Navy's expansion plans.

Supporting treaty

Admiral Ertugrul said the grant objective of TMTG exercise was to support the ongoing United Nations and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation operations worldwide, and ensuring maritime security.

"Given the threats to global security, especially maritime security, Turkey's drive assumes greater significance and is meant to promote security at the seas and contributing to world peace."

In a bid to boost the anti-piracy efforts, the Turkish Maritime Task Group will be providing naval escorts to Turkish and non-Turkish flagged vessels passing through the Gulf of Aden.

We don't discriminate

Admiral Ertugul said: "We don't discriminate, we protect whoever joins us in the convoy operation.

"This is international courtesy. Other nations are also doing the same. Some Turkish flagged vessels are now escorted by other friendly countries. The nations are very interested in coming together to find common solutions to the issue of piracy.

Traffic: busy trading route

Around 33,000 merchant ships navigate annually through the Gulf of Aden, Suez Canal, and Red Sea that have great significance on global sea trade.

The value of the freight of the transiting ships is almost equal to 14 per cent of world merchant shipping (approx Dh6.6 trillion), 26 per cent of world petroleum shipping and 30 per cent of European Petroleum consumption.

Around 30 Turkish merchant ships that navigate monthly in the area.

Nato is conducting counter-piracy activities in full cooperation with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and with actions against piracy initiated by others, such as the European Union.

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Gulf News readers offer to help a stranded mother and her children

Dubai: A Filipino mother and her four children, who have been living on charity after their Lebanese father was deported over failure to repay a loan, will fly back home today after several Gulf News readers helped them with the airfare to the Philippines.

Readers rushed to help the mother and her children, who landed in trouble after her husband was jailed for defaulting on a loan repayment and deported to Lebanon, after Gulf News wrote about them.

"This is a heart-breaking story," a reader said yesterday. "We need to help the mother and her little kids to go back home in the hope that they will join the father soon."

Mary, the mother, and her children have been surviving mainly on charity for the past year. The mother and a relative, who was staying with them, were earning a meagre income as part-time housemaids.

Children's visa

The children's visas also got cancelled because they were on their father's sponsorship. Mary said her children — Joyce, 8, Jasmine, 7, Fatima, 3, and Ali, 1, — have Philippine passports and are eagerly waiting to go back home in the hope they will some day be able to rejoin their father.

"I'm very thankful to all those who helped me. I was suffering and I had no clue what to do," she said. "Readers even came to my house to bring food and medicine for my children," she said with tears in her eyes.

Husband fell ill

She said her ordeal started when her husband fell ill about three years ago. "My husband was very sick and he took the loan to pay for his heart surgery," she said. "When he failed to pay back the loan he was sent to jail and lost his job as well.

"My children do not go to school and sometimes we even stay without food," she said. "I never thought that my problems would be solved. I was helpless and I was not able to help my children," she said.

Several readers said they were touched by the story of the family. "This is very sad and we hope that the family will join the father soon," said a reader.

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Passenger's death delays flight from Dubai to Damascus

Abu Dhabi: A man's death on Emirates airline flight EK 913 to Damascus that was scheduled to depart from Dubai International Airport Tuesday afternoon caused the flight's delay, Emirates airline confirmed in a statement to Gulf News on Tuesday.

"Emirates confirms that a 66-year-old male passenger passed away after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest shortly before EK 913 departed from Dubai to Damascus," a spokesperson for the airline said. 

The passenger, who was of Syrian origin and whose name was not revealed by the airline, received emergency medical attention on board but died on the spot. 

"Emirates offers its condolences to the passenger's family and friends," the spokesperson added.  He also confirmed that Tuesday's flight EK 913 "departed (from Dubai International Airport) after a short delay at 5:45pm."

After the incident, the rest of the passengers on the three-and-a-half hour flight to the Syrian capital had to disembark and wait at Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3, according to K.W., a 33-year-old Syrian housewife on the flight.

"It was really sad what happened on the flight. The man, who appeared to be in his late 60s, was obviously experiencing some discomfort when the plane was taxiing on the runway before takeoff.

Call for help

"His wife called the crew for help and the plane was stopped to allow medics in. They carried him from the Economy to Business class of the plane and afterwards I heard one medic say the gentleman had no pulse," K.W. said.

"Although we received no official confirmation from the airline, most of the passengers were of the opinion that he died instantly," she added.

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Graduates in work versus further studies dilemma

Dubai: Mona Arif, an international studies major at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) who is graduating this year, is facing a tough decision. As her college years come to an end, Arif must decide: should she continue with her education and pursue a master's degree, or should she get a job and join the workforce?

Like many other students, she is uncertain.

"I've gone through periods of being convinced that I should do a master's straight away. At other times… I decide to take a year off and get some [work] experience," she said.

But while some like Arif are still busy weighing the pros and cons of each choice, for others, the decision comes more easily.

Ravza Altuntas Cakir graduated from AUS last term with a bachelor's degree in international studies. Now she lives in Sharjah with her husband, studying Arabic while preparing to leave for the United Kingdom to attend graduate school.

Pros and cons

Although she considered working in Dubai before continuing her studies, she found that there were few jobs available, especially in the aftermath of the 2008 economic crisis.

That is not the only reason behind her decision. In today's increasingly competitive job market, Cakir feels that an undergraduate degree simply will not give her the kind of opportunities she's looking for.

"A master's degree is a must for our generation," she asserts. She quotes her uncle, a business adviser in Turkey, as saying that employers today are asking not only for a graduate degree but for proficiency in foreign languages as well.

But does a master's degree really pay off? Some, such as Huzaifa Haidar, do not think so. Haidar recently graduated from the University of Wollongong in Dubai with a bachelor's in commerce and is currently looking for a job.

He said he has no intention of pursuing a master's degree. Instead, he wants to apply for a British accounting certification programme, which he says will give him an edge a master's degree will not when applying for a job later.

Master's not worth it

A master's degree is simply not "worth the money or time", Haidar says. "So many [cousins] are doing MBAs and master's and are still jobless."

He may be on to something. According to Liz Weston, a personal finance columnist, in a New York Times "Room for Debate" article, published in 2009, Weston wrote that a master's degree's costs tend to outweigh its benefits, especially in the liberal arts and social sciences. In other words, it costs most people more money to get the degree than is made up for through the salaries of careers in those fields. Weston noted that while there are many factors to consider besides the cost, the financial investment involved is certainly enough to make a person pause.

Money is not the only sacrifice graduate students may have to make. Dr Stephen Keck, Head of the Department of International Studies at AUS, said that going to graduate school can involve more sacrifices than some students realise. It requires a significant amount of time during which students may have to put off other plans, such as getting married or starting a family. If students are planning to travel abroad, they will be separated from family and friends during their years of study.

Once they finally hold their graduate diploma, students may find that their sacrifices will not immediately pay off. Keck points out that as graduate degrees become more and more common, they are not "a magic wand that will open doors with great riches behind them". In fact, a master's cannot even guarantee a job, he says.

It may make more sense for students, both personally and financially, to get a job on graduation, even if it is not exactly what they're looking for.

"The safe thing is always to get the job," Keck says. Students who have work experience will do better in graduate school because they have had the chance to develop professional skills, he said.

Taking a few years off from education to get some work experience not only gives students the chance to earn their tuition fees, he said, it also allows them to relax and really think about what it is they want to do in their careers.

More credible

David Van Over, dean of the School of Business at the American University in Dubai, agrees, pointing out that some MBA programmes, including the one at AUD, require two years work experience. He also says that such experience makes it easier for students to understand concepts taught in master's programmes.

However, Van Over points out that in many jobs, "bachelor's degrees are the equivalent of a high school diploma 20 or 30 years ago".

A graduate degree helps job applicants stand out, he said. Keck agrees, saying that not only do graduate degrees help students look more credible in front of potential employers, they also help students throughout their careers. A master's degree is something "[that] will continue to pay off as the skills you learned in graduate school are useful to the organisation that hires you," he says.

Van Over says that the decision to pursue a graduate degree "depends on what your job aspirations are".

This is especially true for Rana Abdul Fatah, who will be attending her senior year at York University in Canada in the fall. Rana said she wants to pursue a master's in communications so she can avoid an entry-level job on graduation.

Rana has done an internship and volunteer work in public relations, and says she is given administrative jobs she does not enjoy. The degree she plans to purse is one with practical applications, with the added advantage of being a one-year programme, and will give her a "competitive edge in the corporate world", she said. But Keck also points out that the decision to go to graduate school is a personal one, and many factors are involved in the decision.

For Mona, who is preparing an application to a Middle Eastern studies graduate programme, motivation to pursue graduate studies comes from wanting to be part of the changes currently occurring in Egypt. Cakir looks forward to using her master's degree, also in Middle Eastern studies, in working with the Organisation of Islamic Conference in their Istanbul office. For them, the decision is made.

Of course, they could always change their mind.

— The writer is a student at the Amerian University of Sharjah

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Grieving man looks back at the killings that changed his life

Khor Fakkan: A man who came to the UAE more than 40 years ago says the grizzly murder of his two sons-in-law in 1992 changed his life forever.

Imam Bakash, from Pakistan, says he cannot go back home because he has to look after 12 orphaned grandchildren.

He works at a small garments shop in Khor Fakkan's old souq area, and as he recalled the tragic incident that changed his life he could not hold back the tears.

Around 19 years ago, Bakash owned three shops including one exchange house, where the salaries of government employees were transferred. The exchange house was near the current garments shop. He managed the shops with the help of his relatives including his brother-in-law and his two sons-in-law.

"In October this year, 19 years will have been passed since the tragic incident that changed my life. The brutal murders of my relatives has left a life-long scar and I [have] not recovered from it yet," he said wiping away his tears.

Brutal murder

According to records, on October 20, 1992, the brutal murder of three men shook the quiet city of Khor Fakkan. The three men were Bakash's relatives. His two sons-in-law and another relative were killed, while his brother-in-law escaped with serious injuries.

Click on the links below to read the archive articles

Three murdered, three arrested
'I was shot in the neck, chest and kicked down a valley'
Death term for three in Dhaid shooting upheld

"The four of them used to help me with the exchange shop and we used to take the money to our home at the end of the day to keep it in the safe. They had left before me as I was praying. When I arrived home and did not find them, I felt there was something wrong and informed the police," Bakash said.

Bakash said his relatives had been carrying Dh500,000. Court papers recorded the victims were carrying around Dh350,000 of various currencies.

According to the details of the incident, two policemen and a third person carried out a cold-blooded attack on the four men near Al Dhaid desert, killing three of them and severely injuring the fourth man for the money they were carrying.

The murderers were arrested, tried and later on executed for their crime.

Bakash was left without the support of his relatives and with 12 orphan grandchildren.

Dilemma

"My family used to live with me here, but after the incident, it became difficult for me to support my family financially and I had to send them back home to Pakistan.

"After the court case finished, I received Dh350,000 out of the Dh500,000 as a compensation. I am still waiting for Dh150,000 although I know I will not get it, especially that the [criminals] have been executed and got their punishment," he said.

He said all he wants now is to go back to his family.

"I want to go back, but I do not have enough money to support 20 hungry mouths, including 12 orphans. I do not want to go back to them empty handed, but at this age, I cannot do much to make money. I pray that my suffering will end soon and I will be able to reunite with my family in Pakistan," he said.

Murder for money

In October, 1992, two policemen travelling in a patrol car, stopped the victims near their house in Khor Fakkan and ordered them to follow their car, claiming they were wanted by Sharjah Police.

Another man travelled with the victims in their car which followed the police toward Al Dhaid. The victims' car broke down near Al Siji Roundabout near Masafi village.

The victims were transferred to the police car and their hands were tied with ropes. When one of the victims tried to resist, the killers stopped the car, shot all of the men and kicked their bodies down a valley. One of the victims managed to survive.

According to records, the murderers had planned the crime three months before carrying it out and had monitored the victims and the exchange house from a nearby restaurant.

In September, 1993, all three were executed.

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Four men arrested for staging fake crime scene encounter

Abu Dhabi: Four men in the capital, who staged a fake crime scene encounter on the roof of a building, were recently arrested, a statement sent by Abu Dhabi Police said Saturday.

The men, all of whom are of Asian origin, were dressed in army uniform similar to the actual one and bullet-proof vests for the filming of a supposed crime scene on the roof of their building. They were also carrying props shaped like weapons and engaged in acting out a robbery or hijacking.

Three of them work as engineers. A concerned neighbour who believed the scene was for real, spotted them and called the police.

The names, ages and specific nationalities of the men were not revealed. Colonel Ebrahim Sultan Al Za'abi, Director of Al Sha'abiya police station, said a special police task force had been deployed to the scene.

"The report was about an area adjoining an important official building as well as residential complex and this seemed to be a serious operation for the police," Colonel Al Za'abi said.

"We surrounded the building and the residential complex, and when we reached the roof, we found the men acting out the scene, " he added.

"They claimed that they were acting out a scene from a video game and that it was sort of a hobby for them, as they also film it. Due to the serious nature of the incident, the men were arrested," Colonel Al Za'abi said.

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Scholarship scheme set up for Pakistani students

Dubai: A Dubai-based university established by the late Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto has announced an offer of 80 scholarships to Pakistani students who cannot afford to attend university.

"This is a birthday gift from our university for the Pakistani community in the UAE," said Dr Fiaz M. Ishaq, head of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute for Science and Technology (SZABIST) — based in Dubai International Academic City.

He was speaking at a function organised by the university to mark the 58th birthday of Benazir Bhutto, who was the founding chancellor of the university and established its off-shore campus in Dubai in 2003.

Dr Ishaq said that some 20 scholarships would be given to Pakistani students in Pakistani schools in the UAE who pass their higher secondary school exams. Every year 20 more scholarships will be added and a total of 80 students will get scholarships within four years.

Fund committee

"[The] university will waive 25 per cent of the tuition fee while some 50 per cent [of the] fee will be paid from the scholarship fund to be established by the university whereas 25 per cent fee will be paid by the student," he explained.

The scholarship fund committee will comprise members of the university, Pakistani schools, Pakistani missions and prominent community members.

"Our aim is to help provide higher education to poor students who cannot afford to continue their studies and forced to quit education," Dr Ishaq said.

He said the university would also provide vocational and skilled training to poor students after high school.

"We will help them get jobs and will also help them get their degrees studying as part time students," he added.

The university's community initiative was well received by Pakistan Ambassador Jameel Ahmad Khan and the community members who attended the function.

"We are ready to support the university for the noble cause," said Khan.

Earlier, rich tribute was paid to Benazir Bhutto, who was born on June 21, 1953 and assassinated on December 27, 2007 during an election campaign in Pakistan.

Supporters of Bhutto from all over the UAE gathered to offer prayers in her memory. Many were in tears as they recounted instances of their interaction with Bhutto during her eight years self-exile in Dubai.

Brave leader

"She was a brave leader and was symbol of hope and struggle," said Ambassador Khan who also recited one of Bhutto's favourite poems. Mein Baghi Houn, Mein Baghi Houn (I am revolutionary).

On a different note, supporters of Bhutto such as Chaudhry Zafar Iqbal demanded that the Pakistan government track down the murderers of Bhutto.

"It is very disappoint[ing] for us that our government has not yet arrested those involved in our leader's murder," he said.

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Death games on high seas

Dubai: Close on the heels of the tragic death of 14-year-old Emirati Abdullah Al Amiri in a jet ski accident near Palm Jumeirah last month and the permanent disfiguring of 10-year-old Daniel Clamens, another near-fatal accident has shocked beach-goers in Dubai.

A 27-year-old South African rugby player, J.B., fell off a double storey boat on June 17 onto a platform and knocked his head on the motor of the boat, the impact of which threw him into the water. The accident broke his neck and caused brain injury. While the victim's wife is unavailable for comment, sources claim that the man has been declared medically brain-dead and is currently in a state of coma.

These accidents have prompted warnings from safety experts urging water sport lovers to be cautious while hitting the beaches here. Talking to XPRESS, Candy Fanucci, Founder of Pirate Surf Rescue Team in Dubai, highlights the dangers of unsupervised water sports on Dubai's open beaches. "Jet skis are accidents waiting to happen. If you see someone on a jet ski while you're in the sea, stay as far away from them as possible. They have the reflection of the water and the sun in their eyes, which makes them largely unable to spot a swimmer in their proximity," she says.

The South African lifeguard explains how trying to help a person with a neck injury could lead to further damage. "By being ill-informed, one can actually harm the victim more than benefit them. A person who has fallen off a boat, such as the victim in question, should be left alone until qualified medical help arrives. Moving the patient may cause terminal paralysis," she warns.

Earlier this month, 10-year-old Daniel Clamens had his face ripped apart in an accident on Al Mamzar Beach involving a jet ski. Clamens, who was on a banana boat being towed by a neighbour's boat, fell off the tube and was instantly hit by a man on a jet ski who was chasing the boat in order to launch himself off the waves. The jet ski hit Clamens straight in the face, damaging four of his vital nerves and cutting off half of his face. The 10-year-old is undergoing a series of surgeries.

Safety gear a must

Last month, 14-year-old Emirati Abdullah Al Amiri died in a jet ski accident near Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Hotel in Dubai. Police reports say Al Amiri and three friends were on a raft while a fourth friend was on the jet ski.

When a wave toppled the raft over, Al Amiri, who wasn't wearing a life jacket, was pulled under the water, and resurfaced in another spot, where the jet ski struck the 14-year-old in the head, causing death. If the teenager had worn a life jacket, he would have bobbed on the surface of the water, making himself more visible to his friends.

"The use of safety gear for water sports is an issue that needs to be addressed asap [as soon as possible]," says Fanucci, adding, "Ideally, beaches should be segregated into zones for different water sports. Each area should be demarcated, creating a circuit or track for each sport."

"Boats should be away from water skis, which should be away from the surfers, swimmers and those on jet skis. As per government regulations all users of jet skis should have a life vest, helmet, fire extinguisher, emergency whistle and goggles on hand. What people don't understand is that a jet ski is no different from a motorcycle, often reaching similar speeds. When you fall on water, the impact is just as harsh as falling onto a tarmac road," Fanucci says.

Fanucci gives the example of a 10-year-old girl who was hit by a surf board on Sunset Beach in Jumeirah two weeks ago.

"The girl was in the shallow water and a beginner surfer got carried on the wave towards the shoreline. The surf board hit the child straight on the head. Fortunately, the injury was minor and she didn't have a concussion, but it was just another reminder of the importance of safety procedures on beaches. It may seem like a fun day out on the beach, but participating in unauthorised water sports is just as dangerous as participating in unauthorised motor sports. It's not all fun and games when things go wrong."

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