The Industrial Revolution of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the current revolution in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), have presented Arab States and peoples with significant scientific, social and cultural challenges. Because culture is an essential component of identity-building, promoting Arab culture in general, and scientific and technological culture in particular, is among today’s crucial socio-economic issues. It is, in fact, a key to ensuring a better future for the emerging Arab generations, in light of the global transition towards the “knowledge-based society and economy”.
Disseminating scientific and technological culture/awareness in a way consistent with the cultural heritage, ethics and beliefs of Arab countries is necessary to help them catch up with knowledge societies as a means of achieving sustainable development, with no prejudice to their authentic values, tenets, and cultural specificities. Because it involves a wide diversity and plurality at different levels, scientific culture has a particularly important place in comprehensive development, and constitutes an integral part of the cultural foundations of Arab societies.
In line with its mission and goals, and pursuant to the resolutions of relevant ministerial conferences and councils, ALECSO has invested great efforts to contribute to the dissemination of scientific culture in the Arab societies, taking into account the specificities of each Arab country. In this regard, it has implemented various activities and programs designed to build an Arab individual who is imbued with scientific and technological awareness and is keen on continually acquiring scientific knowledge. To that end, it has undertaken to :
- Conduct surveys to take stock of the state of scientific and technological culture/awareness in the Arab World;
- Produce a paper on the Arab strategy for science and technology acquisition and use for development in the Arab World (Tunis, 1992), in implementation of the resolution of the Extraordinary Arab Summit Conference (Baghdad, 1992);
- Prepare analytical studies on science and technology in the Arab World : Current reality and aspirations, (Part I – 2003);
- Prepare analytical studies on science and technology in the Arab World : Current reality and aspirations, (Part II – 2003);
- Hold meetings bringing together relevant experts and representatives of Arab States to discuss various issues relating to the dissemination of scientific and technological culture in the Arab World.
