Opinion | Pfizer’s pursuit of AstraZeneca: the Algerian scientific community should take note
Over the last few weeks, the biggest story in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors has largely been that of Pfizer’s chase of AstraZeneca. In fact, Pfizer, one of the largest American pharmaceutical companies, continuous attempts to buy AstraZeneca, one of the largest UK pharmaceutical companies, has attracted a lot of interests from politicians in both sides of the Atlantic. Leaving the politics of this story aside, the scientific community in UK has been rattled by this story and this is what the Algerian scientific community should learn from. Read More
Opinion | Day of Knowledge Event at the Margin of Elections
Around this time last year, I wrote a short commentary on a London-based event that aims to commemorate the Day of Knowledge (يوم العلم). The 16th of April is Algeria’s official day for celebrating science and knowledge in memory of Sheikh Abdelhamid Ibn Badis, the leader of the reformist movement that led a relentless struggle against the french colonial assault on Algerian identity and heritage. The day of knowledge event in London aimed to bring together Algerian academics, scientists and researchers for a day to share knowledge and debate Algerian affairs. Read More
Opinion | The English language is key for the progress of Algerian students and researchers
Back in 2006 while attending a conference held in Bern in Switzerland, I met an Algerian researcher from the University of Annaba, and what I liked about him was how he communicated with the conference attendees in English. His proficiency in the English language allowed him to share his research results with scientists from all around the world, from China and Britain, to the US, Russia, France, Germany, Jordan, Mexico, Canada, Italy, and beyond. This encounter was a good example of why Algerian researchers should master the English language. Read More
Feature | Optical Projection Tomography: A light based technology for 3D visualisation
Imaging science plays a crucial role in a wide spectrum of science fields ranging from remote sensing and automated surveillance to medical and biological fields. X-rays, positron emission tomography (PET) [1] and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [2] are just few examples of how imaging technology has propelled medical science into the next level. At Umeå Center for Molecular Medicine, we have been exploring the use of a relatively young 3D imaging technique known as Optical Projection Tomography (OTP), which we have so far applied to the investigation of diabetes in mice. Read More
Editorial | The 2014 Algerian Paper of the Year Awards
anasr.org launched the first edition of the Algerian Paper of the Year Awards in January 2013, a unique independent annual event that recognises and celebrates excellence in scientific publications produced by Algerian scientists and researchers inside Algeria. As is this case with other anasr.org activities (namely, the online site with its open directory of Algerian academics, scientists and researchers, and Inspire Magazine), the awards are motivated by the principle that a strong culture of scientific innovation and community must be nurtured from the ground up rather than be merely handed down by institutions. Read More
Opinion | Scientism in political discourse about Algerian space science
The Algerian Prime Minister recently boasted about how the Algerian flag now flies high along side 14 of the biggest nations in the world. His declaration was almost ceremonial, Algerian experts, he asserts, are now amongst the top experts in space science, and this achievement, he continues, is “no coincidence but rather the result of the state’s strategic policy that prioritises investment in the Algerian youth”. Mr. Mebarki, the minister of higher education and scientific research, has also made similar declarations. Read More
Interview | Prof. Rachid Deriche laureat of the Grand Prize of the EADS Corporate Foundation in Computer Science
Prof. Rachid Deriche, Research Director at INRIA Sophia Antipolis, was awarded the 2013 French Academy of Sciences Grand Prize of the EADS Corporate Foundation in Computer Science. This award recognises the achievements of a scientist in a French laboratory who has made exceptional contributions to the vitality and influence of computer science research while building outstanding cooperation with industry. Inspire Magazine spoke with Prof. Deriche to find out more about his research activities that led to this prize, which has been officially awarded at the Institut de France on the 15th of October 2013. Read More
Thesis | The Evolution of Algeria’s International Relations: From Anti-Systemic to Systemic Actor
Research Field: International Relations Theory, Foreign Policy Analysis, Identity and Interest Formation, Algerian Post-Colonial History
Thesis title: The Evolution of Algeria’s International Relations: From Anti-Systemic to Systemic Actor
Degree: MSc
Supervisor: Prof. John T. Sidel
Institutional Base: London School of Economics and Political Science Read More
Event Report | The 11th International Symposium on Programming and Systems
As a known biennial event, the International Symposium on Programming and Systems (ISPS) returned again this year for the 11th edition. This year, the event was organised and hosted by the department of Computer Science at the University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB) from the 22th to 24th of April, 2013. Since its very first edition in 1991, the growth of this event has been steady and remarkable. The previous edition, held in April 2011, earned the IEEE label and the conference papers were indexed through IEEE Xplore. For the 2013 edition, we also received the technical sponsorship of IEEE subsection in Algeria, thus ensuring the continuity of this high quality conference. Read More
Interview | Winners of anasr.org’s 2013 Algerian Paper of the Year in Medicine, Pharmacy & Veterinary Sciences
Ms. Katia Abdelouhab is an Assistant Lecturer in immunology and biochemistry at the Department of Biological Sciences in the University of Ferhat Abbas, Setif where she is also currently pursuing a doctoral degree focusing on immunopathology and immunotherapy. She previously worked as a Research Fellow at the University of Houari Boumediene in Algiers, within the Cytokines and NOSynthase group. Inspire Magazine spoke with Ms Abdelouhab to find out more about her paper which won the prize of the 2013 Algerian Paper of the Year Award in the category of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biological Sciences. The winning paper is entitled “Mucosal intestinal alteration in experimental colitis correlates with nitric oxide production by peritoneal macrophages: Effect of probiotics and prebiotics” and can be accessed here. Read More