The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has joined IIASA as a prospective member through the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan.

As a prospective member, the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan (RSS) and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) will jointly explore the value of full Jordanian membership of the institute between June 2020 and June 2022. Specifically, they will identify areas of mutual research interest that will benefit both Jordan, the wider Middle East region, and IIASA; mechanisms that will facilitate collaborative research activities; and ways to overcome any barriers to such research collaboration.

“Many of today’s global challenges cut across multiple sectors of society from the economy, to health and agriculture. Systems science is one of the few transdisciplinary approaches that has the breadth to find integrated solutions. We look forward to a long and productive relationship between Jordanian and IIASA scientists as we collaborate to advance comprehensive systems analysis,” said HRH Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, President of the RSS, who has been influential in positioning and enabling the country as a leading advocate for science and a catalyst for change. She is a dedicated science enabler in the Arab World and UNESCO Special Envoy for Science for Peace.

Situated at the heart of the Middle East, Jordan plays a pivotal role in the geopolitics and international relations of the region. Jordanian researchers have collaborated with colleagues at IIASA for a number of years and this new partnership heralds the beginning of a more formal commitment between the IIASA and the RSS. A Memorandum of Understanding signed between IIASA and Jordan in 2015 was followed up by a more comprehensive document signed with the RSS at the 8th World Science Forum in November 2017. This second agreement has already led to several successful research projects including:  

  • A four-year collaborative study into participatory governance of energy transitions in the Middle East and North Africa by researchers from IIASA, Jordan, and Sweden, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development;
  • A joint publication in Nature Sustainability on the Sustainable Development Goals and sustainability science between researchers at IIASA, the RSS, and other countries;
  • A collaboration between researchers in IIASA, Finland, and Jordan into how modelling can accurately estimate a deposited dose of aerosol particles in the respiratory system.

The prospective membership of IIASA is a tangible outcome of World Science Forum 2017, which was hosted by the RSS, and marks a vital step forward in Jordan’s support for its dynamic science sector.

“IIASA provides the convening power to build multinational teams of researchers and apply their expertise to complex challenges that cross international boundaries,” said Ambassador Leena Al-Hadid, Jordan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna.

“We are delighted to welcome Jordan as a prospective member of IIASA. Our envisaged long-term, mutually beneficial relationship will enable Jordan’s scientific community to access the skills and networks that IIASA holds, while Jordan will add a valuable geopolitical perspective to the institute’s mission. We look forward to working with the RSS and to promoting cooperation between the Jordanian and other regional scientific and policy communities over the next two years,” concluded IIASA Director General Albert van Jaarsveld. 

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