In his
speech in Cairo today, President Barack Obama indicated his intentions to support scientific initiatives in the Islamic world as part of his vision for promoting peaceful relations between the United States and countries with a Muslim majority. In his words:
On science and technology, we will launch a new fund to support
technological development in Muslim-majority countries, and to help
transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create jobs. We will open
centers of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East and
Southeast Asia, and appoint new Science Envoys to collaborate on
programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs,
digitize records, clean water, and grow new crops. And today I am
announcing a new global effort with the Organization of the Islamic
Conference to eradicate polio. And we will also expand partnerships
with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health.