Benjamin Plackett
Since 2013, Benjamin has been travelling to the Arab world to tell stories of science and research, sometimes in recent post-conflict zones. He’s met researchers, who at great personal risk, hurriedly buried their expensive lab equipment as ISIS approached Mosul and he’s interviewed university administrators attempting to rebuild the region’s answer to Oxbridge even as terrorist attacks continue to threaten the campus. His work has been published by Scientific American, Associated Press, CNN, and Engadget amongst others. He has an M.A. in journalism from New York University and a B.Sci. in biology from Imperial College, London.
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News & Reports
Arab Researchers Use Artificial Intelligence in Bid to Thwart Fake News
Computer engineers in the U.A.E. and Jordan are working together on technology to help Internet users better identify fake news.
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News & Reports
Arab Business Schools Seek a Better Return on Their Investment
Middle Eastern business-school leaders said at a regional summit that they needed to strengthen their impact in the region, through…
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News & Reports
Most Arab-World Researchers Want to Leave, a New Survey Finds
A survey by Al-Fanar Media found that many researchers in Arab countries are unhappy with their working conditions and would…
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News & Reports
An Iraqi Researcher’s Situation Spotlights the Need for Investment in Research
A researcher in Iraq risks the quality of his geological samples when he ships them to Italy for analysis.
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Tips & Resources
Brain Drain Can Be Reversed, One Lebanese Physician Says
Most researchers in Arab countries say they want to leave, but one academic administrator has developed a strategy for bringing…
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News & Reports
Will Arab Youth Reach Their Potential? The World Bank’s ‘Human Capital Index’ Offers Predictions
The institution's new Human Capital Index indicates that many of the region’s youth face significant barriers in pursuing their full…
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News & Reports
As Lebanon’s Forests Burn, Researchers Seek Solutions
Lebanon’s forest fires are started by humans and getting worse due to climate change. A solution requires more information and…
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News & Reports
Why Did People Die? Unreliable Data Affect Research in Many Arab Countries
Two new studies question the accuracy of death certificates in the Middle East, an issue that creates difficulties for researchers…
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News & Reports
Female Genital Mutilation Is a Stubborn Problem, but Education Helps
New research shows that educating teenage girls about the risks of female genital mutilation changes their opinions to view it…
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Opinion
Tips for Students: How to Cope with Exam Stress
Students may not realize the toll that anxiety over studying is taking on their bodies. Fortunately, that pressure can be…
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