Morocco is promised a “brilliant” future in terms of scientific research, underlined Abdeljabbar El Manira, professor of neuroscience at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, and first Moroccan member of the jury for the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
In an interview with MAP, on the sidelines of the announcement ceremony, Monday, of the Nobel Prize in Medicine, Mr. El Manira called on young Moroccan students and researchers to “pursue their passions and to embark on a fulfilling research career. “As a Moroccan researcher, I am extremely fortunate to collaborate with some of the most accomplished scientists from around the world. I hope that my journey, my experiences and my achievements serve as an inspiration to young Moroccan students and researchers,” he said.
On the Nobel Prize, Mr. El Manira noted that the selection criteria are rigorous. “In our discussions, we look for a discovery that has opened new perspectives, allowed us to approach a problem in an innovative way, and fundamentally changed our understanding of a problem. And this is what we call a paradigm shift,” he explained. In this sense, he affirmed that “the scope of the discovery must truly be remarkable. It cannot be a simple invention or improvement, but an authentic discovery, an exceptional distinction, contributing to the well-being of humanity,” recalling that achievements over an entire career or scientific leadership are not criteria taken into account for the Nobel Prize. In the same vein, Mr. El Manira said that all Nobel Prize winners have as a “shared characteristic their unwavering passion and commitment to the field of science, in addition to their great curiosity and willingness to venture into unexplored scientific territories, which often requires considerable perseverance.” In essence, he continued, most of them emphasize “the pleasure they get from their work and the pursuit of a true passion, which serves as the driving force behind their efforts.” According to him, “none of these laureates began their career with the specific objective of winning a Nobel Prize. On the contrary, they seek to have a lasting impact by pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge. And to maintain that what truly distinguishes Nobel laureates is their “deep passion for their work, a passion which engages not only their intellect, but which also resonates with their hearts”.
source: lematin.ma
