If one looks at most scientifically advanced countries, we discover:

(i) a fundamental link between higher education and development,

(ii) the means by which this link is maintained and strengthened is the use of the national tong that the society speaks, and

(iii) to acquire new knowledge in various fields, there is need for interaction with other languages.

Managing such an interaction, without depreciating the value of the national language, requires abundance of dictionaries and glossaries that enrich the national language with modern discoveries. This is an essential requirement for public awareness and creative thinking particularly amongst the young generation.

I congratulate the authors and their team for compiling this unique encyclopaedic dictionary. It embodies more than 17,000 scientific terms in various biological, chemical and medical disciplines. This substantial glossary introduces the language of modern science within the framework of Arab culture. This is a noble objective as it will activate scientific research in Arabic language and expedite the translation movement across the Arab world. With this glossary, the seekers of knowledge have a simplified and clear explanations of the most commonly used scientific terms.

Undoubtedly, this dictionary will facilitate unification of scientific terminology across the Arab countries as well as enriching the Arabic language with new Arabized and translated terms; a process that should enhance the scientific movement and popularise innovation and invention in all fields of science and technology.

Salim T S Al-Hassani

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Salim T S Al-Hassani, M Sc, Ph D, FBSA, F Inst Energy (Emeritus University of Manchester), President Foundation for Science, Technology & Civilisation. UK