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What if Einstein were from
Darfur, a son of Sudan
rather than Germany?
Mangosteen – unique in its approach to promoting science,
scientific research and education - forging healthy and
constructive relationships between the scientists and students
of the world’s developed and developing regions.
Groningen, The Netherlands (PRWEB) August 9th, 2004 – Whether
in 1879 or 2004, if the baby boy who was to become Albert
Einstein happened to have been born to parents in Darfur, or
other similarly troubled or disadvantaged region in the
developing world – as opposed to the German city of Ulm – it’s
certain that E would still equal mc2, and everything in the
physical world would still be relative, but it’s also certain
that it would not have been Einstein who would have told the
world, with his immeasurable talents undoubtedly wasted.
DEVELOPED, DEVELOPING – WHAT MATTERS TO THE TWO WORLDS OF
SCIENCE?
Elsewhere, their busy careers mean that the vast majority of the
world’s leading scientific researchers, the planet’s problem
solvers and modern day magicians, responsible for extraordinary
discoveries, and guardians to the knowledge base and hundreds of
years of experimental insight, never step foot in any of the
world’s developing or least developed nations.
But does it matter that they don’t?
Likewise, does it matter that the bulk of those in the
developing world that have studied hard and made it to become
scientific professionals and academics are so lacking in
resources, so short of information, as well as equipment and
finances, that it is practically impossible for them to carry
out the essential scientific research required to find solutions
for so many of their most desperate medical and public health
concerns?
Of course it matters. It matters to the scientists who are
powerless to help themselves and are unable to do much in the
way of productive work, and it matters to their people who
remain dependent on the efforts and charity of the developed
world for new healthcare treatments and other important
scientific and technological developments.
And if it doesn’t already matter to many well-resourced, more
fortunate scientists across the developed world, Mangosteen, a
new socially-minded worldwide initiative based in The
Netherlands, believes that it could matter, that for the most
part the fact that it doesn’t is primarily due to a lack of
awareness, and that first-hand exposure is the key to
understanding.
With this in mind, Mangosteen exists to provide the perfect
opportunity for these hard-working, highly talented
professionals to gain that all-important personal exposure -
offering them the chance to pick up a life experience that just
might not avail itself, or which would otherwise simply prove
impracticable.
DISCUSSING 1st CLASS 1st WORLD SCIENCE IN 1st CLASS 3rd WORLD
NATIONS
Intrinsic by its design, Mangosteen’s approach ensures that it
addresses several important issues – all by arranging for
scientists from the developed world to take a cheap, enjoyable
and enlightening break away from the daily routine of work:
Mangosteen sets up and runs tailor-made cutting-edge
conferences, meetings and all types of scientific gatherings,
across a wide range of disciplines, in a number of fascinating,
friendly, politically stable and all too often forgotten
destinations throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America.
In so doing, the initiative aims to play an important role in
the advancement of science in both the established worldwide
community and the emerging scientific communities of some of the
world’s developing and least developed nations.
Founder Anthony F. England, Ph.D. an experienced research
chemist explains, “uniquely styled, non-formulaic and structured
according to the participants’ demands, cost-effective and
convenient, small-scale and fun, Mangosteen’s meetings escape
the traditional conference room environment by being spread
across two or more distinctly different sites and venues, so
taking the time to include a little of the country itself –
definitely more than just the airport, the capital, a large
hotel and the concrete of the conference centre. Not only are
participants presented with a relaxed atmosphere and the time to
discuss science in a stimulating new environment, but they are
also provided with rare opportunities to fully interact with
freely invited participating scientists and students from
institutes in the host nation and neighbouring countries – so,
meeting them on home ground, where prohibitively expensive air
travel and visa restrictions don’t apply.
In the long term, we’re sure that the increase in both the
quality and quantity of scientific exchanges between these two
disparate communities will prove invaluable to both. In the
immediate term, the committed scientists and ambitious students
working in our host nations welcome the obvious benefits brought
forth by greater recognition from the wider world community –
not to mention the periodic influx of international expertise,
teaching experience, and possibilities for new relationships
leading to future collaborative efforts. At the same time, we
aim to ensure that the visitors are entertained, that they enjoy
their surroundings, and that they feel nothing less than truly
enriched by the overall experience – both from a personal and
professional perspective.”
As for making a serious business trip feel a little less like
work, England adds, “we don’t need to do anything to demonstrate
the warmth and generosity of the locals, no matter what their
situation; they’ll do that for themselves. There may not be a
lot of luxury in the developing world - there's frequently not
much in the way of a well maintained infrastructure as nationals
of wealthy countries know it - but there's no shortage of
riches. Riches both in the form of the people, the potential of
individuals that deserve more of an opportunity than fortune has
allowed them thus far, and, be it the Andes, the Amazon, the
Sahel or Serengeti, riches in the form of the kind of natural
environment that simply doesn’t exist in the developed world –
of course it would be remiss of us not to factor such
outstanding regional attractions into our programmes.”
MANGOSTEEN – WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Established to be a fruitful socially-minded enterprise, our
name has been chosen to reflect something that is small and
natural, that has origins in the developing world, and which is
truly amongst the finest of its kind on Earth - but yet, in our
experience, is not well known to those in the developed world.
The mangosteen is a small succulent fruit which hails from
south-east Asia, is frequently referred to as the 'Queen of
Fruits', and simply couldn’t taste better.
OUR WEBSITE – mangosee.com
Take away the T and the N from mangosteen - what's left is 'man
go see'. When placed one after another, of course these three
small English words don't mean anything. However, although not
grammatically correct, this rather primitive syntax perfectly
illustrates the simplicity of our approach and objectives, and
what Mangosteen is all about, begging the question:
How might a man (or woman) be affected by the developing world
if he takes the time to go and see it for himself?
MANGOSTEEN –
Moving Scientific Information To The Developing World:
Helping Further Science And The Developing World A Little,
Helping Scientists Go That Little Bit Farther.
CONTACT DETAILS
Contact: Anthony F. England, Ph.D.
E-mail:
england@mangosee.com
Internet URL:
http://mangosee.com/mangosteen
Phone/Fax: +31 (0)50 313 0292
Mailing Address:
Grote Rozenstraat 76B
9712 TJ Groningen
The Netherlands |
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