Muslim Scholars and the Nobel Prize: A Historical Perspective

Established by Alfred Nobel in 1895, the Nobel Prize is one of the most prestigious awards that honors outstanding contributions in various fields such as physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, peace and economic sciences. While the laureates of this prestigious prize come from diverse backgrounds and cultures, the representation of Muslim scholars among Nobel laureates was relatively modest. However, this does not diminish the significant contributions that Muslim scholars have made to human knowledge and progress. This article aims to explore the historical context of the achievements of Muslim scientists in various fields of science and their representation in the Nobel Prize.

Historical contributions of Muslim scholars:

The Islamic Golden Age, which stretched roughly from the eighth to the fourteenth centuries, was a period of tremendous scientific, cultural, and intellectual progress in the Islamic world. Muslim scientists made pioneering discoveries and contributions in various fields, including mathematics, astronomy, medicine, chemistry and philosophy.

One of the most prominent figures of this era was Ibn al-Haytham (al-Haytham), a scientist whose contributions to the field of optics revolutionized the understanding of light and vision. His work, especially his important book The Book of Views, laid the foundation for modern optics and influenced later European scientists such as Kepler and Descartes.

Another prominent figure is Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi (al-Bukasis), often referred to as the "father of modern surgery." His comprehensive medical encyclopedia, "The Tasrif", included groundbreaking insights and techniques in surgery, obstetrics and pharmacy, and remained influential for centuries in both the Islamic world and Europe.

Muslim scientists also made significant contributions to mathematics. Al-Khwarizmi, known for his research on algebra and algorithm, introduced the concept of algorithmism, which later led to the development of modern computer science. His book The Manual Book on Algebra and Interview (The Manual Book of Computation by Completion and Balancing) laid the foundation for algebra and introduced the decimal positional number system to the Western world.

Moreover, Muslim astronomers such as Ibn Yunus and Nasir al-Din al-Tusi made remarkable advances in observational astronomy, trigonometry, and planetary theory, contributing to the improvement of astronomical instruments and the development of accurate astronomical models.

It should be noted that this period of science flourishing in the Islamic world preceded the emergence of the Nobel Prize by centuries, and it was therefore not possible for ancient Muslim scholars to benefit from it, but, in turn, received the gifts and honors of modern rulers and kings.

Muslim Scholars in the Age of the Nobel Prize:

Despite the rich heritage of scientific achievements during the Islamic Golden Age, the representation of contemporary Muslims among Nobel laureates was relatively limited. However, many Muslim scholars have been recognized for outstanding contributions in their fields of specialization and awarded the Nobel Prize.

One notable example is Ahmed Zewail, an Egyptian-American chemist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1999 for his pioneering work in inventing a femtosecond (10-12 seconds) spectrum analysis camera, which allowed chemical reactions to be monitored at very short intervals. Zewail's groundbreaking research has contributed to our understanding of fundamental chemical processes and opened up new avenues for the study of molecular dynamics. Thus, Zewail became the first Egyptian and Arab scientist to win the Nobel Prize in chemistry, and the whole world entered a new development that humanity did not expect, and it became possible to monitor the movement of atoms in molecules during chemical reactions using fast lasers. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences explained its decision to honor Dr. Zewail by relying on the huge leap in chemistry as a result of his pioneering research in the study of chemical reactions using laser beams, the emergence of so-called femtosecond chemistry, and the use of high-speed imaging machines to observe chemical reactions at femtosecond speed.  In its decision to honor Ahmed Zewail, the Swedish Academy considered that this discovery is a revolution in chemistry and all other related sciences, and allows understanding and predicting interactions.

In honor of this world, the Egyptian government established Zewail City of Science and Technology to develop science and education in Egypt, a fully independent institution that benefits from donations from bodies and individuals. The construction of the project came after the approval of the Egyptian Prime Minister in 6th of October City on an area of 270 acres.

On August 2, 2016, Egyptian television announced the death of scientist Ahmed Zewail in the United States at the age of seventy after a long struggle with a cancerous tumor in the spinal cord. An official military funeral was held for him on August 7, attended by the President of the Republic and state leaders.

Another Nobel laureate is Muhammad Abdul Salam, a Pakistani theoretical physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979 for his contributions to the theory of weak electric power, which showed certain interactions between elementary bodies. For example, the so-called weak forces that cause a neutron to dissolve into a proton and an electron can be thought of as part of the known electromagnetic force acting between all charged particles. The theory thus opened the way to a great revolution in quantum physics and laid the theoretical foundation for the standard model of particle physics. Salam's work played a crucial role in uniting electromagnetic and weak nuclear forces, and promoting understanding of the fundamental forces that govern the universe.

Abdeslam contributed to the establishment of the International Center for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy in 1964, reflecting his idea and principle of providing aid and support to young scientists in developing countries, and establishing scientific cooperation with their peers in developed countries. The goal of the first center was to create a job place for young scientists from the Third World to complete their research, and he served as director of this center until 1994. The following is an important quote addressed to Muslims, especially Arabs, in one of Dr. Mohammed Abdulsalam's lectures delivered in Kuwait in 1981: "Science is essential because it provides us with an understanding of what is beyond this world in which we live and the realization of divine purposes. It is essential for the material benefits that its discoveries can offer us. Finally, because it is universal, it is a means of cooperation between all human beings, especially between Arabs and Muslim nations. We owe it to world science. We should repay our debt with self-respect. However, the scientific project cannot flourish without your personal contribution as was the case in the past centuries of Islam. The global average of one to two percent of GNI means that four billion dollars a year are spent by Arabs, and the same by Muslim countries on scientific research and development, and one-tenth of that amount is spent on pure science. We need a scientific base in our country, run by scientists, and international scientific centers in universities or outside universities that receive the generous support, guarantee and continuity of men and ideas. Don't let anyone record that scientists in the fifteenth century AH were there, but the inability was the presence of princes who contributed generously to science."

Aziz Sancar, born in Tyre, Mardin, Turkey in 1946, is a Turkish-American biochemist and molecular biologist. Aziz Sangar was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2015 jointly with Paul Modric and Thomas Lindahl for their study on understanding DNA repair. Sinjar made contributions to the study of photolyase enzymes and to the restoration of nucleotide removal in bacteria, which changed the direction of his work. Currently, Sangar is a Sarah Graham Keenan Professor in Biophysics and Biochemistry at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and a member of the University of North Carolina's Comprehensive Cancer Center. Sangar co-founded Aziz & Gwen Sancar, a non-profit organization, but rather to promote culture and support Turkish students.

Mongi Baoundi (born March 15, 1961) is an American-Tunisian-French chemist who is currently the Lester Wolf Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Bawndy is known for his advances in the chemical synthesis of high-quality quantum dots. And in 2023 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Mongi Baounde was born in Paris, France, the son of Tunisian mathematician Mohamed Salah Baounde. As a child, Baounde and his family immigrated to the United States after living in France and Tunisia during periods. His family lived in West Lafayette, Indiana, where his father, Salah, worked in the mathematics department at Purdue University. Baundy finished his education at West Lafayette Preparatory High School in 1978. Bawndy received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1982, his Master of Arts in 1983 from Harvard University, and his Ph.D. in chemistry in 1988 from the University of Chicago.

Bowndy worked with Fred on theoretical polymer physics, and with Oka, Boundy worked on experiments on the hot ranges of H3+. These experiments played a role in deciphering the emission spectrum of Jupiter observed in 1989. During his graduate studies, Oka Baunde advised enrolling in a summer program at Bell Labs, where Louis E. Bruce introduced Poundy to research related to quantum dots. After graduation, Poundy went on to work with Bruce at Bell Labs as a postdoctoral researcher. Boindi joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1990 and became a professor in 1996.

Bawundy's research was one of the most cited chemists in the first decade of the third millennium. He is a pioneer in the research and development of quantum dots, which are small semiconductor deductions, whose nanoscale gives them unique optical and electronic properties.

The main challenge in quantum point research has been to find ways to synthesize high-quality, stable and regular quantum dots. Baundy was recognized for his work in developing methods for the preparation of quantum dots. In 1993, Poundy and doctoral students David J. Norris and Christopher B. Murray reported on the method of hot injection synthesis to produce repeatable quantum dots of well-defined size and high light quality. This advance in chemical production methods has enabled quantum dots to be "adjusted" according to their size, thus achieving predictable properties. It has given scientists greater control over the material, and made it possible to achieve accurate and repeatable results.

This method opened the door to the development of extensive technological applications of quantum dots in a wide range of fields. Thus, quantum dots are now used in light-emitting diodes (LEDs), solar photovoltaics, optical detectors, optical conductors, lasers, biomedical imaging, biosensing and others.

Baundy has received many awards and honors in America and the world, culminating in 2023 in winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry jointly with Louis E. Bruce and Alexey Ikimov for "the discovery and encourization of quantum dots."

In addition to individual winners, some organizations and institutions from Muslim-majority countries were also honored with the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts in promoting peace and resolving conflicts. For example, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), headed by Mohamed ElBaradei, an Egyptian diplomat, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 for its efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation and promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Challenges and opportunities: While Muslim scholars have made significant contributions to human knowledge and have been recognized as Nobel Prizes, there are challenges that hinder greater representation and recognition. Disparities in educational attainment are due to socio-economic factors, inadequate research infrastructure, and limited investment in education and research in many Muslim-majority countries.

Meeting these challenges requires concerted efforts by governments, educational institutions and the international community to promote scientific culture, invest in research and development, and create an enabling environment for scientific innovation and collaboration. Initiatives such as scholarships, research grants, and exchange programs can help nurture the next generation of Muslim scholars and foster a culture of scientific excellence.

Furthermore, promoting diversity and inclusion in the scientific community is essential to ensure that talent from all backgrounds is recognized and celebrated. Recognizing and supporting the contributions of Muslim scientists not only honours their heritage, but also enriches the global scientific institution by leveraging diverse perspectives and experiences.

Muslim scientists have made significant contributions to human knowledge and have been recognized as Nobel Prizes for their pioneering research and discoveries. While the representation of Muslim Nobel laureates is relatively modest compared to their historical achievements, their contributions continue to promote scientific progress.

Meeting the challenges that hinder increasing the representation of Muslim scientists requires collective action and investment in education, research, and scientific infrastructure. By fostering a culture of scientific excellence and inclusivity, the potential of Muslim scholars can be harnessed and their contributions duly recognized and celebrated on the world stage. In doing so, it not only honors their heritage, but also reaffirms the universal values of discovery and innovation that transcend cultural and geographical boundaries.