12:52 18 February 2010 by Debora MacKenzie
For similar stories, visit the US national issues Topic Guide
It might be the Chinese year of the tiger, but scientifically, 2010 is looking like Iran's year.

Scientific output has grown 11 times faster in Iran than the world average, faster than any other country. A survey of the number of scientific publications listed in the Web of Science database shows that growth in the Middle East – mostly in Turkey and Iran – is nearly four times faster than the world average.

Science-Metrix, a data-analysis company in Montreal, Canada, has published a detailed report (PDF) on "geopolitical shifts in knowledge creation" since 1980. "Asia is catching up even more rapidly than previously thought, Europe is holding its position more than most would expect, and the Middle East is a region to watch," says the report's author, Eric Archambault.

World scientific output grew steadily, from 450,000 papers a year in 1980 to 1,500,000 in 2009. Asia as a whole surpassed North America last year.

Nuclear, nuclear, nuclear

Archambaut notes that Iran's publications have emphasised inorganic and nuclear chemistry, nuclear and particle physics and nuclear engineering. Publications in nuclear engineering grew 250 times faster than the world average – although medical and agricultural research also increased.

Science-Metrix also predicts that this year, China will publish as many peer-reviewed papers in natural sciences and engineering as the US. If current trends continue, by 2015 China will match the US across all disciplines – although the US may publish more in the life and social sciences until 2030.

China's prominence in world science is known to have been growing, but Science-Metrix has discovered that its output of peer-reviewed papers has been growing more than five times faster than that of the US.

Euro-puddings

Meanwhile, "European attitudes towards collaboration are bearing fruit", writes Archambaut. While Asia's growth in output was mirrored by North America's fall, Europe, which invests heavily in cross-border scientific collaboration, held its own, and now produces over a third of the world's science, the largest regional share. Asia produces 29 per cent and North America 28 per cent.

Scientific output fell in the former Soviet Union after its collapse in 1991 and only began to recover in 2006. Latin America and the Caribbean together grew fastest of any region, although its share of world science is still small. Growth in Oceania, Europe and Africa has stayed at about the same rate over the past 30 years. Only North American scientific output has grown "considerably slower" than the world as a whole.

"The number of papers is a first-order metric that doesn't capture quality," admits Archambaut. There are measures for quality, such as the number of times papers are cited, and "Asian science does tend to be less cited overall".

But dismissing the Asian surge on this basis is risky, he feels. "In the 1960s, when Japanese cars started entering the US market, US manufacturers dismissed their advance based on their quality" – but then lost a massive market share to Japan. The important message, he says, is that "Asia is becoming the world leader in science, with North America progressively left behind".

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...y-country.html

Some people believes that retired Soviet scientists are the ones behind this scientific growth of Iran.

Originally Posted by oRTouCH

Some people believes that retired Soviet scientists are the ones behind this scientific growth of Iran.

I find that highly unlikely...

I highly doubt it.... These advances were made internally due to Iran's investment in research, due to Iran wiping out the debts of their universities, due to Iran's investment in its scientists... Iran has been under sanctions for 30 years and in those 30 years they did what no other country that was under sanctions accomplished and that is look inwards, Iran's massive population of nearly 80 million and still growing at a high rate gave it the ability to rely on its own education system and its own youth which account for a high percentage of its population to produce the scientists, doctors, teachers and researchers that it needs.... Iran is a country that has thousands of years of history and they are not self-defeatists, they have a high regard for themselves and are very proud nation they believe in their own potential, they don't give up and surrender at the slightests obstacle or hinderance like the Arabs do they work around whatever problem is thrown at them... I am neither an Arab or a Persian but after a thorough analysis of both cultures, how they view themselves and how they have adapted to obstacles the Persians seem to be far more driven than the Arabs, if Iran was a front line state in the Arab-Israeli conflicts I doubt the Arabs would have lost to Israel.

Justice, I believe you. And I can throw a little explanation.

Arabs and many Muslim countries were crushed by colonization. They lost a lot in these events. They have what I would call a bastard culture, cut between Western and Arab/Muslim culture...

This creates conflicts inside these countries, where you can see many many groups... Ruling Western like elites, and arab cultured poor social classes. And then, average Muslim populations with a little education and no political power. And then, you have negative effects from ethnic diversity between black people, Arabs and other ethnicities... Creating racism, independence claims destabilizing the governments... Religious extremists, salafist, moderates...

Well, a huge mess...

While Turkey and Iran didnt knew colonization like other countries... Their people is still proud and never lost its unity, or at least, not like the others...

Well, I support Iran in its development, many people see other countries developing like a bad thing... But I dont agree with that.

Originally Posted by LeMask

Well, I support Iran in its development, many people see other countries developing like a bad thing... But I dont agree with that.

We do support a developing Iran on social issues, on human rights and peaceful science. If you are killing an opponent to your regime in your country, this shows your development level. The development of Iran on human rights : NONE
And this shows us Iran gives no importance to its own citizens. The word "development" means developing missile tech and producing more Shahabs, to Iranians.

I don't want an anti democratic neighbouring bandit country can produce Weapons of Mass Destruction by this scientific development. They should develop themselves socially.

Good enough.

But what if it was just propaganda? Are you aware that there is a lot of anti-Iran propaganda in the air we breathe?

I met an Iranian dude a few years ago, and he pretend to be anti-Ayatollahs. But he told me that many things got better since the Islamic revolution, and that there was some social development.

Iran have a very good justice system compared to many many Oil rich Muslim countries. For a country supposedly using a system based on religion... They are doing a good job.

And they are not just making missiles... Let's be honest, they are right now working on nuclear energy. This is an important item for their future.

The reality is Iran is more democratic than any other Middle Eastern country, regardless of any proclaimed "iregularities" in the elections, Ahmedinjad regardless of any hatred the West has for him won't be in office after his second term is up and he is not a dictator by a long shot unfortunately I can't say the same for many other Middle Eastern countries.... Iran is a democracy but they just have a religious head the Ayotollah who basically makes sure in the process that the government maintains it's Islamic ideals and ways, so basically Iran is a democracy but with Iranian/Islamic flavor to it... Honestly of any of you were to ever be arrested you'd wish you were in Iranian hands rather than Saudi, Egyptian or all of them other Middle Eastern countries.

Originally Posted by Justice

The reality is Iran is more democratic than any other Middle Eastern country

Iran is more democratic than Israel?

Originally Posted by LeMask

Iran have a very good justice system compared to many many Oil rich Muslim countries. For a country supposedly using a system based on religion... They are doing a good job.

If hanging dozens of people in front of thousands in Azadi Square (Tehran) is a good justice system my friend, then I have really nothing to tell.

Originally Posted by Justice

Iran is a democracy but they just have a religious head the Ayotollah who basically makes sure in the process that the government maintains it's Islamic ideals and ways, so basically Iran is a democracy but with Iranian/Islamic flavor to it...

In fact Iran is not a democracy. Their regime can only be named "theocracy". If you are calling Iran's regime "democracy" only because they have elections, then we need to clarify the meaning of democracy and democratic.

Originally Posted by Justice

The reality is Iran is more democratic than any other Middle Eastern country...

If you are looking for best democracies in the region you should visit Turkey and Israel sir, to see how democracy works in Middle East.