Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal - ISP Board member

August 2016
ISP warmly welcomes Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal, Chancellor of The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, as a member of the ISP Board. Nuclear physicist Dr Bilal was Vice President of Tanzania between 2010 and 2015 and Prime Minister of Zanzibar from 1995 to 2000. In addition, he served as Permanent Secretary of the Tanzanian Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education in the beginning of the 1990’s. From April 2016 and onwards his broad and long experience will come to use at ISP’s Board meetings.

Why did you choose to join the ISP board?

- I agree with the core mission of ISP that targets, among other things, building active research groups in developing countries. 

What are your thoughts about ISP?

- ISP is a unique program that promotes strengthening basic sciences and higher education in developing countries. Its approach is realistic and down to earth. 

What do you believe to be the greatest challenges in supporting higher education and research in developing countries? How can we overcome them?

- The major challenges are how to build a critical mass of research scientists and how to get meaningful financial support. The best way to overcome these challenges are to  a) unwavering commitment of developing countries to support higher education and scientific research and b) long term partnership and mentoring from established research groups. I have always wondered if such program could be expanded to include more institutions in other countries also.

Thank you and welcome!