Recording #bwsWEBINAR | Five Scarves: Doing the impossible
By Rana Dajani, Founder and Director, We Love Reading.
September 10th, 2020
About the topic
Rana Dajani’s Five Scarves: Doing the Impossible—If We Can Reverse Cell Fate, Why Can’t We Redefine Success? is an exploration of the intersections between gender, race, religion, and science told through the eyes of one of the world’s leading Muslim women scientists. Dajani, a Professor of Molecular Biology at the Hashemite University of Jordan, points to the 2006 discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells which allowed researchers to reverse engineer embryonic life forms, and asks us why a similar breakthrough might not be possible in the pursuit of gender equality. Seeking a paradigm shift in the fight against women’s oppression, Dajani makes the case for radically transforming the social institutions, cultures, and customs of our world to fully validate and support all women.
The reader is led through the many phases of Dajani’s dizzying life journey, from the bustling world of Amman, to the quiet neighborhoods of Iowa City, back through Jordan’s universities, schools, and refugee camps, and into the halls of Harvard, Cambridge, Grenoble, and the United Nations. The author wears five scarves, those of a mother, teacher, scientist, social entrepreneur, and feminist. Her story tells of all the challenges she’s faced and the innovations she’s made in everything from genetic analysis and science pedagogy, to grassroots social change and Islamic perspectives on evolution. Finally, Dajani offers a provocative and far-reaching meditation on the fight for women’s liberation today and what it would take to build a truly equal and humane society.
About Rana Dajani
Rana Dajani Ph.D. molecular cell biology from U of Iowa, currently Cmalakova Fellow at the Jepson school of Leadership at the University of Richmond, Harvard Radcliff fellow, a Fulbrighter, Fulbright Foreign Student Program, Jordan to the United States, 2000; Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program, Jordan to the United States, 2012. Eisenhower fellow, Professor, former center of studies director, Hashemite University, Jordan, Yale and Cambridge visiting professor. World expert on genetics of Circassian and Chechan populations in Jordan. Established stem cell research ethics law in Jordan. Advocate for biological evolution and Islam, speaker at McGill University and MIT. Jordan team leader in studying refugee youth with Yale University and the epigenetics of trauma across generations. Higher education reform expert, member UN women Jordan advisory council. Writer in Science and Nature, Established a women mentor network, received Partnerships for enhanced engagement in research (PEER) award 2014. Organized the first gender summit for the Arab world 2017. Most influential women scientists in Islamic World, 12 among100 most influential Arab women 2015, women in science hall of fame 2015, King Hussein Cancer Institute for cancer and biotechnology award 2009 and 2016 Global Changemaker Award for celebrating 70 years of the Fulbright Programm. President of the Society for the Advancement of Science, Technology and Innovation in the Arab World.
Awarded the Jordan star of science by His Majesty King Abdullah II, University of Iowa, College of medicine, distinguished alumni Award 2018, Higher Education Reform Expert EU-TEMPUS, Jordan, founder service learning center, Hashemite University, speaker at TEDxDeadsea and TEDxPSUT, World Islamic Economic Forum
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This cycle of videoconferences is organized by the B Women Solutions (BWS) movement. A global network of Changemakers Co-creating a platform for the Caring Economy focusing on Gender and Climate Action.Do not miss the next #bwsWEBINAR – Full agenda HERE
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