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Dr. Ahmad Pourahmad is professor of geography at University of Tehran and a renowned teacher of geography in the country. He has worked as dean of University of Tehran’s Faculty of Geography. He obtained his doctorate in geography and urban planning from Tarbiat Modarres University in 1993 and has written many articles and books on relevant subjects. The following is text of an interview with Dr. Pourahmad on the situation of humanities in Iran.
Why discussing humanities is important and why human sciences are so significant?
Attention to humanities is, in fact, attention to human beings, their culture, identities and land. Discussing humanities is, in fact, discussing the human life.
A glance at research statistics in the world would reveal that most theories and innovations in humanities as well as social and behavioral sciences take place in developing countries and this confirms the relationship between development of humanities and social and economic development at large.
How can we promote humanities in Iran?
If everybody (especially officials and specialists in other sciences) accepted that humanities were real sciences and enjoy their own scientific methods and techniques, then everybody would admit that there should be specialists in all fields of human sciences. Unfortunately, interventions by non-specialists in humanities and social sciences have declined these sciences. In addition, officials and executive bodies should accept that without good knowledge of various scientific aspects of the society, including economic, cultural, social, and geographic, they would never achieve development goals. Obviously, realization of those goals hinges on the development of human sciences.
How can we move toward and produce indigenized human sciences?
Everything which is scientific is universal and good for all human beings. If you mean how we can introduce our successful indigenized behaviors and models to the world and make theories, I should point to three issues: 1. Recognition of international and global theories and models; 2. Complete knowledge of indigenized subjects based on scientific criteria; and 3. Introduction of indigenized models by publishing international papers, taking part in international conferences and connect to international scientific associations.
It should be noted that development of research indexes in any country and gaining high research grades in the world will draw attention from other countries. If our scientific rating were good, other countries would try to avail themselves of our scientific methods. Historical evidence attests to this fact. For example, when it comes to geographical analyses, different traditions have governed. Once there has been a Greek tradition followed by Muslim traditions of Iraq and other traditions. Those traditions have been introduced as role models due to scientific development and capacities of their respective countries. Finally, we must read old books on humanities and social sciences which have been written by famous scientists of old times in order to prevent them from being forgotten.
How a link can be established between humanities and social needs?
First of all, we must know about abilities and potentials of humanities. Secondly, we must leave various issues related to humanities and social sciences to relevant specialists. Thirdly, we must believe that there is a key for every lock. In our society, the main problem is with decision-makers and absence of political and executive will to leave specialist subjects to those who specialize in them. Under the current circumstances, science is not desirable per se, but it is good if it improves social sciences and living conditions of human beings.
What role, do you think Farabi International Award can play in promoting humanities in Iran?
Farabi International Award can introduce top works in humanities and social sciences in order to promote them in the society. Although the Award is not more than 3 years old and is still nascent, its successful performance in introducing and praising researchers of social sciences, humanities and cultural researchers at national and international levels shows that it has found its deserved status among researchers of humanities and has raised new hopes. By introducing top works and appreciating top researchers in humanities and social sciences and by presenting top scientific models, it will encourage researchers to come up with new theories.
How is the situation of research in your field of specialty, that is, geography?
Inventing new techniques and laboratory equipment, especially in various fields of geography, on the one hand, and existence of numerous potentials in the field of geography has increased contacts between geographers and other specialists and has led to emergence of new interdisciplinary courses. This has provided vast research grounds for researchers of geography. The best evidence to prove this is qualitative and quantitative growth of scientific and research papers and books published on relevant subjects in this field.
What should be done to improve geography education and research?
Collective measures should be taken through a single strategy. Among those measures, one can point to familiarity with modern technologies, use of modern equipment and research methods, expansion of international cooperation, changing educational courses to give a new focus to research, providing facilities for researchers to study in the field, and facilitating their visits to various parts of the country.
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Farabi International Award Encourages Researchers and Nurtures Thinking
