As we celebrate a decade of S&D, Princess Sumaya acknowledges that, while the present may not be what we hoped, the challenges that the world has faced over the last ten years have made it stronger, and there are still reasons to be hopeful.

The Middle East faces many challenges, including the absence of a scientific community. Now more than ever, a scientific community is needed to contest identity politics with policies that are based on methodical reasoning.

As political upheaval and economic stagnation hobble national governments’ ability to plan for the future, leaders must look for innovative ways to develop and implement solutions to our global challenges.