If we can reverse cell fate, why can’t we redefine success? | Rana Dajani | TEDxPSUT
Rana Dajani |
TEDxPSUT
• November 2018
If we can reverse cell fate why can't we redefine success? Rana Dajani, one of the world’s leading Muslim women scientists, points to the 2006 discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells which allowed researchers to reverse-engineer cell fate, and asks us why a similar breakthrough might not be possible in the pursuit of gender equality. Seeking a paradigm shift in how we define success based on human biological diversity, Dr. Dajani makes the case for radically transforming the social institutions, cultures, and customs of our world to fully validate and support all women.
Dr. Rana Dajani is a Jordanian molecular biologist and Associate Professor at Hashemite University. She earned her PhD in molecular biology in 2005 from the University of Iowa. She has a fellowship at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, and an Eisenhower Fellowship. Dr. Dajani is a Fulbright scholar alumna having received two Fulbright awards. She is a former Yale visiting professor at the Yale stem cell center and a visiting Scholar at both the University of Cambridge and the Stem Cell Therapy Center, Jordan.
She spearheaded the effort to establish a law for stem cell research ethics in Jordan. She is a strong advocate for the theory of biological evolution and its compatibility with Islam. As such, she was a speaker at the Templeton-Cambridge Journalism Fellowship symposium at the University of Cambridge and at the British Council ‘Belief in Dialogue’ conference, McGill University and MIT. She is also a Member of the Board of Trustees for Phi scientific Institute.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.