AMMAN — Researchers and university students in Jordan and the rest of the Arab world will now find it easier to conduct research on different topics, thanks to an online database launched in the capital on Monday.
Encompassing about 45,000 statistical reports and scientific periodicals and studies, the database provides information for researchers and university students in the fields of human, social, medical, engineering, natural and life sciences, as well as economic and business administration and information technology, according to Sami Khazandar, supervisor general of the database launched by Knowledge World Company for Digital Content.
“The database will help researchers from all over the Arab world access scientific information, studies and statistics through their computers and laptops. It will make it easier for them to conduct research,” he said in a press conference yesterday.
By the end of 2012, the database will include 70,000 scientific studies, statistical reports, periodicals, dissertations and theses, bibliographic data services and book reviews, Khazandar added, noting that it will be updated constantly.
He said contacts are under way with Jordanian private sector companies in order to offer the database free of charge to researchers in Jordan and Palestine.
Dubbed “Marefa”, the database includes information in Arabic, English and French, and users are charged nominal fees, according to Khazandar. ”The database will help increase Arabic content on the web as the entire Arab world suffers from a shortage of such content,” he said, adding that it will also “enhance communication between researchers across the Arab world through information exchange”.
“The database also preserves copyrights and several deals were signed with owners and publishers of these research and scientific papers,” Khazandar noted.Agreements were signed with more than 250 entities, research centres and academic institutions in 18 Arab countries to include their research, scientific papers and statistics in the database, which can be accessed at www.e-marefa.net, he said.