A Syrian woman’s passion for science blossoms in the world of Biotechnology

Inas sits in her lab, eyes beaming with possibility and despite her calm demeanor, she truly is a force to be reckoned with.

A Syrian who fled the conflict at a young age, she found herself starting anew in Alexandria, Egypt. A friendly student with a curious air, she was struck by how being away from home and what she had endured, had affected her in ways that she was only just beginning to discover.

“It was a tough experience, one that really affected me
but also shaped who I am today.”

Inas is one of over 140,000 Syrians who have sought refuge in the country. Like Inas, many had fled as children and have grown up in Egypt. With over 930,000 registered refugees and asylum-seekers of 59 nationalities in the country, UNHCR offers legal and protection services, supports refugee students in continuing their education and offers livelihood and healthcare services.

Adapting to her life in Egypt came with many challenges. Away from the comfort of the familiar forced Inas to not just adapt but thrive. Spearheading through her secondary education, she was one of the very first students to have received a full scholarship through DAFI, the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative where she studied molecular biology and chemistry in Alexandria University graduating with honors – and infinite dreams for her future.

“I always knew I wanted to be a scientist,
and I want to make a difference.”

Inas found her calling in the field of Neuroscience, Biotechnology, a discipline that allows her curious mind to delve into the world of cell growth and witness the power of biology in combatting diseases, especially neurodegenerative ones such as Alzheimer’s.

“People forced to live through wars and conflict go through unimaginable trauma. It’s one thing to read these experiences online or in a book, but to live through it is profoundly harrowing, with far-reaching impacts that can surface much later in life,” says Inas. “People who manage to escape are considered lucky, but what of their mental state? What happens to those who stay behind?” she wonders.

Syria has been paying the price of a conflict stretching into its 14^th year; a crisis that has impacted a country that sits on centuries of history and legacy but now grapples with the challenges of rebuilding and healing. While she longs for the reconstruction of her country, she worries for the mental state of her people and how they can be productive members of society when they are not afforded the basic facilities that can cater to their mental health.

Inas is adamant – there is a need to not just prioritize and destigmatize mental health in the Arab world, but an even more pressing need to rely on available resources instead of imported medicine. It is with this conviction that she realized how much her childhood left a remarkable imprint on her passion for science.

Growing up, she had witnessed first-hand how Alzheimer’s is a web that touches upon the lives of both the patients and their caregivers; a memory that would serve as a catalyst for her pursuing biotechnology. With an ode to home, her research leads her to the Gardenia flower, one that grows in the cold winters of Damascus, particularly in her grandfather’s house where many of her fondest childhood memories were formed. The active ingredients of the flower once extracted have been proven to have preventative effects in curbing the neurodegenerative disease. Having recently completed her thesis defense, her passion only grows as she now embarks on her post-doctoral degree.

The 8^th of March is International Women’s Day, but role models such as Inas should truly be celebrated every day. Her curious mind has led her to break barriers in a field of science that is yet to be more inclusive, has encouraged an entire younger generation to follow their dreams, and is a beacon of hope for refugees who truly persevere in the face of adversaries.

The DAFI programme offers qualified refugee students the possibility to earn an undergraduate degree in their country of asylum. It is funded by the Government of Germany, Denmark and other private partners and foundations. Managed by UNHCR, the programme has supported over 26,300 young refugees to undertake tertiary studies since 1992.