(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)

Amman, Oct. 9 (Petra) – Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, President of the Royal Scientific Society, authored a newspaper article titled "A Tribute to a Worthy Nobel Laureate and a Dear Friend." Below is the full text of the article:
"Yesterday was a great day for Jordan, for science, and for all of us who cling unfailingly to the heartfelt hope of a far better future for humanity, built on the ingenuity and creativity of our greatest minds. My dear friend, my longtime ally, my champion of positive science led change, Omar, you have won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry, and we have all gained a more solid foothold on that climb to better times.
You have devoted your life to science and, particularly, to expanding the horizons of chemistry to explore new worlds in molecular form. I have been proud to share your journey for over a decade and to champion you in every arena where I knew you should be known, heard and respected. We have exchanged so much over those many years – hopes, ambitions and dreams of building together a world where science is enabled to free us from today's burning anxieties so that we may create a future that works for humanity and the planet.
Omar, you are indeed a rare talent and a unique human being. I cherish our friendship, and I celebrate our collaboration, as you gave wings to my role as an enabler of science who reveres the greatest of humankind, those among us who can imagine and unlock the mysteries of our world.
Fifteen years ago, with determination and faith, I began a quest to reach out to Jordanian scientists across the world, to celebrate their achievements and to show that their ties to Jordan remain strong, and that Jordan's spirit of discovery knows no borders. That quest led me to you.
You unlocked for me the molecular world of Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and revealed the unlimited potential of this entirely new class of compounds. You are recognised across the world as the pioneer of reticular chemistry and the creator of MOFS, transforming how we think about molecules and materials. These structures, vast and intricate networks at the molecular scale, have transformed our understanding of how we can capture, store, and purify the very elements that sustain life. Your work has opened pathways for clean water, renewable energy, and solutions to the great environmental challenges of our age.
I was proud indeed to share your ambition and your growing achievements with His Majesty King Abdullah, and to escort you to his presence on May 16th, 2017, where he honoured you with the King Abdullah II Order of Distinction of the First Class, one of the nation's highest honours and a tribute so well deserved. I know how much it meant to you, and how moved you were to receive it.
You are the son of Palestinian refugees, nurtured and formed in Jordan, the country that gave life to your dreams and strength to your purpose. You found your calling in the books that you devoured at your Jordanian school library, and I know that this is where the dream that fuelled a scientific revolution began. You rose from challenging beginnings with determination, discipline, and a fierce love of learning that grew with you. Your story is one of possibility itself, proving that the spark of genius can ignite anywhere when curiosity is nurtured and knowledge is valued.
As a scientist, you have inspired generations of young researchers across the world. Through your many laboratories and research groups on every continent, you have built a living network of discovery, creativity, and shared purpose. Each of those young scientists embodies your belief that science transcends geography and culture, and that knowledge grows stronger when it is shared freely. Indeed, this is the quiet and unsung work of science diplomacy that brought us together, where curiosity and respect build bridges that politics cannot. Through collaboration and mutual respect, science becomes a bridge that connects nations and people in pursuit of shared progress. You have taken global science to new heights, not only through your breakthroughs in the laboratory but through the culture of curiosity and excellence that you have nurtured. This is why today the whole world claims you with pride, for your brilliance belongs to everyone who believes in the power of knowledge to transform our future.
You returned in November 2017 to be an honoured guest and distinguished panellist at the 8th World Science Forum, the largest gathering of its kind ever held in Jordan, where your support for me as Chair was both touching and empowering. It was a true homecoming for you, as you stood once again on Jordanian soil to share your extraordinary vision with the world. There, on a stage that was televised to the nation, you were bestowed by His Majesty with the honour of Jordan's Star of Science for Chemistry. Your research was introduced to an entirely new audience, both of scientists and policymakers at the Forum, and of ordinary Jordanians who watched enthralled. Your genius, your vision, your generosity of knowledge – these attributes were truly at home at a forum held under the banner of Science for Peace, a message that feels even more urgent and necessary today.
Your collaboration with our own Royal Scientific Society (RSS) reflected our shared belief that science must serve people and planet. For decades, the Royal Scientific Society has worked to place science and evidence at the heart of national policy. Indeed, a future shaped by knowledge and guided by reason hones the most powerful form of national resilience. Through our partnership, the seeds were planted for Jordan's role in advancing materials science and inspiring young researchers to see that innovation can thrive here at home. In this same spirit, you agreed to serve as a founding fellow of the Jordan National Academy of Science and Engineering (JNASE), reflecting our shared vision of a connected and empowered Jordanian scientific community. The Academy stands as a commitment to celebrate Jordanian excellence, wherever it is found, and to strengthen the bonds between our scientists at home and abroad.
You have always reminded me that science is not a quick fix. True discovery takes time, patience, and courage. Yesterday's celebrations reminded us all that the best things in science and in life are worth waiting for. What may seem slow is often the steady work that changes the world.
As the years have passed, our region has suffered many setbacks. We have witnessed around us such suffering as we had hoped never to witness again. Yet we must maintain that hope in the ascendence of all that is best in humanity, and all that beats in the best of human hearts. You have always wanted the knowledge that you create to bring good things to people and planet. You have given freely so much of that new knowledge to the world, to be worked with, built upon, and used to forge new technologies for the common good.
As a son of Jordan and Palestine, you have shown the world how identity and dreams together can shape greatness. You belong to Jordan, to Palestine, and to all who believe in the promise of science. You are a worthy and exemplary Nobel Laureate, and with my deep, deep respect, I send also the love that our friendship has engendered over so many years."

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