His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal, Chairman of the Higher Council for Science and Technology, emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between material sciences, particularly materials science and nanotechnology, highlighting Jordan’s potential to become a hub for innovative ideas, especially in the fields of ceramics, polymers, thermodynamics, and renewable energy.
This came as His Royal Highness patronized the opening ceremony of the 11th International Petra School of Physics (PSP11) on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, held under the theme “AI in Natural Sciences.” The event was organized by the Schools of Science at the University of Jordan (UJ) and Yarmouk University, in cooperation with the Higher Council for Science and Technology and the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy.
Prince El Hassan noted that research, observation, and learning lie at the heart of human development, stressing the importance of preserving intellectual curiosity amid modern warfare, escalating environmental crises, and value distortions caused by conflict. He underscored that every human being has the right to think, utilize knowledge, and employ science in service of humanity.
His Royal Highness also called for the development of a new vision for the Eastern Mediterranean based on integration across the water, energy, food, and environment sectors. He emphasized that science should not remain confined to elites, but rather be disseminated at the public level, transforming physics and other sciences into tools for human advancement.
For his part, UJ President Prof. Nathir Obeidat stated that the convening of the School comes at a time of rapidly accelerating scientific transformations in technology, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. He cautioned against the challenges accompanying these transformations and the widening inequalities they may create among nations, stressing the need for foresight and proactive preparation.
Obeidat expressed UJ’s pride in its academic partnership with Yarmouk University in organizing this distinguished scientific event, which reflects the spirit of cooperation and draws inspiration from the legacy of the Nabataeans in Petra—builders of one of humanity’s greatest cities, whose engineering brilliance continues to inspire the world. He affirmed that physics, as a science devoted to understanding the laws of nature, must contribute to human welfare, guided by justice and human values.
PSP11 President Prof. Nidal Ershaidat explained that this edition focuses on exploring applications of artificial intelligence in the natural sciences, a field undergoing unprecedented transformation in how humanity understands the world. He noted that the School provides a platform for learning, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas, expressing hope that it will inspire participants and open new horizons for research and discovery.
The Petra School of Physics was founded in 1980/81 by His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal and the late Professor Abdus Salam as an international initiative supported by the University of Jordan, Yarmouk University, and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy. Named after the ancient city of Petra; a symbol of Jordan’s rich heritage and resilience. The School aims to connect students, scientists, and engineers from Jordan, the Middle East, and beyond, fostering collaboration and exposure to cutting-edge science.
Each biennial session of the School addresses a timely scientific theme, ranging from foundational topics such as Solid State Physics (First School) to more recent focuses including Nanotechnology (Ninth Edition) and Quantum Computing (Tenth Edition). The Eleventh Edition (October 2025) explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence in the natural sciences, emphasizing interdisciplinary integration across physics, materials science, computer science, chemistry, and biology to open new pathways for discovery and application.
PSP11 underscores the pivotal role of physics and related disciplines, including quantum computing, materials science, and computational biophysics, in the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning. It highlights the importance of this relationship in shaping the future of technology, not only through computational models and algorithms, but also by offering deeper insights into learning, information, and complex systems.