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2021 Recipient of the Persia Mirzakhani Scholarship

Written by kangal.naz on . Posted in Scholarships.

An outstanding Ph.D. student at the Department of Oral Medicine at University College London, Dr. Niaz Shokri, has been awarded the prestigious 2021-2022 Persia Mirzakhani Scholarship for Women in STEM.

Dr. Shokri’s pioneering research focuses on “Development and Validation of a Specific Patient- Reported Outcome Measure for Osteoradionecrosis of the Jaws in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors”. Following her graduation from Tehran University as a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), she worked as a volunteer dentist to care for mentally challenged individuals. In 2018 she enrolled as an oral medicine student at UCL, and earned her graduate degree with distinction, earning a place on the Dean’s list. Her Ph.D. work addresses the need to develop tools that measure a patient’s response to therapy for the treatment of head/neck cancer with the objective to improve quality of life. A native of Sari in northern Iran, Dr. Shokri plans to use the Persia Mirzakhani scholarship to further her studies on osteoradionecrosis of jaws in cancer survivors.

Persia Educational Foundation established the Persia Mirzakhani Scholarship in remembrance of the first woman, an Iranian, to win the prestigious Fields Medal in mathematics, the late Stanford Professor, Dr. Maryam Mirzakhani. Each year, an independent panel selects the recipient of the Persia Mirzakhani Scholarship from among eligible applicants. The results are announced on 3 May, marking the anniversary of the birth of Professor Mirzakhani (3 May 1977 – 14 July 2017). The scholarship is designed to empower Iranian-descent women studying sciences, technology, engineering, or mathematics at UK’s top research university, UCL.

Persia Educational Foundation is a non-governmental UK-registered charity. Its mission is to provide scholarships and educational opportunities to Iranian descent students throughout the UK. To support more students, please contribute to Persia’s Scholarship Scheme. Please note that 100% of your donations plus the additional 25% Gift Aid are awarded to eligible students studying at UK universities. In this manner, for every Pound of your donation, £1.25 are donated to an Iranian descent student.

Accessing Peace: A Practical Approach to Meditation

Written by kangal.naz on . Posted in Social Sciences, Webinar.

Wednesday, 28 April 2021, at 17:00 GMT (UK time)

Lately, everyone has been craving more PEACE in their lives. And although there are more mindfulness resources available now than ever before, the plethora of options can feel overwhelming for beginners. Where do you start? 

Topics covered:

  • Meditation is a gym for your mind. It’s mind training.
  • There are no “types” of meditation. We’ll show your audience the mechanics of ALL meditation and take the mysticism out of it, so they stop feeling intimidated and start meditating.
  • The science of meditation is proven. Meditation changes the body and up-regulates our cellular structures in the brain, heart, and internal organs.
  • One simple thing you can do today is to weave meditation into your daily life.

About our Panelists

Ellie Shoja

Author of The 13th Planet and Your Heart Knows The Way, Founder of Peace Unleashed, TEDx speaker, and the co-host of the Unleash Your Peace podcast.

Being the daughter of an international con man, moving 25 times from the age of 9 to 11, and living in refugee camps in Germany resulted in Ellie suffering from severe nervous tics, anger and mood disorders, and suicidal ideation by the age of 12. What began as a personal healing journey turned into an 18-year deep dive into various modalities of psychology, philosophy, and spirituality. Ellie founded Peace Unleashed in order to share the inner peace strategies, tools, and processes that helped her become one of the most grounded and peaceful people living today. Ellie has been featured in various podcasts and publications including Entrepreneur, Elite Daily, Authority Magazine, and Thrive Global. Among her clients are A-list celebrities, influencers, and online personalities. She is a keynote speaker and has spoken at national and international conferences including Borderless Content Congress, The Great American Pitch Fest, and Digital Hollywood.

Neloo Naderi

Community builder, TEDx speaker, mental health advocate, CEO of Peace Unleashed, host of NelooTV, and co-host of the Unleash Your Peace podcast.

To escape religious persecution, Neloo and her family fled from Iran when she was just 5 years old. A family history of mental illness, poverty, violence, a broken home, and her own battle with depression and suicidal ideation set Neloo on a 15-year journey, seeking refuge in spirituality, philosophy, and various healing modalities. She co-founded Peace Unleashed with author Ellie Shoja to share practical tools, timeless wisdom, and strategies that helped Neloo transform her own life and become a beacon of light. Neloo has been featured on various publications and podcasts including Authority Magazine and Thrive Global. She is an inspirational speaker and trainer, working with local schools, national and global corporations. As the host of NelooTV, she interviews thought leaders, humanitarians, A-list celebrities, influencers, and online personalities to awaken viewers to their best selves and discover a deeper connection to the world around them.

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Virtual Nowruz Celebrations

Written by kangal.naz on . Posted in Social Sciences, Webinar.

Saturday, 20 March 2021, at 17:00 GMT (UK time)

This live cast from Borough of Barnet, home to the largest Iranian community in Greater London, will feature some of the best and brightest faces shaping culture and society in the UK’s capital.

Nowruz is an ancient festival marking the beginning of a new year on spring or the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere. Incepted by Persian Empire’s King Jamshid some 3000 years ago, Nowruz now encompasses every corner of our planet and was recognised by the United Nations in 2010.

To mark this year’s Nowruz, a host of amazing individuals bring this festival to the comfort of your homes, including:

  • Councillor Caroline Stock, a scientist and the Honourable Mayoress of London Borough of Barnet.
  • Councillor Golnar Bokaei-Hoffman, an accomplished lawyer and a long-standing member of the Council for the London Borough of Barnet.
  • Member of the UK Parliament, Dr Matthew James Offord, member of the Environmental Audit Select Committee.
  • Leader of the Barnet Council, Councillor Daniel Thomas, representing Barnet on London-Wide Committees.
  • Roberto Weeden-Sanz, a member of the Council for the London Borough of Barnet and Council Lead for Policing.
  • Shaun Bailey, an activist focussed on young people, and London Mayoral Candidate.
  • Dori Dana-Haeri, a top wealth management expert and the Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees at Persia Educational Foundation.
  • Honey Rohani, award-winning soprano and an Olivier-nominee star of London’s West End.
  • Robert Barbaro, an Italo-Australian star of English National Opera and London’s West End double bill of Tosca and La boheme.
  • Deedeh Rohani, an award-winning child pianist and a student at North London Collegiate School.

And more…

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Hollywood’s Armin Amiri on Producing the First US Made Iranian Film

Written by kangal.naz on . Posted in The Arts, Webinar.

Wednesday, 17 March 2021, at 17:00 GMT (UK time)

Armin Amiri is an actor, producer, restauranteur and a former New York club owner known for its toughest rope policy and anonymous A-List patrons.

Armin was born in Tehran, Iran. At the age of 13, Armin and his family left for Istanbul and after a year, went to Vienna, Austria, to seek political asylum. After four years, Armin moved to San Francisco and studied at ACT conservatory before moving to New York to pursue his passion for acting.

His latest film, The Night, shot on location in Los Angeles, is receiving rare reviews. Amiri is the producer of The Night and will discuss this film as well as other upcoming projects during this rare Persia webinar.

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Iranian Women & Gender in the Iran-Iraq War

Written by kangal.naz on . Posted in Social Sciences, Webinar.

Monday, 8 March 2022, at 17:00 GMT (UK time)

A pioneering work documenting the impact of women by a male author, “Iranian Women & Gender in the Iran-Iraq War” is receiving rare reviews and makes a timely contribution to the elevation of discourse on the socioeconomic entitlements of women in Iranian society.

About our Panelists

Dr. Mateo Mohammad Farzaneh

Associate professor of history at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago

 He was born and raised in Ahvaz, Iran, until Iraq invaded in 1980. The war uprooted him and along with his family, he moved to their ancestral home in Isfahan. He immigrated to the United States in 1984 and completed his education in history in Southern California. His next two books are about Iranian women in sports as well as women and gender in the periphery. For more information on Professor Farzaneh and his publications, please click here. 

Azadeh Pourzand

Human rights researcher

a SOAS doctoral student and a human rights researcher educated at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. A copy of the book may be ordered directly from Syracuse University Press.

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Shaping a Better World through Education

Written by kangal.naz on . Posted in Business & Innovation, Social Sciences, Webinar.

Tuesday, 16 Febrary 2022, at 17:00 GMT (UK time)

About our Panelists

Sam Loni

Program Director at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

A young leader and social entrepreneur, Sam is recognised as a young peace-builder by the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, one of Asia’s top under-30 social entrepreneurs by Forbes Magazine, and a 30-under-30 fellow by the NAEEA.  Sam began his professional journey while studying as an undergraduate at Monash University. Since 2015, Sam has served as a Program Director at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) – a research and policy organisation, working under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General, Antònio Guterres. During his time at the SDSN, Sam has worked across a range of projects, including development finance, innovation systems, sustainable cities, and more recently, education for sustainable development. Sam was also the founder of SDSN Youth, one of the world’s biggest networks of young leaders dedicated to action on sustainable development, operating across 80 countries and 22 regional centres. During his time at SDSN, he pioneered the Global Schools Program and Local Pathways Fellowship.

Safoora Biglari

Director of Community at One Young World

Safoora is the Director of Community at One Young World. She is responsible for maintaining engagement with OYW’s key stakeholders and its community of over 12,000 Ambassadors who are affecting positive change across every sector, in every country in the world. Safoora and her team create and connect Ambassadors with growth opportunities, bespoke programmes, leadership development, media visibility and impact measurement. Notable 2020 programmes include the Covid-19 Young Leaders Fund which provided nearly $500,000 in support to young leaders on the frontlines of the pandemic response, and successful collaborations with the Obama Foundation, Hamilton Commission, and 20+ multinationals. Since 2019, the team have brought together over 15,000 young people in their programming. Collectively, OYW Ambassadors have impacted 26 million people to date.

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Reimagining Our World & Conquering Uncertainty

Written by kangal.naz on . Posted in Natural Science & Technology, Social Sciences, Webinar.

Wednesday, 15 January 2021, at 17:00 GMT (UK time)

FutureNEXT is unfolding before our eyes. The old and familiar normal is crumbling away steadily and the need for a sustainable, fair and effective new world system is becoming evident with growing urgency. In conceptualising and crafting this global, or new normal, at least three protagonists need to be reinvented; ie: the individual, the institutions and the society. In our reflections on these key components of the new normal, we offer ideas, insights and suggestions. More importantly, however, we invite all like-minded and like-hearted individuals to start a conversation, to mobilize thoughts, reflections and suggestions. Whilst no one has all the answers, FutureNEXT argues that collectively we, as human beings, have all that is needed to imagine and roll out a new normal infinitely superior to what we are used to.

About our Panelists

John Sanei

Global Keynote Speaker. Futures Strategist. 5x Bestselling Author

John Sanei comes alive at the intersection of human psychology and futurism and uses his truly unique perspective to discover elegant ways for his global audience to build the clarity and courage needed to approach the future with confidence. Not only is John Africa’s first Singularity University faculty member and a lecturer at Duke Corporate Education, but he is also an Associate Partner at The Copenhagen Institute of Future Studies. His rare ability to combine his fascination with emerging technology and its impact on society with a clear understanding of the way memories and stories influence our reality has seen him share the stage with several world-renowned thought leaders, including Yuval Harari, Nassim Taleb and Robin Sharma, amongst many others. 

Iraj Abedian

Founder and Executive Chairman of Pan-African Capital Holdings (Pty) Ltd, and the Chief Executive of Pan-African Investment and Research Services (Pty) Ltd

Dr. Abedian was a professor of economics at the University of Cape Town, before entering the business sector in 2000. He obtained his BA (Honours) and MA in Economics from the University of Cape Town (UCT). He received his Ph.D. in Economics from Simon Fraser University in Canada in 1993. He has served as a consultant on economic policy issues to public and private sector organizations in South Africa as well as internationally. From September to December 1999, Dr. Abedian was based at the IMF, Washington D.C., working on issues related to fiscal vulnerability assessment. In January 2000 he joined The Standard Bank Group at their head office in Johannesburg as Group Chief Economist. He was appointed Director and Group Economist in April 2000 and was a member of the Standard Bank Group EXCO. 

Andrew Curry

Director of The Futures Company

He is a leading member of the UK’s futurist community. As a consultant he has worked on dozens of scenarios and scanning projects for clients in the private, public and third sectors, using a wide variety of techniques. His clients have included the UK government’s Foresight Programme (see, for example, Intelligent Infrastructure Systems or Powering Our Lives)  and the UK Environment Agency, where a set of 50-year scenarios informed the Agency’s 50-year water strategy. He was also the lead author of the UK Cabinet Office report, Understanding Best Practice In Strategic Futures. Other scenarios projects include ones on economic development, regulation, and sustainability.

He is the Vice Chair of the Association of Professional Futurists. Before joining The Henley Centre in 1999 (which later became part of The Futures Company) he worked as a financial journalist for the BBC and Channel 4 News, as a television producer, and in interactive media.

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2020 Recipient of the Persia Mirzakhani Scholarship

Written by kangal.naz on . Posted in Scholarships.

Ms. Javidnia’s research focuses on the biology of aging. Her work explores the effects of RNA polymerase III on aging by investigating ways to improve health in older individuals, resulting in happier and healthier lives. A graduate of Tehran University, she has published numerous articles and made important discoveries. In addition, she is actively involved in community outreach projects through 15 Billion EBP, an organisation that brings together stakeholders who inspire young professionals to achieve their best.

In 2017 Persia Educational Foundation established the Persia Mirzakhani Scholarship in remembrance of the first woman to win the prestigious Fields Medal in mathematics, the late Stanford Professor, Maryam Mirzakhani. The inaugural scholarship was awarded to Mahtab Farahbakhsh, a Ph.D. student working to help children with visual impairment, followed by last year’s scholarship to Negar Shahrezagamasaei, researching mechanobiology at the UCL Department of Mechanical Engineering.

The Mirzakhani scholarship is GBP 1500. Each year, an independent panel selects the recipient of the Persia Mirzakhani Scholarship from among eligible applicants. The results are announced around 3 May, marking the anniversary of the birth of the late Maryam Mirzakhani (3 May 1977 – 14 July 2017). The scholarship is designed to empower Iranian-descent women studying Sciences, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics at UK’s top research university, UCL.

Persia Educational Foundation is a non-governmental UK-registered charity. Its mission is to provide scholarships and educational opportunities to Iranian descent students throughout the UK. To support more students, please contribute to the Persia Mirzakhani Scholarship. Please note that 100% of your donations benefit from our Gift Aid scheme and are awarded to support the eligible students at top UK universities.

To find out more and arrange contributions towards the scholarship, please visit us at: https://www.persia.education/donate/ or email us at: info@persia.education.

برنده بورس تحصیلی میرزاخانی بنیاد آموزشی پرشیا اعلان شد

سارا جاویدنیا، یک دانشجوی دکترا در دانشکده علوم ژنتیکی، تکامل و محیط زیست دانشگاه کالج لندن، برنده بورس تحصیلی میرزاخانی درسال تحصیلی ۲۰۲۰-۲۰۲۱ شد.

تحقیقات خانم جاویدنیا در مورد نقش آنزیم آر ان ای پلیمرزا ۳ در افزایش طول عمر و بیماریهای مرتبط با افزایش سن می باشد. خانم جاویدنیا فارغ التحصیل دانشگاه تهران بوده و مقالات جالبی در مورد ا کتشافاتی مهم به چاپ رسانده است. علاوه بر این، وی به طور فعال در پروژه های سازمان 15 میلیارد ای بی پی مشارکت می کند تا ذینفعان مختلفی را با تشویق و ترغیب به بهترین و بالاترین اهداف کاری خود برسانند.

در سال ۲۰۱۷، به مناسبت بزرگداشت ریاضیدان نابغه ایرانی و پروفسوردانشگاه استنفورد، مریم میرزاخانی، (۳ مه ۱۹۷۷ تا ۱۴ ژوئیه ۲۰۱۷)، بنیاد آموزشی پرشیا بورس تحصیلی میرزاخانی را در دانشگاه کالج لندن تاسیس کرد. پروفسور میرزاخانی اولین زنی بود که مدال فیلد، یا مهمترین جایزه در ریاضیات را برنده شد.  این بورس، به منظور کمک به هزینه تحصیلی وحمایت از پیشرفت زنان ایرانی‌تبار که در رشته های علوم، ریاضیات، تکنولوژی و مهندسی در دانشگاه معتبر کالج لندن تحصیل می کنند، مهیا شده است.

در سالهای گذشته این بورسیه به مهتاب فرحبخش ، دانشجوی دکترا که برای کمک به کودکان مبتلا به اختلال بینایی، و سپس به نگار شاه رضا گاماسایی، که درزمینه مکانیکولوژی در مهندسی مکانیک، مشغول به تحقیق میباشند اهدا شده است.

مبلغ این بورس ۱۵۰۰ پوند است. هر ساله یک پنل مستقل دریافت کننده بورس تحصیلی میرزاخانی را از میان متقاضیان واجد شرایط انتخاب می کند. بنیاد آموزشی پرشیا برندگان این بورس تحصیلی را تشویق می‌کند تا به این صندوق پس از فارغ‌التحصیلی و تأمین اشتغال خود کمک کنند تا متقاضیان واجد شرایط دیگرهم از این بورس بهره ببرند.

بنیاد آموزشی پرشیا یک موسسه غیرانتفاعی ثبت شده در انگلستان است. از اهداف بنیاد این است که بورس تحصیلی و فرصت های آموزشی برای کودکان و جوانان ایرانی تباردر سراسر انگلستان ارائه دهد. در این راستا، صد در صد مبالغ اهدایی و اعانه های به بنیاد به بورسیه دانشجویان تعلق میگیرد.

برای اطلاعات بیشتر و حمایت دانشجویان ایرانی در دانشگاههای انگلستان با ما تماس حاصل نمایید:‌

New children’s books

Written by kangal.naz on . Posted in Community, Education & Training.

From time to time we come across labours of love that make life better for the younger generation. They are expressions of belonging that try to close the gap between native and migrant members of diaspora communities. Some may muse us for a while, others could accompany us for the rest of our lives.

Nazila Fathi’s books on Cyrus and Avicenna are among the latter. Two beautifully written and colourfully illustrated stories for children of Iranian descent, the books give a new meaning to Fathi’s inspiration from Louise Rosenblatt’s insight on the impact of protagonists on understanding our own selves.

Cognisant of the symbiotic relationship between stories and self-development, Fathi wisely chooses to begin this new genre in her writings with two universally respected ancient figures, whose lives and contributions shape contemporary human history.

Hailing from ancient Persia, the tales and triumphs of the king of Babylon and the father of modern medicine are written in an easy-to-grasp language that appeals to both children and their carers. They make for instant immersion in adventures that took place centuries ago. Great reading to enjoy anytime, the books are perhaps best enjoyed at bedtime, when imagination runs wild in young minds and colourful images through the pages of Fathi’s books help them visualise how one day they too will beautify the pages of history.

Written as narratives, Fathi’s books help familiarise children of Iranian descent with the qualities and cultural traits of two outstanding individuals whose good thoughts, words and actions enrich our children’s sense of identity, confidence and belonging. Available in Persian and English, the creative retelling of significant biographies for the young uses interactive tactics to engage the learner in creative ways.

A heartfelt initiative by one Iranian descent mother, Fathi’s books are the ideal Nowruz gifts to beautify any parent’s Haft-Seen table and all children’s libraries.

To find out more visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCyHX9sLPK0

To order your copies visit: My Name Cyrus or Avicenna: Father of Modern Medicine

Persia recognised by Awards for All to advance integration in the UK

Written by kangal.naz on . Posted in Community, Education & Training.

Persia will be offering a new series of outstanding learn shops, designed for newly-settled Iranians in the UK, especially women, starting in November 2019.

In response to a survey highlighting integration as the top concern among Iranians settling in the UK, the six-part series will assist participants to integrate into the life of the greater society and become protagonists of a culture of prosperity and progress hallmarked by learning.

The learn shops on immigration & integration will offer high-quality training in 21st Century soft skills of:

  1. Consultation and collaboration
  2. Balancing rights with responsibilities
  3. Achieving success in family and societal dynamics and relationships
  4. Interpersonal and intercultural communications

The learn shops will include mentoring, as well as information about education, entrepreneurship, community involvement, and employment opportunities.