This comment contains information about Hayat Sindi that could save everyone associated with her from
public embarrassment in the future.
I have done
extensive research on Hayat Sindi, finding her personal, professional and
academic resume is fraught with complete untruths and exaggeration, calling
into question her credentials as a scholar and a professional.
Currently her
problematic background is coming under scrutiny from both Middle East and
international media outlets. I am aware of several board members of the i2
Institute who have launched their own proactive investigations after my contact
with them. In light of your participation in this institute you may wish to
exercise your due diligence before throwing your unchecked support behind any
venture led by Hayat Sindi.
According to
reliable sources, Sindi had little, if no participation, in her most publicly
touted achievement-- the actual scientific development and invention of the
diagnostic tool developed in the Harvard lab of Professor George Whitesides and
the founding of the company, Diagnostics for All. It is for this invention
which was not hers, that Sindi was awarded the National Geographic Emerging
Scholar Award, the Pop Tech Innovation Fellowship, and was honored with a
UNESCO Ambassadorship.
I am sure you are
an advocate for the message that Sindi purports to promote through the i2
institute, and your support is for the greater good. However the messenger is
equally important. Imagine when Saudi youth discover that their hero(ine) is a
fraud, they will lose faith in their own society and culture and distrust any
other genuine and deserving role model that comes after.
Hayat Sindi in
Brief
1.
False
and Exaggerated Academic and Professional Accomplishments Resulting in
Undeserved Accolades
a.
Suspicion
of Academic Fraud by Hayat Sindi
i.
PhD
research conducted and dissertation allegedly written by Dr. Adrian Stevenson (http://www.ceb.cam.ac.uk/people.php?action=view&id=491
<http://www.ceb.cam.ac.uk/people.php?action=view&id=491>
), While under the advisorship of Professor Christopher Lowe, at Cambridge
University. (According to multiple sources, available on request)
ii.
Although
given the official title of Harvard Visiting Scholar with Professor George
Whitesides (http://gmwgroup.harvard.edu/index.php), Sindi
did not teach, do any research of substance, work in the laboratory, or pursue
a degree or post doctoral at Harvard. (confirmed by Whitesides)
iii.
Does
not have an MBA from Harvard as stated in numerous media articles (Harvard
Business School Registrar correspondence available)
iv.
No
record of having studied at Oxford
b.
Falsification
of her age by 11 years. (Archived article in Al Arabiya, available on request)
Sindi was born in 1967 and is currently 45 years of age (if one goes by
official government, Passport). By misrepresenting her age, Sindi robbed
opportunities for recognition, public relations support, funding opportunities
and career advancement, from the very youth she proclaims to support with her
new institute, http://i2institute.org
i.
At
24 years of age (she claimed to be 16), after studying two years in medical
college in Saudi Arabia, plus time to learn English, and earn UK high school
diploma, Sindi began her undergraduate degree at Kings College in 1991,
graduating in 1995 (http://www.arabianbusiness.com/hayat-sindi-interview--passion-for-science-453690.html?page=0)
ii. At
37 years of age (she claimed to be in her twenties) Sindi began claiming an
invention for which she claimed to have turned down $350 million in funding
from commercial partners, including the UK aviation industry and NASA (http://www.arabnews.com/node/253130)
iii.
at
40 years of age (she claimed to be 29), Sindi was awarded the 2007
Arab-American Science and Technology Young Professional Award: which “recognizes
the early career achievements of a young Arab or Arab-American
scientist or technologist.” (http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/arab-sci-tech.html)
iv.
At
42 years (she claimed to be 31) Sindi was granted the 2009 PopTech Social
Innovation Fellowship: for “high potential young leaders.”
(http://www.poptech.org/class2009)
v.
at
43 years (she claimed to be 32) she was awarded a 2011 National Geographic
Emerging Scholar Award: which “supports uniquely gifted and inspiring young
adventurers, scientists, photographers, and storytellers—explorers who are
already making a difference early in their careers.” (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/grants-programs/emerging-explorers/)
<http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/grants-programs/emerging-explorers/%29>
c.
Fraudulent
claims of Inventions
i.
According
to reliable sources, and although listed as an author on one out of ten of the
scientific papers upon which the invention was based, (http://gmwgroup.harvard.edu/research/index.php?page=24)
Sindi did not participate in the invention of the postage stamp-sized
diagnostic tool invented in the lab of Professor George Whitesides at Harvard.
(http://www.popsci.com/bown/2011/innovator/one-cent-solution
)
ii.
Sindi
did not “invent” the MARS diagnostic tool, supposedly produced by Sonoptix,
Sindi’s UK based fraudulent company. MARS was actually developed and patented
by Professor Christopher Lowe and Adrian Stevenson. (http://journalogy.net/Publication/26297888/magnetic-acoustic-resonator-sensors-mars-a-new-sensing-methodology)
d.
Promotes
self as one of the world’s top biotechnologists. In the 21 years since
she began her higher education, Sindi has only five published papers to her
name, always in conjunction with others who are reported to be the bona fide
researchers and authors. (http://academic.research.microsoft.com/Author/8243939/hayat-s-sindi
e.
Establishment
Sonoptix Technology in 2004, “a UK company established with Saudi seed money”
with claims it is developing and producing clinical diagnostics tools for the
detection of cancer.
i.
Sindi
is the only director, and possibly only employee of Sonoptix
ii.
Sonoptix
is housed in an apparently empty store front in Cambridge (Beech House, 4A
Newmarket Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB5 8DT)
iii.
Sonoptix
has never produced, marketed or sold any product
iv.
Sonoptix
has a total capital of £1000 and has had no financial activity whatsoever since
2007.
v.
Sonoptix
currently has an extremely poor UK credit rating of 13 (out of 100) and has
liabilities of £46,400 (http://company-director-check.co.uk/director/909517346
<http://company-director-check.co.uk/director/909517346>
)
f.
Professional
Associations and Employment History
i.
Sindi
held a compensated board position with Nano Terra, and was removed after two
years. (According to sources). (http://www.nanoterra.com/management.asp
<http://www.nanoterra.com/management.asp>
ii.
Sindi
continued to claim association with institutions and organizations some of
which she had never had association with or long after being removed or no
longer associated with, including, Cambridge, Harvard, Nanoterra, Schlumberger,
Aramco, and NASA
2.
Personal
Indiscretions
DELETED-IRRELEVANT
TO SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY