New Scientist's Michael Brooks recently spoke with Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan of Jordan — who is also president of that country's Royal Scientific Society — about how science is perceived and how it should be used to "serve all the world's people." In the Arab world, the princess says, there isn't a clear understanding that science can improve lives. That may be because research priorities are geared towards the needs of a few, and not global issues. "When you think of the money spent on obesity-related research in comparison with the money spent on researching energy, water, environment and food, I'm not sure we have prioritized our research properly," she says. "The link between science and society is very important — you can't just be researching for research's sake. If there isn't an impact on people, what is the point?" The princess also tells Brooks that Jordan is developing a mentoring program for young scientists to start "nurturing a new generation of scientists in emerging nations."