Jordan is hosting World Science Forum, the largest ever scientific gathering of the Middle East under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II. bin Al-Hussein at the Dead See on 7-11 November 2017 around the theme of ‘Science for Peace’. The Forum has been co-organized by the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the International Council for Science (ICSU), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan of Jordan.
H.E. Ambassador Katalin Annamária Bogyay, Hungary’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and member of the Forum’s Steering Committee led the thematic session on “Women as Leaders for Diversity and Development" on 8 November as moderator with Her Majesty Queen Noor Al-Hussein, H.R.H. Princess Sumaya, South Africa’s Minister for Science and Technology, as well as senior women managers of AAAS, the Japan Science and Technology Agency, the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science, and the European Research Council as speakers.
The central theme of ‘Science for Peace’ addresses poverty eradiation along with promoting equitable, inclusive and sustainable social and economic development based on the conservation of ecosystems to attain peace and prosperity. Peace encompasses the reconciliation and prevention of conflict, it embraces the holistic approach to natural resources management including food, water and energy, access to education and health provision, and to the opportunities created by the global economy and increasing innovation in the age of digital transformation. Building and sustaining peace, in the face of geopolitical turmoil, growing inequalities and insecurity are imperative to secure a sustainable future for the planet.
The thematic session on “Women as Leaders for Diversity and Development" of 8 November tackled how the powers of science, technology and innovation are to achieve economic growth, accelerate the pace of development, and contribute to evidence-based policy making with the contribution of diverse science leaders, including the role of women scientists.
H.E. Ambassador Katalin Annamária Bogyay, Hungary’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and member of the Forum’s Steering Committee as moderator of the panel stressed that there is no peace without development, and there cannot be any sustainable development without peace and stability. Women in general and especially women scientists have a very important role in promoting evidence-based solutions through bring building, thereby contributing to conflict prevention and crisis management.
The speakers of the panel: the Minister for Science and Technology of South Africa, and women in senior management positions from AAAS, the Japan Science and Technology Agency, the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science and the European Research Council illustrated the reinforcement of the science-policy link by bringing together key actors from the political, researcher and implementation level. As a key outcome, they called for innovation and technology to be developed by women and men jointly, as everybody in society takes benefits and risks for the products, services and systems coming from science, technology and innovation.
Raising the profile of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) needs to go hand in hand with intercultural and interreligious dialogue, in order to ensure for the right balance.
To read more: http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/scientists-examine-gender-gap-industry
Please, click here for the video of the thematic session.
