Amal Amin, founder of the Women in Science without Borders Initiative and the International Forum for Women in Science, has highlighted the importance of platforms giving space for those interested in science to discuss issues of concern to humanity.
These discussions would take place on a scientific basis to search for solutions that are suitable for implementation, and which open the way for a decade of opportunities for cooperation and partnerships in various fields.
Amin’s remarks came during the opening of the International Forum for Women in Science, under the title “Science for Humanity and Science Diplomacy”. The event, which is held virtually over a period of three days, will take place until 10 March in cooperation with the University of Duhok (UoD), in Iraqi Kurdistan.
This year’s Forum is to celebrate International Women’s Day, and as a global initiative is directed at refugees and displaced persons from countries affected by wars and conflicts. It aims to show the role of science in building and rebuilding affected societies.
Amin added that an important platform that provides a space for discussing modern trends in science is the Voice of Egypt summit. It brings together scholars, decision-makers, industrialists, civil society organisations, media, and youth in one place with the aim of building societies and serving peoples at the local and international level.
During her speech, Amin reviewed the research papers discussed by the forum dealing with topics such as water, energy, and food.
It also included nanotechnology and its applications in all fields, pointing to the development of a low-cost optical-chemical sensor for the sensitive detection of mercury ions in water with high efficiency and low cost.
This use of technology has been put in place to protect people and the environment, and to conduct research on using the anomalous properties of water to produce more clean water.
Amin indicated that the forum allocates lectures to: discuss water security and face the growing scarcity of water in the Arab region; discuss the use of solar energy as a promising solution to issues related to global energy; and study the impact of flexible photovoltaic panels on the local climate.
It also aims to look at the impact of the development of tomato cultivation on the policy of increasing interest in renewable energy in the sector. In addition to this, the forum looks to review the importance of sustainable food production to achieve the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs).
The forum’s agenda includes a number of discussion sessions on international scientific cooperation, the experiences of displaced scientists, success stories and efforts of international organisations in the field of refugee support, education, science and innovation.
It also includes sessions on developing researchers ’skills in several fields, including communication skills, science diplomacy, and scientific communication.
