Hosting Scientific Leaders from Across the Global South

KAUST and the Islamic Development Bank host influential biannual gathering

KAUST hosted the biannual General Conference of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), held virtually over the first four days of November 2021. The event, organized in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), drew leaders in science from across the developing world to present research accomplishments and ideas taking shape in the global south, and to discuss how to provide the support needed to further this work.

At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic created challenges for many countries, Saudi Arabia, as a G20 member, stood out as the natural choice to host the 15th TWAS General Conference due to the fact that KAUST is an emerging leader in global scientific scholarship. “My special thanks go to KAUST and the IsDB, whose generosity, continued commitment to science and friendship to TWAS allowed us to organize this first-ever virtual general conference,” said TWAS President Mohamed H. A. Hassan.

Three of the four TWAS regional vice presidents came to KAUST to help host the conference and deepen collaboration with the university, and KAUST President Tony Chan took the opportunity in his welcoming remarks to invite ministers, academics and other high-level attendees to visit KAUST’s campus and tour its facilities once the pandemic subsides.

The theme for the event was “Advancing frontier science, technology and innovation for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing countries.” TWAS was founded in 1983 by a group of scientists led by Abdus Salam, the Pakistani physicist and Nobel Laureate. The group’s aim is to help developing nations acquire the knowledge and skill to address challenges such as hunger, disease and poverty.

The keynote address for this year’s virtual opening day, titled “Steps Toward Life: Chemistry!” was delivered by Nobel Laureate Jean-Marie Lehn of the Institute of Supramolecular Science and Engineering at the University of Strasbourg, located in France. The ministerial session focused on financing science, technology and innovation in order to help meet the SDGs. The event featured remarks from 12 ministers, directors and other high-level government leaders, including Assistant Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Acting President of KAUST Munir Eldesouki.

The discussion shifted from policy and finance to the scientists themselves, with presentations from the co-winners of the 2020 TWAS-Lenovo Science Award, which included a $50,000 prize from Lenovo, the Chinese electronics maker. Brazilian agronomist Mariangela Hungria was a co-winner for her research on environmentally friendly fertilizers. Her research led to an alternative to nitrogen-based fertilizers that is more effective and less expensive. Hungria has pledged to donate her winnings to funds that support female scientists in Brazil. The other winner, Li Jiayang, was recognized for his research on the genetics of rice, which led to the planting of 28 new varieties for higher-quality grains and more yield.

TEOFILO ABRAJANO Chief of Staff for the Office of the President of KAUST

THIS IS A UNIQUELY IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC FORUM FOR GLOBAL CONVERSATIONS. IT IS INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN, AND THE PERSPECTIVES FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ARE CRITICAL AS THEY BRING OBSERVATIONS AND IDEAS THAT ARE GROUNDED IN REALITIES OFTEN MISSED IN THEIR ABSENCE. IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO ADDRESS GLOBAL CHALLENGES UNLESS WE CAN FULLY APPRECIATE THE WHOLE.

TWAS

“It is exciting to see the remarkable achievements of a 12-year-old university. KAUST has contributed significantly to the transformation of the scientific landscape in Saudi Arabia, and the university is a model for other Arab and developing countries.”