• TWAS 16^th General Meeting at the BA
• President Mubarak inaugurates TWAS 16^th General Meeting
• First Regional Meeting for WAYS
• First meeting of the Arab Network for Women in Science and Technology

The 16^th General Meeting of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS), hosted by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA), 30 November – 3 December 2005, was inaugurated by President Hosni Mubarak.

President Mubarak welcomed the participants and the scientists attending the TWAS 16^th General Meeting. He stated that it is an honor that the BA was chosen to host the TWAS Regional Office, as the BA is considered a “center of science and knowledge, a center of dialogue among cultures and civilizations, and a symbol for the continuity of human heritage.”

President Mubarak concluded his speech affirming that Egypt and the Arab world has progressed significantly in science and technology and that we have to keep faith in God and in ourselves.

The opening ceremony witnessed the presentation of prizes and medals to the outstanding researchers in various fields including agricultural sciences, engineering sciences, biology, earth sciences, medical sciences, mathematics, chemistry, as well as physics.

The panel of discussion that took place, during the day, was chaired by Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, focusing on the “New Initiatives in Promoting Science Education and Research in Developing Countries”.

Among the attendants were HE Amr Salama, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; S. Rezende, Minister of Science and Technology; K. Toukan, Minister of Education and Higher Education for Scientific Research; A.U. Rahman, Chairman [Federal Minister], Higher Education Commission; K.R. Sreenivasan, Director of Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics; K. Kasturirangan, Director, National Institute of Advanced Studies; and Q. Zhu, President of the University of Science and Technology.

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28-29 November — The Bibliotheca Alexandrina hosted the First Meeting for the Arab Regional Unit of the World Academy of Young Scientists (WAYS) organized by the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World-Arab Regional Office (TWAS-ARO).

The meeting, which was held in collaboration with WAYS, discussed major science and technology issues, placing special emphasis on the situation and role of young scientists in the Arab region.

The opening session was attended by Dr. Mohamed El-Faham, Director of the CSSP at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina; Dr. Mohamed Hassan, Executive Secretary of TWAS; and Dr. Gaell Mainguy, President of WAYS.

This meeting was a first step toward the establishment of a an Arab Regional Unit for the WAYS. It aimed at identifying and addressing major issues of importance to science and Arab societies; facilitating interaction among scientists across all disciplines and from all Arab countries; promoting the participation of all young scientists; providing independent authoritative ways to stimulate constructive dialogue between the young scientific community and international organizations; and defining the work plan of WAYS-ARU.

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29 November 2005—The Bibliotheca Alexandrina hosted the First meeting of the Arab Network for Women in Science and Technology (ANWST).

The meeting was comprised of four sessions attended by ANWST Board of Executive, and Dr. Mohamed Jameel Arazaak, Director of UNESCO, Cairo Office; Dr. Amr Azouz, Senior Regional Advisor for Engineering Science & ICDL Program Director; Dr. Farouk El-Baz, Director of Center for Remote Sensing, Boston University; Dr. Mashael bint Mohammed Al Saud, King Saud University; as well as Dr. Farida alAlaqi, International Development Expert at UNDP.

During the sessions a number of issues concerning promoting the role of women in science and technology in the Arab world were discussed. Participants also highlighted ANWST activities and functions; ANWST future challenges and perspectives; and concluded the sessions with recommendations and conclusions.