GS13 Arab World
Gender Summit for the Arab World
10 November 2017
King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre, Aqaba - Sea Floor
The aim of this event is to explore establishing a Gender Summit platform for the Arab World, which would join similar platforms already active in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Africa, and Latin America. The Gender Summit was created in 2011 with the aim to enable dialogue and consensus between scientists, gender scholars, policy makers and stakeholders in science endeavours on the improvements needed where scientific evidence shows unequal quality of research outcomes for women and men, or where results open up new research questions and new applications of science knowledge with benefits for society. This event brings together Arab and international scientists and policy makers to start the dialogue and map out topics that are particularly relevant in the Arab context, as well as those of shared interest for future discussions.
| 09:00–09:10 | Rana Dajani (Associate Professor of Molecular Cell Biology at Hashemite University, Harvard University) Welcome HRH Princess Sumaya bint el Hassan Keynote |
| 09:10–10:10 | Panel 1: Policy leaders Implementing policy for gender equality in science In this panel session speakers will discuss, compare, and contrast how science and policy, at top-decision making level, can work together to advance gender equality in research participation, and in research outcomes for women and men. Influential science policy makers in the Arab region and beyond will reflect on their own experience of advancing women's place and success in science; the political and cultural barriers they managed to overcome; the improvements that resulted; and the actions that are still needed. Professor Adel Tweissi Minister of Scientific research and Higher education, Jordan Naledi Pandor (Minister for S&T, South Africa) Nasreen Barkat (Former Minister for Social Affairs) Mark Ferguson (Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government, Ireland, and Dir. Gen. Science Foundation Ireland) Ernesto Fernandes Polcuch (Chief of Section, Science Policy and Partnerships, Division of Science Policy and Capacity Building, Natural Sciences Sector, UNESCO) Moderator: Rana Dajani (Associate Professor of Molecular Cell Biology at Hashemite University, Harvard University) |
| 10:10–11:20 | Panel 2: Leading scientists Role of women and men in advancing culture of change and innovation In this panel session Arab and international research leaders will discuss the need and benefits of creating research and innovation cultures that equally welcome, value, and reward the creativity and excellence of women and men scientists in knowledge creation, application, and communication. They will share their own experiences of making change happen, with focus on the Arab context. Michimari Hamaguchi (President Japan Science and Technology Agency) Hala Khyami-Horani (Professor of Microbiology, University of Jordan, Former Vice president of University of Jordan) Nancy Hakooz (Professor of Pharmacy University of Jordan, Former Vice president of Zarqa University) Martina Schraudner (Fraunhofer, Germany, Professor, expert on responsible research and innovation) Lena Karlsson (UNESCO, the IMAGES survey of attitudes to masculinities, Arab countries) Jauad Elkharraz Head of Research at the Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC), Oman Secretary General of Arab World Association of Young Scientists (Arab WAYS) Zainab Salibi (media host, author, and founder and former CEO (1993-2011) Women for Women International) Moderator: Abeer Bawab (Professor Chemical Physics, University of Jordan, Director general pf Scientific Research Fund Jordan) |
| 11:20–11:30 | BREAK |
| 11:30–12:50 | Panel 3: Scientists and activists Scientists as decisions makers: the difference they can make This panel session will explore the relationships between gender equality in science and in society, and the role that scientists and policy makers can play, as decision makers and opinion formers, in identifying barriers, where improvements are needed, and promoting actions to make change happen. The focus is on Arab scientists, policy makers and gender scholars in the region and in the diaspora, and on their connections with scientific communities elsewhere. Amal Amin (Associate Professor for nanotechnology/polymers at National Research Center in Cairo) Marcia Barbosa (Professor Physics, expert on water, and gender activist, Brasil) Marysa Rebecca Guimond (UNESCO, Men and Women for Gender Equality, Arab States Regional Office) Amnah Rawashdeh Assistant Professor, faculty of Educational Leadership with a specialization in Women Studies, Yarmouk University, Jordan) Maryam Dajani (MBA Pharm D, Entrepreneur and business woman) Ahmad Jadallah (Founder of Phi for young scientists, Jordan) Moderator: Zeena Tabba, PhD education consultant |
| 12:50–13:00 | Conclusions & recommendations Rana Dajani & Nasreen Barkat on behalf of the Gender Summit - Arab Region Elizabeth Pollitzer , Director Portia and Gender Summit & Miyoko Watanabe Deputy Executive Director Japan Science and Technology Agency, on behalf of the Gender Summit |