ASTF announces the first conference on 'Arab Women in Science and Technology'

The conference is taking place in Dubai, from September 28 - 30, 2009, under the banner 'Empowerment for the Development of the Arab World'.

Expressing his appreciation for Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein for her patronage of the first Arab conference which targets the study of the Arab women from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Gulf, Dr. Abdullah Al Najjar noted that the conference will emphasize the fact that the Arab women is a major partner in the continuous process of Arab development.

The conference is being organized by the Arab Science & Technology Foundation along with the Dubai Business Women Council, a subsidiary of the Dubai Chamber, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and ISESCO (Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

Dr. Al Najjar emphasized that Arab women from various educational, academic and technological sectors are participating in the conference along with women working in the economic, industrial, investment and trade areas.

He also emphasized that although the conference is specially prepared for the Arab women, scientists, technologists and businessmen can also participate in it because Arab development depends on all sections of society for its progress. The interaction between them will create many practical recommendations for increasing women's participation in the process of development.

The preparation of the conference comes after the finalization of the primary stage of the initiative Arab Science & Technology Foundation (ASTF), which is responsible for reinforcing the role of Arab women in development. It is also embodied the corporation's launch of a specialized network named 'Arab Women Association Research & Development' (AWARD) which gathers researchers and Arab specialists in the field of science and technology.

Dr. Abdullah Al Najjar, President of the ASTF, said that the meet aims at identifying the foundations of scientific and technological research and the status of Arab women within it. It focuses on the distinct role played by Arab women in various aspects of scientific, technological, economic and societal life.

It will also provide a base for a virtual electronic system that will create a database of Arab women working in the field of science and technology and encourage them to enhance communication links and initiate dialogue and interaction between them, in order to achieve optimum development of Arab societies. In addition, a number of working groups will be formed to develop many practical work projects which serve Arab women, to enable them to participate in development programs.

He stressed that the increasing role of women in various areas reflects the confidence of decision makers within Arab governments while pointing out to them the constructive role played by women.

Mrs. Raja Easa Al Gurg, President of Dubai Business Women Council, said that this conference is the first Arab conference that deals with supporting Arab women in science and technology and encourages them to share in the process of development.

Stressing that Arab women have great potential that has not yet been exploited and used to serve sustainable development in Arab societies in the Levant and the Maghreb regions, she confirmed that a wide diversity of groups will be addressed by the conference.

It will not only include Arab women working in science and technology, but also businesswomen and investors, prominent women scientists and inventors and researchers both in Arab States and outside them and representatives of Arab region and international organizations.

This reflects the widening of the horizon and vision of Arab women which is confirmed by their sincere desire to participate in the development process, she said.

Mrs. Al Gurg stated that the attendance of Arab women in previous years was limited only to the fields of education and health, but has increased in the last couple of years.

She said that Arab women have succeeded in various fields and have marked outstanding successes. It has enabled them to be worthy of continuing participation in the process of stable and sustainable development, along with men as key partners. Stressing that Arab women are not shy of taking responsibility for completing delegated tasks, she said that they have proven worthy of the trust placed in their capacities.

Ms. Zamzam Al Najjar, Organizational Services and Technical Support Manager at the ASTF, said that reinforcing women's role is one of the main reasons that strengthens Arab economies, especially during the current global financial crisis. She stressed that equality between men and women would establish and develop Arab economies in industrial, technological, investment and trade sectors in appreciable volumes.

Mrs. Al Najjar made it clear that the First Conference on 'Arab Women in Science and Technology' will discuss various aspects of the current situation of Arab women and the challenges they face and will present a number of recommendations directed to professionals.

Pointing out that the conference will take place for three days, including eleven sessions covering the areas like political decisions to strengthen the role of Arab women in the sectors of science and technology (S&T) and the importance of initiatives to strengthen the role of women in these areas by the identification of mechanisms of action and implementation programs, she said that in this framework, working groups will be set up to develop projects particularly to further strengthen the role of women in science and technology and to increase their participation in the development process.

Identifying the desired results of such participation and monitoring of individual and collective efforts to support Arab women and their contributions to development in the past and present will also be other subjects that will be discussed.

Other topics dealt in the conference will include planning for the future and the relationship between leaders and businesswomen, the role of Arab women in science and technology, the impact of gender differences and challenges facing Arab women, the role of visual media, audio and printed media in developing and enriching the role of women.

During the final session, there will be deliberations on the projects planned to enhance and strengthen the role of Arab women, entitled "The road towards the future". The closing session will be marked by honoring those who support women in science and technology. The best scientific poster will win an award.