Arab Women in Science and Technology Conference begins today

The conference, including the opening ceremony, will last for a total of three days, closing on the 30th September 2009.

The conference is organised by the Arab Science & Technology Foundation (ASTF), in cooperation with the DBWC, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) and Etisal Event Management company.

The opening ceremony, which will be attended by the UAE Minister of Education, His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami on behalf of HRH Princess Haya, will take place this evening and will commence with a few words from DBWC Vice President, Faiza Al Sayed, also speaking on Her behalf.

This will be followed by a speech by Dr. Abdalla Abdelaziz Alnajjar, ASTF President, to thank HRH Princess Haya for Her patronage as well as highlight the goals and achievements of ASTF, which will include a short documentary on the Foundation.

Also contributing to opening remarks are Dr. Moza Al-Rabban, Physics Associate Professor, Qatar University/ASTF Networks General Coordinator of Arab Women Association on Research, Development & Innovation (AWARD) and Dr. Hadi Azizzadeh, Deputy Director General, ISESCO. A Unesco report on 'Science & Technology & Gender Dimension' will also be launched during the ceremony, as will the website for the Arab Women in Science & Technology conference.

Later in evening, all participants will attend a gala dinner, during which Dr. Abdulla Al-Saleh Al-Uthaymeen, General Secretary, King Faisal International Prize, will recite poetry.

On Tuesday, the 29th September 2009, the sessions at the Arab Women in Science and Technology conference will commence, with over 300 dignitaries, elite scientists and scholars attending from all around the world.

"Dubai Business Women Council contributes effectively in this conference because it represents a great opportunity to meet with a group of experts and professionals and investors in the field of science and technology, as it also comes from the objective of the Council to support the role of Arab women in various fields,"

said Mrs. Raja Easa Al-Gurg, DBWC President.

"Organising the conference comes after extensive preparations were made in the past month to ensure it will project the brightest picture that everyone expects from us. We have selected a group of women scientists, scholars and specialists who occupy high positions and have vast experience, and who have had a positive impact in the economic and scientific fields, to join us as delegates," said Dr. Abdalla Abdelaziz Alnajjar.

"They will each talk about their own experiences, along with a group of scientists, scholars and specialists in the technological and scientific fields. The subjects of the sessions and discussions have been carefully set to cover the core of the conference. The programme is sure to provide the best results by way of interaction and opinion exchange," he added.

He added that the conference aims to identify the actual situation of scientific and technological research and the status of Arab women in this field.

"It will also shed light on the distinctive role played by Arab women in different scientific, technological and social fields. Moreover, it will launch a template for a virtual electronic community of Arab women working in science and technology to increase interaction among them to achieve optimum development of Arab societies. The conference, besides discussing various aspects of the current situation of Arab women, will also look into the challenges she faces. Some recommendations will also be issued," he concluded.