Women Conference

ASTF Library

Conference Objectives

Identify the current status of Arab Women Researchers in the Arab world.
Recognize the important role of Arab Women in S & T.
Establish main platform (mechanism) for electronic collaborations between women in science and technology and streamline them for best-achieving development goals.
Forming work teams to develop new projects and identify specific activities that will fully implement these projects.

Who Should Attend

Male Scientists and researchers who are specialized and concerned in the conference themes.
Leading Business Women and Investors.
Leading Arab Scientists Women from and Outside the Arab World.
Representatives of Arab and international organizations that are concerned with women’s research, development, and innovation.
Eminent researchers specialized in gender-specific topics, partners.

The first Arab woman in science & technology conference was held under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, it was from 28th to 30th September 2009, in Dubai, UAE.

After the completion of the first stage of its initiative on «Empowerment for the Development of the Arab World» ASTF seeks to engage Arab women in the greater socio-economic development of the Arab World under the Arab Women Association for Research, Development and Innovation –AWARD).

The conference offers an opportunity for the professional exchange of knowledge and skills related to engages women in the socio-economic development of the Arab World.

Over 300 people participated from the entire world. They met over 60 international and national speakers via valuable presentations including workshops, panels, and paper sessions.

Conference Scope

Political Mechanisms and Empowerment of S&T Women in the Arab World
Initiative on Empowerment of Arab Women in S&T for the Socioeconomic Development in the Arab World
Women in S&T and the Required Development in the Arab World
Individual and Collective Efforts to Support S&T Women in the Arab World
Success Stories of Women in S&T: Past and Present
Business Leaders and Empowerment of S&T Women in the Arab World
Science, Technology and Gender in the Arab world: Current Issues and Challenges
The Role of Audio-Visual Media in the Development of S&T Women's Role

Conference Sessions

The conference included Oral presentations Sessions as well as Roundtable and workshops that concluded with some recommendations and practical steps that service the Conference and the initiative Objectives.

Organizer

Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF)

www.astf.net

The Arab Science and Technology Foundation is an independent, nongovernmental, non-profit regional and international organization. Scientists and researchers from inside and outside the Arab world, as well as representatives of Arab and international science centers, and organizations have contributed to its establishment. It is based in Sharjah, UAE, and eventually has six branches and is seeking to establish additional link branches and links in those Arab and world capitals that have scientific entities willing to participate in its activities. ASTF has a network of 13,000 Arab Scientists, Engineers & Technology Entrepreneurs and Cooperates with more than 400 International Entities.

Cooperation

Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC)

www.dbwc.ae

Women around the world play a big role in business and economics along with men. However, many women do not have the chance for expressing their thoughts and ideas. It is from there, the Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC) was founded in 2002 to support striving women in achieving their goals of becoming businesswomen and leaders or even in setting up their own businesses. Ever since DBWC's main concern has been to augment Dubai's business women so they could encourage and motivate coming generations of women and set an example for women from around the world especially from the Arab region.

Collaboration

UNESCO

www.unesco.org

UNESCO - the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded on 16 November 1945. For this specialized United Nations agency, it is not enough to build classrooms in devastated countries or to publish scientific breakthroughs. Education, Social and Natural Science, Culture and Communication are the means to a far more ambitious goal : to build peace in the minds of men.

Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO)

www.isesco.org.ma

It is an independent institution for joint Islamic action, as a result of the common will of the Muslim Ummah embodied in the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, and the Founding Conference of ISESCO.

Islamic Development Bank

www.isdb.org

Establishment
The Islamic Development Bank is an international financial institution established in pursuance of the Declaration of Intent issued by the Conference of Finance Ministers of Muslim Countries held in Jeddah in Dhul Q'adah 1393H, corresponding to December 1973. The Inaugural Meeting of the Board of Governors took place in Rajab 1395H, corresponding to July 1975, and the Bank was formally opened on 15 Shawwal 1395H corresponding to 20 October 1975.

Purpose
The purpose of the Bank is to foster the economic development and social progress of member countries and Muslim communities individually as well as jointly in accordance with the principles of Shari'ah i.e., Islamic Law.

Functions
The functions of the Bank are to participate in equity capital and grant loans for productive projects and enterprises besides providing financial assistance to member countries in other forms for economic and social development. The Bank is also required to establish and operate special funds for specific purposes including a fund for assistance to Muslim communities in non-member countries, in addition to setting up trust funds. The Bank is authorized to accept deposits and to mobilize financial resources through Shari'ah compatible modes. It is also charged with the responsibility of assisting in the promotion of foreign trade especially in capital goods, among member countries; providing technical assistance to member countries, and extending training facilities for personnel engaged in development activities in Muslim countries to conform to the Shari'ah.

The second Arab woman in science & technology conference was held from 5th to 7th May 2014, in Khartoum, Sudan.

There are plenty of high qualified women in science and technology and more scientist women are staffed in universities and R&D in the world. This growing scientifically skilled community assumed to contribute to the Arab world economic growth and to the economic competitiveness through innovation.

The launch of the enterprise network that gathers specialized Arab women researchers and pioneers in the areas of science and technology is extremely essential. Therefore, the second conference on women in Science and Technology is considered following the great success of the first conference of Arab Women in Science and Technology, entitled: (Empower Arab women working in science and technology in the social and economic development). The conference will be in collaboration with Sudan Ministry of Science and Communication and Africa City of Technology (ACT) highlighting the successes and contribution of women in science and technology development in the Arab world.