Minister Al Amiri participated in the first Session on the Forum convened by Marie Chatardova, President of the UN Economic and Social Council … reports Asian Lite News.
Sarah bin Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, has headed the UAE delegation to the Third Annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), convened by Marie Chatardova, President of the UN Economic and Social Council.
Various stakeholders discussed ways in which science, technology, and innovation can contribute to realising the 17 SDGs, with a focus on goals under review in 2017, including clean water and sanitation, sustainable energy, sustainable cities, sustainable consumption and production, life on land, and partnerships.
“Science pushes the conventional boundaries and borders. To achieve the SDGs, we need to maximise the impact of data and findings from scientific research, by working with scientists around the world and enabling them to advance their research,” said Al Amiri.
Minister Al Amiri participated in the first Session on the Forum, alongside Thomas Philbeck, Head of Science and Technology Studies at the World Economic Forum, Katherine Getao, the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of (ICT), and Goran Marby, President and CEO of Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.
The panel focused on rapid technological changes and potential impacts on the SDGs. She shared the UAE’s approach to fostering a science ecosystem and including scientists in decision making. Furthermore, she stressed the value scientists bring to the table in supporting evidence-based policymaking and finding solutions in light of great uncertainty – essential for achieving the SDGs.
Al Amiri also participated in a side event co-hosted by the UAE, the United Kingdom, and Brazil on reducing the gender gap in STEM fields. She stressed the importance of empowering women and girls to be active participants and contributors to science, as well as the benefits of making technology accessible to all.
On the sidelines of the Forum, Minister Al Amiri engaged in meetings with Charlotte Watts, Chief Scientific Adviser at the UK Department for International Development, Dr. Teruo Kishi, Science and Tech Advisor to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Jack Metthey of the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission. Dialogue was centred on the potential of partnerships in the sciences for the achieving SDGs, knowledge exchange, and cooperation towards the advancement of science.
Additionally, the UAE Minister met with members of the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the UN, where she spoke about the UAE’s Advanced Sciences Programme, the Emirates Mars Mission, and how a knowledge-driven economy diversifies the economy from hydrocarbons, unlocking initiatives & potential national projects to achieve the UN’s Agenda 2030.
During her time in New York, Minister Al Amiri also visited the New York University’s Future Lab, and New York Genome Centre, and the Columbia Data Science Institute.