TÜBA Delegation in Oman for Global Science Collaboration
TÜBA President Prof. Muzaffer Şeker attended the International Science Council (ISC) General Assembly and Muscat Global Knowledge Dialogue Meeting organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of Oman.
In the 4-yearly General Assembly program held in Oman, President Şeker was joined by TÜBA Full Members Prof. Ahmet Nuri Yurdusev, President of the Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (ASSAA), Prof. İlkay Erdoğan Orhan, Member of the Board of Directors of the ISC European Group, and Dr. Mürsel Doğrul, TÜBA Young Academy Representative.
The Muscat Global Knowledge Dialogue, which started with the speeches of Prof. Rahma Al-Mahrooqi, Omani Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, and Prof. Sir Peter Gluckman, ISC President, following the Pre-Event Workshops, was shaped under the main themes of Science Systems and the Future of Science, Equitable Transformations in Science and Sustainability, and Science and Society. In the parallel sessions of 3 plenary meetings on different topics; a total of 9 topics from artificial intelligence to sustainability, from the poles to education were discussed.
The plenary session “Rethinking International Science Cooperation for the 21st Century” discussed the importance of science as a global endeavor, the current challenges in international science cooperation and the need to redesign progress in this field. It focused on priorities and actions to make science systems more open, transparent, efficient, inclusive and integrated. The importance of ocean science in the context of sustainability and ISC's ocean-related work was highlighted. The changing context of science diplomacy was assessed and ISC's role in this area was discussed.
The plenary session “Emerging Technologies and the Evolution of Science Systems” on the second day of the meeting addressed the complex relationship between emerging technologies and science systems, discussing new opportunities as well as ethical concerns. Parallel sessions discussed how artificial intelligence is transforming science, the vast opportunities it offers and its impact on scientific processes. Within the framework of the UN's Decade of Science for Sustainability initiative covering 2024-2033, the contributions of science to the sustainability agenda and its future roles were discussed. Strategies and successful collaborative efforts to increase the representation of women in science were discussed, while the training of scientists and the capacity of researchers to address current and future challenges were emphasized. They also elaborated on how the International Polar Year will shape global science cooperation and what has been achieved in polar science. The final plenary session, “Beyond Borders - Science, Public Trust and Multilateral Policy”, set out action plans to increase capacity and public trust in science as a universal endeavor and to strengthen cooperation on global challenges.
At the end of the General Assembly, the "Muscat Declaration on Global Science" was published, shaped by the contributions of ISC members.
