Hundreds attend conference [Archives:2002/42/Reportage]

BY FAROUK AL-KAMALI
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
TAIZ
Science was on the minds of 500 participants from 18 countries who met for Science Conference 2002 in Taiz last week.
The conference is an annual event held in Taiz by the Yemeni Scientific Research Foundation, (YSRF) wrapped up at the Sofitel Hotel this week.
About 280 papers discussed in the fields of medical sciences, physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, meteorology, geology, marine sciences, agriculture engineering, energy resources, and ecology.
During the inaugural ceremony, Dr. Abdulkareem al-Iriani, the Chairman of the Board of the YSRF said, “The conference has gained a special focus of the attention by the president of the republic who raise the slogan of “learning and knowledge is our weapon.”
Board vice-chairman Dr. Mustafa Bahran noted the disparities in scientific knowledge between advanced countries and Third World countries.
Dr. Mustafa Bahran told the Yemen Times that knowledge is the basis for development and that there is no development without efforts made by scientists. “Through this conference, we do our best to make contacts and reactions among Yemeni scientists or those from our from sister countries.
“The presence of more than 500 participants shows there is hope for science and that we are moving in the rights track,” he said. “We are in need of upgrading the research centers and institutions and establishing new research institutions, labs, and universities in order to make science and knowledge an essential factor for development,” he said.
“Only scientists can find the correct solutions for problems faced by both the public and the private sectors. We hope that there is a support for the scientific research in Yemen,” he further noted.
Dr. Mohammed Motahar, the Vice-Minister of the Higher Education and Scientific Research said that the ministry has recently showed an interest towards the scientific research and its institutions.
Dr. Saeed Baonkood, a member at the YSRF made clear that the main aim of holding the science conference in our country is enhance the scientific links between Yemeni scientists and their counterparts all over the world.
“Around 60 per cent of recommendations of the previous conferences were implemented. Scientific research centers on the part of the public and private sectors have been established since 1998. Scientific periodicals and magazines have been published,” he said.
During the three-day conference, a lifetime achievement award, valued at about U.S $3,000, was also given to the Dr. Saeed Baonkood, as a result of his scientific outcome during 30 years of constant persistence in the field of science.
It is worthwhile mentioning that the science conference is held annually by the YSRF.
The YSRF was established in 1996 and its first conference was held in Sana’a in 1998, the 2nd conference was held in Aden 1999, the 3rd one was in Mukalla in 2000 the 4th one was in Sana’a in 2001 and the 5th one was held in Taiz in 2002.
The main aim of holding these conferences is to promote the level of science and knowledge in a time in which our country is gifted by the talented and men of the intellect who have take the lead in most of the countries in the world.
The conference hosted the Prof. Farouk al-Baz from Boston University, the Prof. Fakhri al-Bazaz from Harvard University, Dr. Mustafa al-Absi from USA and Mohammed Bashmous from Italy.

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