Sociologists conclude first conference [Archives:2008/1119/Last Page]
By: Ismail Al-Ghabri
Sociology scholars and researchers on Monday concluded the region's first sociology conference in Sana'a held Jan. 5-7 by Sana'a University under the title, “Science is the foundation for the present and the way of the future”.
The conference sought to consolidate sociology concerns regarding contemporary and vital issues, as well as activating its role toward them. Around a hundred participants attended from Yemen and overseas, including sociology scholars and specialists representing numerous Yemen and Arab universities, as well as centers specialized in that regard.
Three themes were discussed, the first of which regarded sociology's scientific and intellectual breakthroughs at the theoretical, methodological and practical levels.
The second theme addressed the field's most important and vital issues, including women, the environment, globalization, human rights concerns, civil society participation, gender employment, global terrorism, cross-cultural dialogue and sustainable development at the local, regional and global levels.
The third theme discussed updating and developing curricula for study in sociology departments, colleges and other faculties in Yemeni and Arab universities in order to keep pace with rapid scientific breakthroughs, as well as to spread and deepen the use of technical information in the field of social research, in particular, and human sciences at large.
Thirty-five studies were presented at the conference, discussing various contemporary social issues such as family in Arab nations, the horizons of the transformation of fatherhood into partnership, nomads in Yemen, components of social structure and an anthropological study, among others.
Conference rapporteur and Sana'a University sociology professor Hamoud Al-Awdi noted that holding such a conference not only was a pioneering initiative for Yemen, but also for the Arab world.
He further stated that the conference was important for shedding light on an important area which is the crux of national and international concerns that remedy political, media and military decision-making.
Higher Education Minister Saleh Basurra stressed the importance of holding this first regional conference for sociology scholars and researchers because it examined both positive and negative human behaviors and the circumstances shaping them.
Likewise, Sana'a University Rector Khalid A.Tameem emphasized the necessity of the conference, which addressed important social issues, indicating that it is a must to take care of the sociology departments at all universities, as they yield creative youths in the field, he pointed out.
The conference concluded with several recommendations stressing the importance of encouraging studies and addressing those social issues that have become real problems, both regionally and globally.
Participants advised countering all forms of extremism, poverty, child labor, unemployment, rural development, violence against women, tribal conflicts, crime, perversion and backwardness.
They further emphasized the necessity of outlining, studying and remedying the negative aspects of Arab communities' progress in order to cement national unity and mutual development.
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