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A momentous Sustainable Development Agenda, which integrate the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental, was adopted by the 193 Member States of the United Nations on 25th September 2015. The Sustainable Development Goals are the first Member State-led global development guide in history, laying out 17 aspirational objectives with 169 targets for countries to meet by 2030 with achievements monitored periodically to measure progress.

There is already a strong interest in, and response to, the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by governments, international agencies, businesses, civil society and other institutions in UN member countries. The SDGs are being fully owned by these stakeholders as a major influencer on their strategies and actions of these stakeholders – based on their needs, capacities, resources and alliances. The SDGs also have strong relevance to universities and Higher Education institutions as education and research are explicitly recognised in a number of the SDGs. Engaging with SDGs as a convener and facilitator of support processes and partnerships will also greatly benefit universities by helping them demonstrate university impact in our society.

Universities – both individually and collectively – can help lead, guide, and support the local, national, and international response to the SDGs. We need to create processes that generate Universities engagement with the SDGs through their extensive educational, research and operational activities, only then we will have a realistic change in accomplishing the audacious task set by Agenda 2030. To motivate such a commitment we need to bring key people from academic community and universities on board with the SDGs, identifying strengths, gaps, priorities, and opportunities for university engagement with the SDGs, for policy formulation and developing an action plan.

With the purpose of sharing the academic community’s perspective on SDGs, the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) is organizing a National Seminar entitled “Sustainable Development Goals: Role of Universities” on Monday 9th July 2018 at Serena Hotel, Islamabad. The objective is to faciliate the universities understanding, preparing and responding to the opportunities and challenges presented, in particular the localization of transformative 2030 agenda. Themes: Promotion and Advocacy for SDGs; SDGs Implementation: Perspective on Research & Development; and Frontier Technologies: Scientific Institutions driving Innovation

This event is expected to encourage a cross-sectoral dialogue on the theme of the seminar. The programme will feature expert talks from the representatives of international organizations who will elaborate the general concepts, steps, and examples of operating SDGs framework across the University. This seminar is expected to generate insightful discussions culminating a set of recommendations for policy formulation and action plan to align R&D with SDGs.

Contact Persons

Ms. Fauzia Nasreen
Advisor (SDGs)
COMSATS Secretariat, Islamabad
Tel: (051) 9214515-7 Ext. 203
Email: fauzia.nasreen@comsats.org

Ms. Huma Balouch
Sr. Assistant Director (Programmes)
COMSATS Secretariat, Islamabad
Tel: (051) 9214515-7 Ext. 215
Email: huma@comsats.org

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Climate-related natural disasters, emerging diseases, rapid growth of World population, and political and social conflicts poses growing threat to food security. These havocs have incapacitated the food availability chain ensuing hunger, poverty and malnutrition around the globe. It is a debilitating fact that globally 815 million people, accounting 11% of the world population, were undernourished in 2016 (FAO 2017) wherein the third-world is bearing the brunt. This scenario, calls for more proactive, innovative yet sustainable approach for attaining and sustaining food self-sufficiency. Besides, the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” is a call for action ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.

The rapidly pacing scientific advancements in the field of biotechnology can offer promising tools, techniques, methods and practices for enhancing agricultural productivity while conserving the natural resources in their best form for the future generations. Agriculture biotechnology – one of the arms of biotechnology – is the key to sustainable food systems, value-added crop production, improved nutrition and green economy.

Keeping in view the importance of above-mentioned issue, the Islamic Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), in collaboration with the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) and Inter Islamic Network on Information Technology (INIT) is organizing 4th International Conference on ‘Agriculture, Food Security and Biotechnology’, from 13th – 14th November 2018 in Rabat, Morocco. The Conference aims to provide an interactive platform to academicians, scientists and researchers to deliberate upon the burning issue of food insecurity while underpinning the significance of Agriculture, Food Security and Biotechnology.

Academicians, researchers, scientists, policy makers and implementers, and government officials working in the field of Agriculture, Food Security and Biotechnology in the developing countries are encouraged to participate in this international Conference.

OBJECTIVES

The key objectives of this international Conference are to:

• Provide a forum to scientists, researchers, technologists and faculty members to update their knowledge and share know-how on the recent developments in the field of agriculture and biotechnology;
• Build and strengthen linkages among R&D/S&T organizations working in the field of agriculture, biotechnology and food security for effective South-South cooperation;
• Make recommendations to the policy-makers for developing policies and strategies in order to support biotechnology for food security in the common Member States of COMSATS and ISESCO.

HOW TO REGISTER

Applications for participation are required to be submitted through duly filled-in prescribed form to COMSATS and ISESCO, at the contact addresses given at the end of this announcement on or before Thursday, 1st October 2018.

Moroccan applicants may, however, send their applications till 30th October 2018 directly to ISESCO Headquarters, Rabat.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Travel grants and boarding and lodging will be provided by ISESCO, COMSATS and INIT to a limited number of individuals from the member countries of ISESCO and COMSATS, selected by the International Conference Scientific Committee.

THEMES

Agriculture

• Crop breeding, improvement, protection and management
• Agriculture and sustainable development
• Agricultural innovation and technology
• Agriculture Engineering and Agronomy

Food Security

• Trends and challenges to food security
• Food Nutrition Security: new concepts and strategies
• Food safety regulation and standards
• Food sovereignty, heritage & industry
• Non-timper forest products and food security
• Ecosystem based adaptation for food security

Biotechnology

• Genetic improvement of crops using plant biotechnology
• Functional genomics using genome editing technology
• Industrial biotechnology
• Food and bioprocess technology
• Patent, biosafety, biosecurity, plant breeders rights

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Ismaïla DIALLO
Science Directorate
Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (ISESCO)
Tel: + 212 (0) 5 37 56 60 52
Fax: + 212 (0) 5 37 56 60 12-13
Email: idiallo@isesco.org.ma

Mr. Tajammul Hussain
Advisor (Programmes)
COMSATS Headquarters
Shahrah-e-Jamhuriat, G-5/2
Islamabad – Pakistan
Phone: (+92-51) 9204892, 9214515-7
Fax: (+92-51) 9216539
Email: tajammul@comsats.org

Mr. Tahir Naeem
Executive Director
Inter Islamic Network on Information
Technology (INIT)
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology,
Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: (+92-51) 90495169, Fax: (+92-51) 9247006
Email: tnaeem@comsats.edu.pk

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BACKGROUND

The important role of the Quality Infrastructure, comprised of metrology, standardization, accreditation and certification institutions, in the process of socio-economic development of countries cannot be overemphasized. They provide a critically important technical foundation for industrial development and global trade, and functioning national measurement systems support in increasing industrial productivity and enhancement of product quality for international markets.

Many developing countries, particularly Least Developed Countries (LDCs), do not have adequate quality infrastructures, which limits their economic development prospects as products and services fail to meet the demands of domestic and international customers as well as requirements imposed by mandatory regulations. A component of this problem is that these countries lack the requisite technical expertise and knowledge concerning the development, operation and maintenance of metrology facilities, which technically underpin all other functions of the quality infrastructure.

There is, therefore, an urgent need to intensify efforts for capacity building of relevant organizations in the developing countries in order to enhance their expertise and upgrade their infrastructure in the area of metrology, thereby also spurring development in other areas of the quality infrastructure and ultimately facilitating industrial development, growth in trade and a rise in societal well-being.

INTRODUCTION

Keeping the above in view, the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS); and the TUBITAK National Metrology Institute (TUBITAK UME), Turkey; are jointly organizing a two-day workshop on Metrology for the Least Developed Countries.

The workshop will be held on 26 – 27 November 2018 (Monday-Tuesday), which will be hosted by the TUBITAK National Metrology Institute in Gebze, Turkey.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of the workshop is to enhance the knowledge-base, expertise and capacity of the institutions working in the field of metrology in the least developed countries, as well as to prepare roadmaps towards addressing their needs to develop metrology infrastructures with the capability of supporting their economies.

The workshop shall also facilitate the building of regional and international partnerships for the sharing of approaches and best practices in the field of metrology.

FORMAT

The workshop will include technical presentations by relevant subject experts and scientists belonging to LDCs, Member States of COMSATS and international development organizations, as well as discussion sessions and laboratory visits.

TARGETED INDIVIDUALS

The focus of the workshop is on the least developed countries, particularly those that are also members of COMSATS, namely Bangladesh, Gambia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

The policy makers, scientists and experts in the field of metrology belonging to the least developed countries and the Member States of COMSATS, as well as representatives of relevant international development organizations and donor agencies are invited to participate in the event.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Partial or full financial support will be provided to selected foreign participants from LDCs and Member States of COMSATS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

Mr. Omer Altan
Head of International Relations Department
TUBITAK UME
Barış Mah. Dr. Zeki Acar Cad. No:1
41470 Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey
Tel: 90 262 679 50 00 ext. 2901
Email: omer.altan@tubitak.gov.tr

Mr. Farhan Ansari
Sr. Assistant Director (Programmes)
COMSATS Headquarters,
Shahrah-e-Jamhuriat, Sector G-5/2,
Islamabad, Pakistan.
Tel: +92 51 9214515-7 ext. 209
Email: farhan@comsats.org