The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), marked the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGS) 2026 on 11 February, reaffirming its longstanding commitment to fostering gender equity, scientific excellence, and inclusive leadership across its Member States. Aligned with this year’s global theme, “From Vision to Impact: Redefining STEM by Closing the Gender Gap,” the observance underscored the imperative of expanding opportunities for women and girls to participate meaningfully in science, technology, and innovation. This focus reflects COMSATS’ broader mandate to enhance sustainable development through collaborative research, capacity building, and strengthened scientific ecosystems throughout the Global South.
The commemoration centered on recognizing distinguished women scientists, policy leaders, and senior academics from COMSATS’ network whose achievements exemplify excellence in research, leadership in science governance, and enduring contributions to national and regional development.
To mark the occasion, COMSATS was honoured to feature recorded messages and profiles from distinguished women scientists, institutional leaders, and partners from across its network of Centres of Excellence, Focal Points, Technical Advisory Committee, and collaborating organizations. Their work represents excellence in research, leadership in science governance, and dedication to strengthening the role of women in science and technology and contributing to the COMSATS objectives in tier attainment.
At the heart of COMSATS network are its Centres of Excellence, where women lead groundbreaking work. In Bangladesh, Dr. Samina Ahmed, Chairperson of BCSIR, exemplifies visionary leadership. A distinguished biomaterial scientist, she directs the nation’s apex research organization, steering advancements in industrial chemistry and sustainable practices. From Pakistan, Dr. Hina Siddiqui, a Professor at the ICCBS, is a powerhouse in medicinal chemistry, designing new anti-infectious agents and mentoring the next generation of researchers with over 60 publications to her credit. In Jamaica, Ms. Leslie Hoo Fung of the ICENS applies over 25 years of experience to the critical fields of food safety and authenticity, ensuring environmental health and security. Her expertise extends to shaping national and international standards, from mercury waste thresholds to food products. In Sudan’s IRCC, Director General Dr. Itmad Awad Elhassan harnesses the power of natural products, isolating secondary metabolites from medicinal plants and characterizing essential oils to unlock their potential for health and industry. In Iran, Dr. Maliheh Safavi, Director of the Biotechnology Department at IROST, stands at the forefront of anticancer drug discovery and marine biotechnology, her prolific research earning her recognition as a Top 2% scientist worldwide.
The celebration also drew attention of the leadership from within COMSATS’ Member States. Madam Suweibatu Adam, Chief Director of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology in Ghana, embodies the intersection of science governance and public policy. With nearly three decades of public service, she has led Ghana’s biodiversity governance agenda, chaired the Governing Board of the Nuclear Power Institute, and served as Deputy Head of Delegation to the UN Climate Conference, championing women’s participation in science and environmental sustainability throughout her career. Ghana is the current Chair of the Commission.
Among COMSATS’ International Partner Organizations, the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) in Kazakhstan was represented by two dedicated professionals. Ms. Anar Karpbayeva, a programme manager and British Council Women in STEM Scholar, applies food systems expertise and STEM-informed approaches to advance food security and capacity building across OIC member states. Ms. Makpal Bulatova, project manager, IOFS, leads multi-country programmes on climate-resilient agriculture and gender-responsive agrifood systems, with a particular focus on empowering rural women across Central Asia, West Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
The strategic direction of COMSATS is itself strengthened by the insight of women. Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya Binte Hassan, President of COMSATS Centre of Excellence in Jordan, is one glaring example by virtue of her immense contribution to promoting STEM. Her landmark achievements are not just promotional efforts for science but her initiatives have opened up doors for opportunities in science for women and girls. The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of COMSATS, Professor Wejdan Abu Elhaija of Jordan, a TAC member, is a transformative leader in engineering and higher education. As President of Princess Sumaya University for Technology and the first female Dean of Engineering in Jordan, her contributions to electrical engineering, academic quality, and her place in the US State Department’s Women in Science Hall of Fame embody the excellence COMSATS seeks to promote. Prof. Dr. Haseena Khan of the University of Dhaka and member of the COMSATS Technical Advisory Committee called for dismantling societal stereotypes that frame STEM as a male domain, envisioning a future where any girl, supported by inclusive policies and collaborative networks, can confidently pursue research, engineering, or fieldwork. Prof. Dr. Bolanle Ojokoh of the Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria, also a TAC member, reinforced that women’s participation in science is not merely aspirational but a necessity, urging women to advocate for one another while calling on institutions to create meaningful leadership spaces that enable women to inspire and empower across the scientific community.
The occasion also brought forward a rich chorus of reflections from women scientists and leaders across COMSATS’ broader network. Prof. Ilmi G. N. Hewajulige, Director General & CEO of the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), COMSATS Centre of Excellence in Sri Lanka, underscored how scientific leadership, institutional capacity, and gender inclusion are mutually reinforcing, stressing that empowering women with the right skills and fostering their leadership is fundamental to creating equitable environments where women scientists can thrive. From COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Pakistan, Prof. Dr. Sadia Manzoor, Department of Physics reflected on the transformative power of mentorship and supportive academic environments, emphasizing that with encouragement and institutional backing, emerging women scientists can surmount structural barriers and contribute to frontier research with confidence. Her colleague, Prof. Dr. Sana Sabahat, Tenured Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Chemistry at CUI, showcased the impact of women chemists in materials science and analytical innovation, underscoring the centrality of representation, leadership, and mentorship in inspiring future generations.
Voices from COMSATS’ partner organizations further enriched the commemoration. H.E. Mrs. Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, Director General of SESRIC, framed women’s inclusion not merely as a matter of equality but as a strategic investment in thriving societies and resilient economies, noting that when dedication meets opportunity, the impact extends far beyond classrooms and laboratories. Mrs. Yuefen Li, Senior Adviser on South–South Cooperation and Development Finance, The South Centre, Switzerland, echoed this economic imperative, highlighting that investing in women scientists is intrinsically linked to sustainable development, knowledge equity, and the strengthening of scientific capacities across the Global South. Dr. Serena Zacchigna, Group Leader of the Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory at ICGEB, Italy, spoke candidly of the challenges women face in reaching leadership positions, emphasizing the importance of passing a passion for science to the next generation and the enabling role of mentorship and institutional support. Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Director of Cabinet and Director of Strategic Planning & Excellence at ICESCO, affirmed that innovation is ultimately about empowering people. When women and girls are supported through strategic, educational, and cultural frameworks, the solutions they create become inherently more inclusive and far-reaching for communities worldwide.
In his special message, Ambassador Dr. Muhammad Nafees Zakaria, Executive Director of COMSATS, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to advancing gender-responsive policies and enabling environments across its 27 Member States and 25 International Centres of Excellence. He emphasized that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires women and men to contribute as equal partners in research, innovation, and decision-making. Ambassador Zakaria also commended the exceptional work of women scientists and leaders within the COMSATS fraternity whose research outputs and institutional leadership continue to shape national priorities and drive technological advances across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.
The recorded messages were disseminated through COMSATS’ official social media platforms to maximize global outreach, and will be permanently archived on a dedicated webpage currently under development. This digital repository will serve as a long-term institutional asset, documenting and celebrating the contributions of women across COMSATS’ scientific community.
By spotlighting the accomplishments of women scientists and strengthening platforms for their visibility, COMSATS seeks to accelerate progress toward a more inclusive global scientific landscape. The 2026 IDWGS observance thus reinforces COMSATS’ broader vision: catalyzing scientific excellence through diversity, equity, and empowered participation, ensuring that innovation ecosystems across the Global South are enriched by the full spectrum of talent and leadership.
