Doha hosts 18th IAS Conference

Doha hosts on Saturday the 18th The Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS) Conference under the theme of "The Islamic World and the West: Rebuilding Bridges through Science and Technology."  The three-day event aims at discussing the impact of the current events in the Islamic World and ascertain how they interact with the S&T scene.  It also intends to address a number of recurring questions on the History of Islamic Science and Science and Spirituality besides issues that lie at the science/politics interface including nuclear energy, biotechnology and nanotechnology and to develop an OIC-wide approach on how such issue may be addressed.  Participants will as well review ways to bridge the divide between the Islamic World and West, and the particular role that academies of sciences can play in such an endeavour, IAS Secretary-General Dr. Munif Zoubi told Qatar News Agency (QNA).  He praised Qatar's hosting of this year's event, saying this stems from the role being played by the State of Qatar in holding a high-level dialogue on the international level and its great experience in organizing a number of most important and successful conferences.  The conference will bring together Qatari, OIC and international experts who are committed to developing a more amicable relationship between the Islamic World and the West. Around 150 participants are expected to attend this international activity including around 110 IAS Fellows and invited speakers from outside Qatar, including academics, decision-makers, scientists, researchers, presidents/representatives of academies of sciences and the media.  IAS is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2011. Launched in 1986, the IAS is an autonomous international non-governmental organisation that plays the role of  science advisor  of OIC-countries on science and technology (S&T) matters.   It boasts a membership of over 105 Fellows who represent the scientific elite of OIC countries and communities worldwide and has three Nobel Laureates, a number of Heads of State as well as top OIC business leaders among its select group of Honorary Fellows.