AWSci Launches Fourth Forum at AASTMT Smart Village in UNESCO Partnership
The Arab Women in Science platform (AWSci) inaugurated its fourth event on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport's Smart Village campus in Cairo, under the theme "Arab Women in Science: From Vision to Impact."
The forum seeks to convert aspirations into concrete achievements by empowering Arab women scientists, advancing leadership and professional growth, promoting knowledge exchange and mentorship, and fostering regional innovation and collaboration. It spotlights AWSci's expanding role in championing women's leadership, scientific innovation, and gender equality.
In the opening session, Dr. Nuria Sanz, UNESCO Regional Director for Egypt and Sudan, welcomed participants, underscoring the event's significance as a platform for forging a unified Arab scientific community. She detailed how the UNESCO-AASTMT partnership, initiated in 2022 after her meeting with Dr. Amira Senbel, established an active women's science network addressing critical challenges like gender parity, resource shortages, and policy frameworks.
Dr. Sanz highlighted AWSci's outcomes, including multidisciplinary scientist networks, sustained dialogues, ambassador-led projects, fellowships, grants, mentorship programs, and a knowledge repository emphasizing merit-based inclusion and scientific knowledge as pillars of societal progress.
Prof. Amira Senbel, Dean of AASTMT's College of Pharmacy, delivered remarks on behalf of His Excellency Prof. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar Ismail Farag, reaffirming the Academy's dedication to initiatives elevating Arab women's scientific roles, enhancing leadership capacities, and driving innovation toward sustainable development objectives.
AWSci stands as a flagship initiative born from the strategic UNESCO Regional Office-AASTMT alliance, with the Academy as an Arab League specialized agency leading advancements in education, research, and innovation across the Arab world.