#February11

International Day of Women and Girls in Science


6th International Day of
Women & Girls in Science Assembly



#February11, 2021
United Nations Headquarters, Virtual



PROGRAM



09:00 – 09:50

Opening Segment: Beyond the Borders



Moderator:

  • Ms. Olivia Cohn, 12-year-old Girl in Science Advocate (USA)


Welcome Remark:

  • HRH Princess Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite, Executive Director of the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT)


Opening Statements:

  • H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
  • H.E. Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (tbc)
  • H.E. Dr. Helena Dalli, European Union Commissioner for Equality
  • Ms. Henrietta Fore, Executive Director, United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
  • H.E. Professor Sarah Mbi Enow Anyang, Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology of the African Union Commission
  • H.E. Ms. Veronika Remišová, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic
  • H.E. Dr Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO)
  • HRH Prince Zain El-Hashemite, Founder of Y 4 X Global Movement for Equality in Science


09:55 – 10:35

Launching "Girls in Science 4 SDGs International Platform" Progress Report



Since launching in 2018, the “Girls in Science 4 SDGs International Platform” has evolved rapidly, with initiatives and programs running full steam ahead, its membership numbers ever-growing and activated. During the past year, the Spanish Section has also launched, the first step towards a truly multilingual Platform. The Platform was restructured this year to capitalize on its initial momentum and further activate Girls in Science to embody the change they wish to see in the world.

This Panel seeks to spotlight the leadership role of Girls in Science as a source of inspiration for a better future by 2030 and beyond. In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, the Girls in Science will present their first Progress Report, showcasing their achievements as constructive agents of change, and how Girls in Science all over the world stand up for equality, the rights for health, education, water, sustainable energy, and climate change, among others.



Moderator:

  • H.E. Mr. Francisco Duarte Lopes, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations, New York


Introducing the Platform:

  • Mr. Selcuk Basak, International Educator and co-Executive Director of the Girls in Science 4 SDGs International Platform
  • Ms. Lara Bevan-Shiraz, Founding Member and Co-Executive Director of the Girls in Science 4 SDGs International Platform (United Kingdom)


Presentation of the Progress Report:

  • Ms. Salma Alrowaie, The Platform’s Director of Media and Communications (Saudi Arabia)
  • Ms. Lizramona Mwakitwange, Girls in Science Outreach Coordinator Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador (Tanzania)
  • Ms. Victoria Ballesteros-Gonzalez, Director of the Platform’s Spanish Section (Spain)


Video Messages:

  • Ms. Xóchitl Guadalupe Cruz López, 10 Years old Girl in Science Inventor (Mexico)
  • Ms. Arwa Michelle Mboya, Young virtual reality programmer and researcher (Kenya)


Observations from UN Agencies & Member States to mark progress of the Platform:

  • Ms. Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications (tbc)
  • H.E. Mr. Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramirez, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations, New York
  • Ms. Ursula Wynhoven, ITU Representative to the United Nations, New York


Launching the Progress Report in English and Spanish languages



10:40 – 11:55

“My Fellow Blind Scientists: Writing Science in Braille”



The 5th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly featured an outcome document entitled “Investment in Equality in Science, Technology and Innovation in the Era of Digitalization for Sustainable Development” endorsed by 77 Member States, clearly emphasized in Paragraph 24 of the Outcome Document: “Urge Member States to invest in enabling disabled women and girls in science as agents and beneficiaries of sustainable development programs”.

In fulfillment of RASIT’s commitment to the 2030 Development Agenda, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the 6th Assembly will feature for the first time “Our Blind Fellow Scientists”, through a High-level Panel titled “Writing Science in Braille”. The Panel aims to promote and facilitate equality in science for socio-economic sustainable development without leaving anyone behind.



Moderator:

  • H.E. Mr. Martin Kimani, Permanent Representative of the Republic Kenya to the United Nations, New York


Statements:

  • H.E. Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (Written Statement)
  • Ms. Daniela Bas, Director, Division for Inclusive Social Development, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)
  • H.E. Mr. Walton Alfonso Webson, Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations, New York
  • H.E. Mr. KIMURA Tetsuya, Ambassador, Economic, Social and United Nations Management Affairs of the Permanent Mission of Japan.


Panelists:

  • Mr. W. David Power, CEO and President, Perkins School for the Blind, USA
  • Ms. Ola Zahran, Head of the Coordination Office in New York, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
  • Dr. Mona Minkara, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at Northeastern University, Director of RASIT “Writing Science in Braille” Program
  • Dr. Naheda Sahtout, Office of the Chief Science Operating Officer, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Canada
  • Dr. Cary Supalo, Research Developer at Educational Testing Service, USA
  • Dr. Amy Bower, Senior Scientist and Chair of the Department of Physical Oceanography at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA
  • Mr. Sina Bahram, President and Founder, Prime Access Consulting, USA


Launching “Writing Science in Braille” Global Campaign

  • HRH Princess Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite, Executive Director, Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT)


12:00 – 12:45

Leading Courageously in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic



Over the past year, societies, communities and individuals across borders and continents have faced urgent needs to take action to respond to the novel health emergency. Covid-19 has left few people forgone. Amidst the uncertainty of a new virus that unraveled across our globalized world, where decades had gone since a pandemic of similar magnitude occurred, leaders have illustrated courage in their responses.

The Girls and Women in Science are raising awareness and collect prominent examples of courageous leadership in the new global pandemic. Collectively, the statements aim to raise and praise the voices of overlooked perspectives who were courageous throughout the development of the health emergency. Furthermore, it will filter out in noteworthy lessons to collect and remember to bring ahead for future responses in this and future pandemics.



Moderator:

  • H.E. Mrs. Vanessa Frazier, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Malta to the United Nations, New York


Statement

  • H.E. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization


Panelists

  • Ms. Alma Nordenstam, Peer Mentor for the Girls in Science 4 SDGs International Platform, Sweden
  • Prof. Amal Qattan, Director of External Relations, Women in Science International League, Saudi Arabia
  • Ms. Kristin Joanna White (Khaliya), Founder and President, Falkora
  • Ms. Polona Šafarič Tepeš, PhD student in Cancer Biology Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme in Biomedicine In collaboration with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Slovenia
  • Mr. Kunal Sood, Founder #WeThePlanet and Chairman of Novus, India
  • Prof. Giulia Grancini, Università degli studi di Pavia, Italy


12:45 - 13:00
Health Break



13:00 – 14:45

CANSU Global Equality Stand: Bridging Voices to Action



With less than 9 years to achieve the 2030 Agenda, SDG 6 is among the furthest behind. Cansu Global, a program by RASIT, brings key stakeholders together to transform the diverse and diffuse knowledge, policies and discussions -on SDG 6 and its nexus- into concrete and effective action. This includes non-traditional water actors and marginalized groups.

This Panel will discuss water nexus in achieving the three pillars of sustainable development: economic prosperity, social justice and environmental integrity, with a special focus on:
- Re-Shaping Water Economics for Inclusive Green Growth
- Investing in Water science-based solutions for Innovative Economies
- Water Culture
- Have we got news for you? Role of Media



Moderator:

Drs. Alice Bouman-Dentener, Director of Cansu Global Equality Stand


Statements:

  • H.E. Mr. Peter Thomson, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean
  • Mr. Idar Kreutzer, CEO Finance Norway
  • Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women

Panelists:

  • Mr. Manuel Sapiano, Chief Executive Officer of the Energy & Water Agency and Malta’s Water Director, Malta
  • Mr. Jaime Melo Baptista, President of the Lisbon International Centre for Water (LIS-Water), Portugal
  • H.E. Prof. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, 6th President of Mauritius and Secretary-General of Cansu Global
  • Dr. Mohamed Ait Kadi, President of General Council of Agricultural Development, Morocco
  • Ms. Josefina Maestu Unturbe, National Water Advisor, Spain
  • Prof. Ellen Pikitch, Endowed Professor of Ocean Conservation Science, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University, USA
  • Ms. Emily Pidgeon, Vice President, Ocean Science and Innovation, Conservation International, USA
  • Mr. J. Carl Ganter, Co-Founder and Director, Circle of Blue, USA
  • H.E. Mr. Michal Mlynár, Permanent Representative of the Slovak Republic to the United Nations


14:50 – 16:00

Equality in Science for Society .. for the people and the planet



Science & Society aims to bridge the two cultures of the sciences and the humanities, to emphasize the importance of understanding the cultural dimension and social aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals and recognizes its fundamental role in society’s life and prosperity.

This Panel brings multi-stakeholders in a dialogue to identify the conditions and proposes tools to put Science, Technology, and Innovation at the heart of sustainable development programs, international relations, and public and private sectors policies.



Moderator:

  • H.E. Ms. Darja Bavdaž Kuret, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Nations, New York


Statements:

  • Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General, United Nations Education, Science, and Culture Organization
  • H.E. Mr. Munir Akram, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council


Panelists:

  • H.E. Ms. Rabab Fatima, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, New York
  • H.E. Mrs. Milica Pejanović Đurišić, Permanent Representative of Montenegro to the United Nations, New York
  • Prof. Jerzy Duszyński, President of the Polish Academy of Sciences (tbc)
  • Ms. Joanne Wilson, Deputy Director, Radiocommunication Sector, ITU
  • H.H. Moulay Hicham Youssoufi Al-Alaoui, Morocco
  • Dr. Lyndsay Howard, Senior Analyst for Foreign Policy, Bloomberg LP, USA
  • Dr Susan Windham-Bannister, President of Association for Women in Science, USA
  • H.E. Mr. Rodrigo A. Carazo, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations, New York
  • Ms. Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Officer, Airbus
  • Ms. Chantal Line Carpentier, Chief of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), New York Office


Interventions

  • Ms. Cemile Cengiz, Junior Researcher, RASIT Sustainable Development Studies Center (Turkey)
  • Ms. Huaxuan Chen, Founding Member and Peer Mentor of the Girls in Science 4 SDGs International Platform (Canada)


16:00 - 16:15

Beyond the Borders Music Performance Praising Women & Girls in Science

by

Mr. Ahmed Mukhtar (Iraq) and Ms. Claudia Rosal (Spain)




16:15 - 16:30 Closing Session



Closing Remarks

HRH Princess Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite, Executive Director, RASIT



#February11



The International Day of Women and Girls in Science




© 2021 Royal Academy of Science International Trust