SRI Inkundla #2: Building Peace for Sustainability through Science

SRI2022 Theme: Different Ways of Knowing

Date:

  • 28 March 2022 – 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm South Africa Standard Time (SAST)
  • 31 March 2022  – 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm South Africa Standard Time (SAST)

Sustainability is a frame for transformation that inspires society to restructure towards a just, equitable future for all that includes effective custodianship of our planet’s resources. Progress towards sustainability is not immediate and never solitary. The pathways towards transformation of policies and practices rely on collaborative, open dialogue and an appreciation for all perspectives to find common solutions, especially in times of competition and conflict. In fact one may argue that peace, justice and strong institutions is not just one of the goals of sustainability but a prerequisite to achieving it. Given the strong scientific and societal foundations for sustainability and the pivotal role science diplomacy can play in building collaborations and co-constructing informed, lasting solutions, the open science platform is critical to the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Join us for the second SRI Inkundla, which will strive to build bridges between the sciences, sectors, community members, and countries by focusing on the power of science to transcend conflict and foster peaceful transitions to sustainability. We will offer two interactive conversations with different speakers with both academic and lived experience in advancing peaceful dialogue through science.

Inkundla is a South African English word originating from isiXhosa and isiZulu that refers to a gathering of the people of the village or area, held in the public courtyard at the gate of the cattle enclosure. By naming these pre-Congress events Inkundlas, SRI aims to highlight the collaborative, inclusive and engaging nature of the Congress, while honoring the traditions and culture of the 2022 host, South Africa.

This SRI Inkundla is organized in collaboration with the International Science Council (ISC), together with the Science in Exile initiative (SiE)*, and Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS).

Speakers

March 28, 2022, 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm South Africa Standard Time (SAST)

    To watch a recording of this session, please sign up for SRI Inkundla.

    Dr. Maciej Maryl

    Dr. Maciej Maryl

    Science for Ukraine / Polish Academy of Sciences

    Dr. Maciej Maryl is an Assistant Professor and Founding Director of Digital Humanities Centre at the Institute of Literary Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences. His work focuses on research infrastructures for literary studies and open science. He is a member of the Executive Assembly of OPERAS and the chair of ALLEA E-humanities Working Group. He currently serves as an outreach coordinator for #ScienceForUkraine.

    Dr. Connie Nshemereirwe

    Dr. Connie Nshemereirwe

    Future Africa / University of Pretoria

    Dr. Connie Nshemereirwe is currently the Director of the African Science Leadership Programme based at Future Africa, University of Pretoria, and also hosts a podcast titled “A is not for Apple”, which explores options for transforming African Education Systems. In her other role as an independent Science and Policy Facilitator, Dr. Nshemereirwe acts at the science and policy interface as a writer, speaker, and trainer, and is currently a member of the Technical Advisory Group supporting the work of the Global Commission on Science Missions for Sustainability.

    Dr. Ayyoob Sharifi

    Dr. Ayyoob Sharifi

    Hiroshima University

    Ayyoob Sharifi is an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University. He is also a core member of the Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS). His research is mainly at the interface of urbanism and climate change mitigation and adaptation. He holds a doctorate in Environmental Engineering.

    Dr. Thin Zaw, Phyu Phyu

    Dr. Thin Zaw, Phyu Phyu

    University of Hong Kong

    Thin Zaw, Phyu Phyu (MBBS, MPP, PHD) is a lecturer at the School of Public Health in the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong. She is a medical doctor, an epidemiologist and health systems researcher with 12 years of work experience in the government sector. Thin Zaw is also a public health and policy consultant giving technical advice to think tanks and non-governmental organizations.

    Moderator

    Prof. Paul Arthur Berkman

    Prof. Paul Arthur Berkman

    UNITAR / Harvard Law School / EvREsearch LTD

    Paul Arthur Berkman is a science diplomat. In 2021, Paul became Director (from Boston) of the Science Diplomacy Center at MGIMO University in Moscow.  He is a Faculty Associate with the Program on Negotiation (PON) at Harvard Law School and Associate Director of Science Diplomacy in the Harvard-MIT Public Disputes Program as well as an Associated Fellow with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

    March 31, 2022, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm South Africa Standard Time (SAST)

    To watch a recording of this session, please sign up for SRI Inkundla.

    Dr. Ghanya Al-Naqeb

    Dr. Ghanya Al-Naqeb

    University of Trento/ University of Sana`a, Yemen

    Ghanya Al-Naqeb is an Associate Professor of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment at University of Sana`a, Yemen. Currently, she is a research fellowship holder at the Centre Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, Italy. She received her PhD in Nutrigenomics from University Putra Malaysia in 2009. 

    Dr. Carl Bruch

    Dr. Carl Bruch

    Environmental Law Institute

    Carl Bruch is the Director of International Programs at the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) and the founding President of the Environmental Peacebuilding Association (EnPAx).  He holds a JD from the Northwestern School of Environmental Law of Lewis & Clark College, an MA in physics from the University of Texas-Austin, and a BS in physics (with additional majors in mathematics and anthropology) from Michigan State University.

    Dr. Jonathan Jansen

    Dr. Jonathan Jansen

    Stellenbosch University / the Academy of Science of South Africa

    Jonathan Jansen is Distinguished Professor of Education at Stellenbosch University and President of the Academy of Science of South Africa. He is a curriculum theorist, and his research is concerned with the politics of knowledge. His most recent book is The decolonization of knowledge (Cambridge University Press, with Cyrill Walters). He started his career as a high school science teacher and holds a PhD (Stanford).

    Ms. María Estelí Jarquín

    Ms. María Estelí Jarquín

    University of Costa Rica

    María Estelí Jarquín is the Deputy Director of International Affairs at the University of Costa Rica. She has been a consultant for international organizations such as the United Nations system in Costa Rica, UNESCO, and the International Labour Organization. She has a Master of Public Administration from University College London as a Chevening Scholar of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and is part of the Global Shapers community (a World Economic Forum initiative).

    Moderator

    Prof. Cheikh Mbow

    Prof. Cheikh Mbow

    Centre de Suivi Écologique

    Professor Cheikh Mbow is the Director General of the Centre de Suivi Écologique in Senegal and Adjunct Professor at Michigan State University (USA). He previously served as the Director of Future Africa Institute at the University of Pretoria, Executive Director of START-International in Washington DC and senior scientist at the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF).

    *The Science in Exile initiative (SiE) carries out advocacy, support, networking and research activities together with at-risk, displaced and refugee scientists and stakeholders globally, including international organizations, universities, research institutions, science academies, NGOs and diaspora groups.The initiative is designed to support the science and policy communities to mitigate the struggles these scientists endure and ensure that they can pursue their research and training. Their expertise, in time, will be critical for rebuilding their home countries. The SIE organizing partners are the International Science Council (ISC), The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries (UNESCO-TWAS), and the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP).