Princess Sumaya leads RSS participation at WSF in Cape Town

AMMAN — A delegation from the Royal Scientific Society (RSS) participated last week in sessions of the World Science Forum (WSF) 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa. 

Led by HRH Princess Sumaya, president of the RSS and a member of the WSF Steering Committee, the RSS’s contribution celebrates the WSF 2022 theme of “Science for Social Justice”, said a statement from the society.

At the WSF opening ceremony, the princess was greeted by the President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, and was welcomed to meetings of the Steering Committee by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Blade Nzimande.

Speaking at the opening plenary session on the role of science in protecting human dignity, Princess Sumaya noted that “our essence as human beings creates rights and responsibilities that each member of our human race must share equally”. 

The princess also participated in a panel discussion on models for unlocking talent globally through scientific research. The session was organised by the RSS in collaboration with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, moderated by the RSS senior assistant to the president for scientific affairs. 

In her discussions, the princess presented the activities of the Advanced Research Centre at the RSS and spoke about its role in creating a meaningful research agenda and producing new knowledge to solve Jordan’s challenges.

The RSS El Hassan Chair for Sustainability, Professor Iain Stewart, also led a session on Geoscience for Sustainable Human Development that examined how geoscience can be used for development, climate and wellbeing.

WSF 2022 continues many conversations that started at World Science Forum 2017 which was organised by the RSS and held at the Dead Sea, Jordan, under the theme of “Science for Peace”.