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An “International Forum on Harnessing Women’s Talent in Science, Technology and Innovation” was held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) on 25-26 May, 2015. The Forum was jointly organized by the ISTIC, Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO, Govt. of Malaysia, ISESCO, and the NAM Institute for Empowerment of Women (NIEW). Objective of the event was to review the status of women in science, technology and innovation (STI), education and leadership around the world and formulate recommendation for stakeholders on harnessing women talent in STI.

The forum was opened by the DG UNESCO Ms. Irina Bokova. She in her opening speech, stressed on the need for engaging more and more women in STI since over 50% of global population is females. She said that non-involvement of women in national and global affairs would mean that over 50% of world’s talent would remain unutilized! Dato Lee Cheong in his welcome speech said that “the world is at war with respect to poverty, hunger, diseases, natural disasters due to climate change, and human made disasters due to conflict and terrorism etc. In promoting gender balance in all human endeavors, let us go on a war footing and actively agitate for change.” He suggested “that the global scientific, engineering and technological community; to which most of us belong, take the lead and take matters into our own hands by assuring proactive measures are taken in our own organizations be they in government, industry, academia and civil society to achieve gender balance not later than the dateline of 2030 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”. He thanked DG UNESCO to be in the Forum personally.

President ECO Science Foundation Prof. Dr. Manzoor Soomro along with other members of ISTIC Governing Board was invited to join the forum and he participated for the first day- 25 May. The 8th ISTIC Governing Board Meeting was held at the same venue (KLCC) in Kuala Lumpur on the afternoon of 25 May 2015. President ECO Science Foundation Prof. Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro as member of ISTIC GB participated in the meeting and contributed in decision making. The ISTIC GB meeting was chaired by its Chairman Academician Dato (Ir.) Lee Yee Cheong and attended by the members from all continents. This ISTIC GB meeting was specially joined briefly by the Director General UNESCO Ms. Irina Bokova as well as by the Assistant Director General (Natural Sciences) Dr. Flavia Schelgel. The DG UNESCO expressed her pleasure and satisfaction on the efforts and progress of ISTIC in a short span of time since its establishment and with a very small team.