On 28 September 2005, the Palestine Academy for Science and Technology held a workshop, titled “The role of the Palestine Academy for Science and Technology in the national effort towards promoting Science and Technology”, at the PRCS headquarters in Al-Bireh.

The Academy was much honored to have Palestine Academy  Honorary Member H.E. Dr. Abdel Salam Majali, President of the Islamic World Academy of Science and former Prime Minister of Jordan, as the keynote speaker at the Workshop.

In his speech, H.E. Dr. Majali, addressed the state of play of Science and Technology within the Islamic world and the importance of national academies of science in their role of advisors to their national authorities.

He stressed that: “The role of the Palestine Academy should be to assist in defining the national priorities and tackling the problems that face Palestinian national development. Thus, the Academy should advise the PNA and other institutions on issues with Science and Technology dimensions. This requires relevant governmental support to the Academy and the commitment from the Academy and the other Science and Technology stakeholders to enhance the cooperation in building and conducting S&T activities, including conferences, seminars, studies, etc.”
    
The workshop was attended by numerous distinguished academics and scientists from several Palestinian institutions and Universities, such as PPU, An-Najah National University, Hebron University, etc. and Dr. Sari Nusseibeh, President of Al-Quds University.

The participants came up with the following recommendations: 

1.  A national science academy should be independent without being dominated by any other body. There should be a national effort to support the national academy in its merit endeavor for it to be able to perform its distinguished roles.
2. The Palestine Academy for Science and Technology is distinguished in the different roles it plays on the national and international level. Nevertheless, it should attempt to integrate all science and technology efforts and involve all stakeholders and sectors for the sake of sustainable development. Further, the Academy should seek to network between sectors that will help defining national priorities and insure directive cooperation.
3. Providing relevant databases that can benefit researchers, experts, decision-makers and relevant institutions is one of the most important tasks of the Academy.
4. Relations between the Academy and higher academic institutions should be enhanced, especially in establishing databases on research achievements, postgraduate research theses and supporting innovative students. The Academy should encourage university professors to actively interact with the Academy as such interaction would greatly contribute to the development of S&T in general.
5. It is crucial for the Academy to play a role in the promotion and enhancement of education and innovation among children and youth through initiating relevant activities and through developing tools that can enhance science and technology education.
6. The speech delivered by H.E. Dr. Abdel Salam Majali, President of the Islamic Academy of Sciences and Palestine Academy Honorary Member should be taken into consideration when developing national Science and Technology policies.

The Academy welcomes the significant suggestions made by H.E. and the distinguished audience and hopes to aptly follow up with these.

The Academy also took the opportunity at the Workshop to hand over an award to H.E. Dr. Majali to celebrate his Honorary Membership to the Palestine Academy.