The OWSD-Palestine National Chapter hub meeting was held on Friday November 19th, 2021 as part of the activities of the last day of the OWSD 6th general assembly and international conference: Women, Science and development, which took place virtually during 8th -19th of November.
Given the political reality of Palestine, two parallel meetings, one in the city of Al-Bireh in the West Bank and one in Gaza, were held at the Palestine Red Crescent Society Headquarter with generous sponsorship from the OWSD/ UNESCO and Consulate General of Spain/ Jerusalem. More than 75 of Palestinian academics and researcher women gathered to network, exchange expertise and showcase their experiences in doing research. Also, meeting, virtually, with their peers from other societies from Africa, Asia, Arab region, and south America.
“It is time to meet” was the theme of the OWSD-Palestine hub meeting, given the fact that since its establishment in March 2020, the OWSD-Palestine could not hold any in-person activities due to the COVID-19 crisis. The meeting started by a Poster session, on various scientific topics and their applications in chemistry, physics, biology, agriculture… etc. Also, health issues, COVID-19 related issues in particular.
A welcome note was delivered by Dr. Rana Samara on behalf of H. E. Prof. Marwan Awartani, the president of the Palestine Academy for Science and Technology (PALAST). Then Prof. Hala El-Khozondar “Our voice from Gaza” shed the light on the multiple difficulties that are facing Palestinian women researchers in Gaza, because of the destruction of universities and the lack of infrastructure due to the siege on Gaza by military occupation.
Mr. Ignacio Sanchez Taboada, the Deputy Consul of the Consulate General of Spain in Jerusalem gave an encouraging speech where he stressed on the role of educated women in the development of their societies and how important empowering these women, which in turn leave a positive effect at the general policies of any nation.
The meeting guest of honor, Dr. Safa Nasser Eldin, presented in details “the role of Palestinian women in leadership” and concluded her talk by highlighting the capabilities of women as leaders, where she illustrated a number of leadership lessons that men can learn from women. Dr. Nasser Eldin was the first woman ever to become a minister of communication on IT in the Arab region.
In the last hour of the meeting, a virtual connection was established with the main Local Hub activates in Italy together with more than twenty other local hubs from Africa, Asia, Arab region, and south America. The chair of the OWSD-Palestine chapter Dr. Amira Shaheen gave a talk introducing the members of the executive committee of the Chapter: Dr. Hala El-Khozondar, Dr. Elham Khateeb, Dr, Shahinaz Najjar, Dr. Wafaa Khater, Dr. Arij Khatib and Dr. Ayman Al Haj Daoud. She also talked about all the activities that the chapter organized since its establishment in March 2020 and a description of the future plans. She concluded her contribution by explaining the logo of the chapter which contains the word “P-Al-Es-Ti-Ne” composed of elements in the periodic table of elements. The meeting ended by giving away certificates to participants.
In the media
