Overview
Making Science, Innovation and Research work for the Sustainable Development Goals
17th Sustainability International Conference
17-19 June 2019, London – UK
Jointly organised with:
United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
Hosted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), London, UK
The theme of the conference is to strengthening the role of science, innovation and research uptake in service of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development (SD). The conference critically examined the important role of science, innovation and research for the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda and to provoke forward thinking on the role of science, innovation and research in solving global problems related to sustainability as well as the potential of Industry 4.0 for the implementation of SDGs. While it is largely argued that Industry 4.0 has the potential to produce innovative solutions to global issues but the problematique of managing science, innovation and research for SD is strongly influenced by the institutional culture in which international discussions have taken place. Successful management of science, innovation and research requires developing new methods and approaches to suit the challenges and opportunities of this new era of digital revolution. These new approaches call for actions to create different appropriate ways of doing things and of doing new things that will be essential to solve our future problems and help in the implementation of SDGs. Systematic search for opportunities is important for helping to ameliorate the many problems facing the globe. We must therefore produce, consume and organise ourselves differently.
International Partners and Network
- United Nations Joint Inspection Unit of the United Nations system (JIU)
- United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
- International Maritime Organization (IMO), London, UK
- Centre for Islamic Finance Law and Communities, University of East London, UK
- Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex, UK
- Middle Eastern Knowledge Economy Institute (MEKEI), UK
- Emerald Group Publishing, UK
- Greenleaf Publishing, UK
- Palgrave Macmillan, UK
- Sudan Knowledge, UK
Diaspora
The collaboration between the Diaspora and those working within the country of origin offers several opportunities and contributes to increase productivity towards sustainable and inclusive knowledge-based growth. Building constructive relationships between the Diasporas and countries of origin require that Diasporas be treated not as a mere resource, but as partners and investors with mutual benefits.
It has long been argued that Diasporas will be most interested in contributing to SD efforts when they have a sense of belonging in relation to their country of origin. Therefore, it is very important to establish trust between Diasporas and governments in the country of origin. In doing so, governments need to invest in identifying their Diasporas abroad and in understanding their skills and interests.
Many sustainability problems can only be tackled by connecting the diaspora with those working within the country of origin, for example combating the results of climate change, diseases such as malaria, reservation of natural resources, fighting land degradation or limiting the loss of biodiversity and many other problems. Moreover, knowledge or evidence-based policymaking is indispensable if gaps in living standards are to be narrowed. Therefore, building capacity in country of origin is necessary for competing in the global arena and there it is critical to turn the diaspora into a positive tool for SD as well as serving as role models for the youth in the country of origin.
Location
United Nations, London, England SE1 7SP, United Kingdom
Team
The conference is organised by several committees from WASD and under close supervision of WASD Advisory Board.
WASD Team
- Prof. Allam Ahmed: Co-Chair and President WASD
- Janet Snow: International Coordinator and Editor
- N. Joseph Navinraj: Publishing
- Reem Elhussien: International Coordinator
- Mhdi Safe Aldeen Ibrahim: Webmaster
- Mervyn Clingan: Video Production
- Vicky Trainer: Graphic Designer
- Ahmed Alnager: Graphic Designer
- Awab Ayob: Social Media
- Nurulayn Noor: Youth Coordinator
- Sunday Afiko: Students Coordinator
- Siham Ismail: Network Coordinator
- Mohammed Alleasir: Network Coordinator
- Ola ElObeid: Network Coordinator
- Fadwa Dafallah: Network Coordinator
- Hussein Aboudi: Network Coordinator
- Ahmed Abbas Mudawi: Network Coordinator
- Najua Hussain: Network Coordinator
- Rania Abdelazim Fadil: Network Coordinator
UN JIU Team
- Dr. Petru Dumitriu: Conference Chair and author of the JIU report on
the partnership between the United Nations and the private sector
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- Jorge Laguna-Celis: Director, Governance Affairs Office
- Kamar Yousuf: Senior Program Officer and Head Private Sector Unit, Governance Affairs Office
- Mohammed Mabrouk: Administrator
University of East London
- Prof. Siraj Sait: Director for Research
- Benjamin Durham: Research Administrator/PA
