On 8 May 2012, just one day before meeting a delegation organized by the Global Young Academy (GYA), Prof. Maged El-Sherbiny, Vice Minister for Scientific Research and President of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT), signed a decree for the foundation of the Egyptian Young Academy of Sciences (EYAS).
GYA Mission Contributes to Foundation of Egyptian Young Academy of Sciences (EYAS)
On 8 May 2012, just one day before meeting a delegation organized by the Global Young Academy (GYA), Prof. Maged El-Sherbiny, Vice Minister for Scientific Research and President of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT), signed a decree for the foundation of the Egyptian Young Academy of Sciences (EYAS). Meeting with the delegation on the following day, the ASRT leadership promised to host and support EYAS, and invited the delegation to discuss and comment on a proposal for the setting up of EYAS. The three Egyptian GYA members Prof. Amal Amin, Dr. Sameh Soroh and Dr. Sherien Elagroudy were appointed to a temporary steering committee in charge of the take-off phase. The aim of a challenging time schedule is to launch the Young Academy, select the first members and hold an inaugural conference within the year 2012.
The delegation was composed of representatives of the Global Young Academy (GYA) and the German Young Academy (Junge Akademie), the oldest national young academy worldwide. After a working meeting with ASRT and the Executive Director of the Egyptian Science and Technology Development Fund (STDF), the delegation met with representatives of major international partners, including the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the German Embassy, the German Society for International Cooperation (giz), the EU Science Counsellor and his team, and the USAID Science, technology and innovation advisor. These representatives of the international science community in Egypt welcomed the establishment of EYAS, and discussed opportunities for cooperation.
A strong Egyptian academy for young scientists would allow early career researchers to participate effectively in developing strategic plans for education and science in Egypt and to play an essential part in the ongoing transformation process. EYAS could be the body that catalyses the knowledge and experience of the most excellent young scientists of the country with the aim to create an encouraging environment for young scientists in Egypt as the main pillar of a knowledge-based society and economy. The project was initiated by GYA founder and EC member Prof. Amal Amin together with the Vice President of ASRT Prof. Mahmoud Sakr, yet had come to a halt with the overall reform process after the Egyptian revolution in January 2011. Invited by the Egyptian GYA members, GYA organized a Fact Finding Mission to Egypt together with representatives of Junge Akademie with the aim to discuss and to support the establishment of EYAS. When the decree for the founding of EYAS was signed the day before the meetings and the Egyptian members appointed to the steering committee, the mission became one of consultancy and a first exchange of experiences.
The GYA gratefully acknowledges support for this mission by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds from the German Foreign Office.
About the GYA
In 2008 and 2009 the IAP: the global network of science academies in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF) established a program to bring approximately 60 young scientists from across the world to the New Champions meetings of the WEF in China. During the first meeting in 2008 the young scientists issued a statement, highlighting their passion for science and for contributing to society through their vocation. Following on this, the young scientists attending the 2009 meeting envisioned establishing a GYA as both a contributor to solutions facing science and society, but also as an opportunity to enhance the quality of scientific research across the globe. In particular, the GYA would provide a voice to young scientists on international issues at the interface of science and society. The Global Young Academy was established and launched in February, 2010, and has grown to a well-represented (172 members from 54 countries) and internationally recognized body. The GYA’s headquarters is hosted by the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Berlin, Germany and receives seed funding from the Volkswagen Foundation. Hired in October 2011, Dr. Heidi Wedel serves as the Managing Director, and works in the Berlin office of the GYA. The GYA is governed by two elected Co-Chairs, currently Prof. Bernard Slippers (South Africa) and Prof. Gregory Weiss (USA) and an elected Executive Committee.
The GYA aims to provide a voice to young scientists; promote science as a career of choice for young people; narrow the gap between science in developed and developing countries; and encourage the development of novel approaches to problems of international significance. National Young Academies, which focus on such issues at the national level, have been established in Austria, Egypt, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Scotland, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Thailand and Zimbabwe. A number of other initiatives in Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America are under way to establish Young Academies.
Applications for membership in the GYA are being accepted through 28 September 2012. Exceptionally talented, nationally recognized young scientists from all fields of knowledge creation who are around the age of 35 are encouraged to apply by submitting an application form with a nomination letter from a national academy or similarly recognized, national or international institution.
Learn more at: http://www.globalyoungacademy.net/
