The Learning Planet Institute supports the initiative of the International Year of Science
Engagement by proclaiming itself as a founding partner.
What does the International Year of Science Engagement (IYSE) mean to you, and why do you believe it is timely?
I believe it is about time to really use science in making peace, because it inspires and empowers people with the knowledge to ignite reconciliation, to accept others and also to rebuild a new generation. I believe that science can do more than new instruments and tools. Science can bring people to sit together, share, and collaborate.
What is your role in the IYSE?
My role in the IYSE is to share our project RESI, Rethink of Education and Science in Iraq, which is a cooperation between the University of Mosul, TU-Dortmund and Graz University. We will explain how this program was used after the liberation of Mosul from ISIS. My colleague, Dr. Heike Wendt from Graz University, submitted a presentation about this very issue in Paris.
How can science engagement increase awareness and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals?
We have proved that science engagement increases the awareness and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, as our many activities covered them, and people knew nothing about these issues beforehand. Through our efforts, a great number of our students started getting to know these pressing topics and even started acting for the goals.
Photo credit: Falling Walls Foundation
How can the IYSE serve as a tool for building a global multi-stakeholder alliance?
Some ideas include holding a lot of activites about IYSE around the world as well as signing a memorandom of cooperation by all of the world’s countries. This memorandum would make the year 2027 a highly unique year for peace, and for discussing and achieving the SDGs. It would make 2027 a very special year for people living in our planet.
Meet Professor Anwar Alfaidhi
Professor Alfaidhi is an Iraqi Prof. Dr. in Molecular Physics and has been the Acting Dean of college of Science since 2018-2019. He is also involved in the RESI (Rethink Education and Science in Iraq). All activities are and have been implemented under the academic leadership of Prof. Dr. Heike Wendt (University of Graz) since 2017 in close collaboration with Mosul University presidency (Prof. Dr. Muneer Salim Taha), an interdisciplinary steering committee under the coordination of Prof. Dr. Anwar Alfaidhi.
Learn more here: resi-sc2022.uomosul.edu.iq/about/
What is the IYSE?
The International Year of Science Engagement (IYSE 2027) will inspire and empower people with knowledge, tools, and platforms designed to share their know-how, skills, and experiences. It will provide an interactive space in which the citizens of the world can engage with science and achieve the SDGs.
An International Year is a powerful tool for building global multi-stakeholder networks. Through activities, events and campaigns, International Years reach an audience of tens of millions of practitioners, scientists, industry leaders, decision-makers and members of the public worldwide.
This global initiative will build the momentum necessary to engage more voices and more minds with science and showcase its opportunities and contributions directly. It will equip the international community with the tools needed to push harder and further for transformative change. It will engage scientists worldwide with diverse stakeholders and the public to build consensus, test solutions, improve their theses, methods, and enable change.
