2018-04-18
The International Forum on Science Education was held on 9 -10 April, 2018 in Islamabad, Pakistan. Jointly hosted by the Economic Cooperation Organization Science Foundation (ECOSF), Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, the InterAcademy Partnership Science Education Program (IAP SEP) and Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS) with the support of Alif Ailan (Pakistan) and Pakistan Alliance of Maths and Science (PAMS) , the forum attracted more than 200 speakers and participants from Malaysia, Sudan, Kenya, Indonesia, Thailand, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, South Korea working in areas of science education, science communication and news media. Dr. Zhu He, the Director of Division of Teacher Development of Children and Youth Science Center of CAST(CYSC) and member of IAP SEP Global Council, also attended this forum and delivered a speech.
On the morning of 9 April, Prof. Dr. Qasim Jan-President of Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Prof. Dr. Manzoor H. Soomro- President ECOSF, Member GC IAP SEP and Council Member AETDEW, Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed- Chairman of Higher Education Commission (HEC) all addressed about the importance of science education in schools which is a must for quality higher education and economic development.Academician Dato Dr. (Ir) Lee Yee Cheong, Chairman IAP SEP and President AETDEW delivered a keynote speech about IAP SEP and its Global Science Education. He mentioned that the developing world was actually in the Digital Revolution and thus should not follow in the development model of the west. The development revolution was propelled by China’s spectacular development, so we should understand and trust that China can fulfill her Belt and Road commitments.
In the panel discussions, all panelists from different organizations introduced their practices in science education and their future plans. Dr. Zhu He introduced science education programs carried out by China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) especially those under Belt and Road Initiative.
Representatives of CYSC also met with officers from Pakistan Alliance for Maths and Science. Both two parties agreed to promote deep cooperation in science education under Belt and Road Initiative. The Islamabad Declaration was announced at the end of the forum: called on all IAP member academies of sciences to redouble their commitment to IBSE/STEM education; called on industry related enterprises to assist national academies of science and their national governments to enhance STEM education policies; called on China, under Belt and Road Initiative, to invest in the Fusion of OBOR Civilizations Curriculum Design for schools and welcome the wider participation of the youth from developing countries in Belt and Road Teenager Science Camp.