Irbid: Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, President of the Royal Scientific Society (RSS), inaugurated the International Humboldt-Kolleg Conference on Sustainable Science Development: Transforming Industries and Society at Jadara University, in collaboration with the Jordanian Club of Humboldt Fellows.
According to Jordan News Agency, the three-day conference brings together participants from 24 countries, including scientists, researchers, policymakers, and students from Jordan, Germany, and beyond. The event serves as a platform to exchange expertise, share research, and foster interdisciplinary partnerships aimed at promoting resilient science in response to global challenges.
Princess Sumaya, in her keynote address, emphasized the role of science diplomacy in unifying regional efforts. She highlighted critical areas such as water, energy, environmental protection, disease surveillance, and seismic risk reduction as foundations for cooperation in the Middle East and beyond.
Reaffirming her dedication to the Humboldt community, Princess Sumaya described it as “a family united by the belief that science must ultimately serve humanity.” She showcased the Royal Scientific Society’s initiatives in sustainable development, citing projects in the circular economy, cleaner production, water innovation, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green chemistry-projects that have provided significant benefits such as solar-powered classrooms for refugee children, clean energy for farmers, and green jobs for youth.
Highlighting international collaboration, she mentioned Princess Sumaya University for Technology’s partnership with NASA, which enables Jordanian students to engage in global space research, illustrating that space exploration is a conduit for intercultural cooperation and applying science to enhance life on Earth.
The conference also featured addresses from Professor Habes Hatamleh, President of Jadara University, who highlighted the university’s commitment to connecting education with real-world challenges; Lena Graziano, Head of Cultural and Media Section at the German Embassy, who commended the robust Jordanian-German scientific collaboration; and Dr. Marwan Mousa, President of the Jordanian Club of Humboldt Fellows, who expressed hopes for further joint research initiatives.
The programme included esteemed speakers such as Professor Dieter Suter from Technische Universit¤t Dortmund, presenting groundbreaking work in magnetic resonance imaging, and Romanian astronaut Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu, sharing insights on sustainable lunar exploration.
Aligned with the Humboldt Foundation’s vision of resilient science, the conference covers eight thematic areas: chemistry, physics, energy, engineering, materials science, nanotechnology, pharmacy, archaeology, and education. It builds on the success of the 2022 Humboldt-Kolleg in Madaba, themed How We Change the World Through Science.