Debate. Learn. Connect. Arab Scientists at the World Conference of Science Journalists

DOHA, Qatar, June 26, 2011 -

From Egypt to Syria, the Arab Spring
has ushered in a new era of enquiry, freedom of expression and
debate in the Middle East.  While these are the foundations of
any open society, they are also the essence of scientific method.
 In the spirit of harnessing science and its values to advance
openness and democracy in the Arab world, Canada’s International
Development Research Centre (IDRC) will be at the World Conference
of Science Journalists (WCSJ) in Doha, Qatar, June 27-29, 2011.
 IDRC participation will showcase the ways in which Arab
scientists are strengthening their societies’ chances for peace,
order, and good government.  

IDRC partners will be on the ground at the WCSJ to discuss their
work ranging from how href="harassmap.org/">HarrassMap is restoring Egypt’s
tradition of public safety for women; the politics of water and
sanitation in Lebanon and Jordan’s slums; and the impact that
rising sea levels in the Nile Delta will have on the lives of
ordinary Egyptians.

Highlights of IDRC‘s participation at the
WCSJ:

• From the Field to the Front Page

Three IDRC-funded researchers pitch their stories to seasoned
journalists from the UK’s SciDev.Net, Qatar’s Al
Jazeera and Egypt’s AlAhram Hebdo. Their work is
ground breaking, but do they know how to turn science into
headlines?

• From Tahrir to Taamir: Building a
  Networked Society for Democratic Governance

This timely lunch session explores the pivotal role that the
Internet, mobile phones and social media can play in popular
uprisings across the Arab world.

• Meet IDRC-Funded Researchers and Staff -and
  Celebrate Canada Day!

Stop by the IDRC booth and meet researchers from Arab countries
and IDRC staff. Meet Rebecca Chiao, one of the creators of Egypt’s
HarrassMap; Mohamed Abdrabo, Alexandria’s Institute of Graduate
Studies and Research, an expert on rising sea level in the Nile
Delta; water and sanitation expert Mutasem ElFadel from American
University of Beirut; IDRC’s Guy Jobbins, climate change adaptation
expert; and IDRC’s Adel El Zaïm, an expert in ICTs and knowledge
society. Ask us about Canada Day and get a treat!

Journalists and the public can join in the conversation through
Twitter (#IDRC and
#WCSJ2011) and href="www.facebook.com/idrc.crdi">Facebook.

For more information, visit href="www.idrc.ca">www.idrc.ca.

About IDRC

To achieve self-reliance, poor communities need answers to
questions like: How can we grow more and healthier food? Protect
our health? Create jobs? IDRC supports research in developing
countries to answer these questions. IDRC also encourages sharing
this knowledge with policymakers, other researchers, and
communities around the world. The result is innovative, lasting
local solutions that aim to bring choice and change to those who
need it most.

For more information:

Isabelle Bourgeault-Tassé
+1-613)696-2343 (Canada)
href="mailto:ibourgeault-tasse@idrc.ca">ibourgeault-tasse@idrc.ca

@IsabelleBT

Hoda Harb
+2 011 22 68 488 (Egypt)
+974-70024778 (Qatar)
hharb@idrc.org.eg
@harbhoda

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