Princess Sumaya delivers keynote address at Washington science meet

AMMAN — HRH Princess Sumaya, president of the Royal Scientific Society (RSS), has delivered the keynote speech at the 2023 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which convened from March 2 to 5 in Washington, DC, under the banner of “Science for Humanity”.

Addressing the urgent need for an approach to knowledge for humanity that is borderless and rooted in equality, the princess emphasised to delegates that “we regrettably live in a world where knowledge is so unevenly spread and where the benefits of scientific knowledge are often absent where they are most acutely needed”, according to an RSS statement. 

“Humanity is not equally served by knowledge,” said the princess.

While the global population is growing more rapidly in regions that lack the mechanisms to enable knowledge creation, “we must never forget that each generation brings forth the promise of new talent”, she added.

“That potential is unknown and will remain so unless it is tapped, channelled and allowed to flow in directions that will nurture, renew and bring forth the fruit of human creativity,” she added.

Thanking Princess Sumaya for her remarks, AAAS CEO Sudip Parikh said that her voice had given hope and inspiration to many scientists and researchers from around the world who often feel voiceless. 

Parikh thanked her for her tireless work in promoting science diplomacy through institutions such as the World Science Forum, on the Steering Committee of which both Princess Sumaya and the AAAS CEO sit.

AAAS was founded in 1848 with a mission to advance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all, and the history of AAAS has been interwoven with the growth of American science, the statement said.