Muslim Scientists Set Up Online Hub To Spur S&T Cooperation

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 (Bernama) -- Delegates at the Science and Technology Exchange Programme among Muslim Countries (STEP) have agreed to create an online hub to be an enabling platform for science and technology collaboration and provide access to best practices. They also decided to create an endowment for the purpose of funding science and technology activities in Muslim countries. These were among the points highlighted in a joint statement issued at the end of STEP, jointly organised by Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). "We need to focus on scientific activities that address the big issues facing Muslim countries such as water purification and desalination, renewable energy and others," said MSTF representative Prof Sa'eed Sarkar, in a statement. It was attended by 210 Muslim researchers, scholars, scientists and faculty members from Bangladesh, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Turkey, India and Singapore. It include roundtable discussions, workshops and speeches by chemist, Prof Omar Yaghi from Jordan and nanotechnologist, Prof Jackie Ying from Singapore. Both were winners of the 2015 Mustafa Prize which honoured Muslim scientists. -- BERNAMA