ANAS- Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences assures the ECO Science Foundation of Cooperation and Support for Promotion of Science, Technology and Innovation

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President of ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF) Prof. Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro visited Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) on 15 September 2015 and held meeting with the President ANAS, H.E. Academician Akif Alizadeh and his team including Vice-President ANAS Academician Ibrahim Guliyev, Secretary ANAS Academician Rasim Alguliyev, Directors of the Institutions and Organizations of ANAS, Heads of Departments and others. Main objective of the meeting was to acquaint ANAS with ECOSF and its activities and to discuss the prospects of cooperation.

The President ANAS warmly welcomed the President ECOSF on his maiden visit to the Academy. He gave a brief introduction of the Academy and its century old establishment in 1910. Academician Akif Alizadeh shared with Dr. Soomro about the celebration in November of current year as 70th anniversary of the present shape of ANAS which has vast and magnificent history. The ANAS scientists informed the guest on the scientific researches, reforms and complex actions which are carried out in Academy.

President ECOSF Professor Soomro gave a detailed presentation to the hosts about the historical background of ECOSF establishment, and its ongoing programmes, activities and plans for future. He shared with hosts, the international linkages developed by ECOSF emphasized on the need for a stronger "Cooperation and Collaboration" in S&T research institutions among the 10 ECO member countries including the Republic of Azerbaijan. Dr. Soomro further said that ECO Science Foundation will play the role of a catalyst and provides a platform to develop linkages with the S&T institutions and organizations of ECO countries as well as international organizations partnering with ECOSF.

Prof. Soomro emphasized during the discussion with Academician Akif Alizadeh that for sustainable scientific and technological development leading to economic well being, science/STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education at schools is vital and the teachers play a very critical role for proper implementation and execution of the science education programme. Thus training of school teachers by involving researchers and university faculty/scientists together with education professionals is required. He then highlighted the ECOSF programme of inquiry based science education (IBSE) recently launched in Astana-Kazakhstan and its implementation in ECO member countries together with international partners of ECOSF. Dr. Soomro also shared with the ANAS Presidium the ECOSF partnership with international organizations viz., Academy of Sciences France through its La main a la pate Foundation, International Science, Technology and Innovations (ISTIC) Malaysia and Inter-Academy Partnership (IAP) through its Science Education Programme (SEP).

Academician Alizadeh appreciated the initiatives of ECOSF and assured President Soomro of their cooperation and support. Finally, souvenirs were exchanged by the two leaders. Subsequently, President ECOSF was then taken to visit various institutions of ANAS including Institutes of Geology, Genetics, Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Petrochemical Processes and Science Innovation Centre.