Scientists call for research governance reforms

Islamabad: Science researchers, professionals and policy makers from different Islamic countries have demanded addressing governance challenges in the applications of molecular biology and biotechnology.

OIC Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) organised this workshop from 28-30 March in which a large number of science and technology professionals from different research institutions of the Islamic countries participated.

During the concluding session of the COMSTECH workshop, the participants agreed that molecular biology and biotechnology research must have institutional basis to determine the socio-economic parameters and real potential of applications for solving the socio-economic problems. They demanded priority setting mechanism for scientific and social policy research.

COMSTECH Advisor Science Dr Anwar Nasim said, “There should be research ethics committees which should develop ethical frameworks to encourage innovation, while protecting research participants, society and the environment from potential harms.

CO-Director General of the Karachi Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (KIBGE) Professor Abid Azhar said,” exponentially growing research in human genomics, molecular biology and biotechnology and its commercial involvement in the present century has created a significant number of policy challenges such as patenting, genetic testing and genetic information and these challenges require legal and governance measures before any crisis evolves”

Former Executive Editor of the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal Muhammad Afzal was of the view that the transition of governing via risk to governance by uncertainty is also a challenge to contemporary governance in these areas of research.

The new topics of genomics governance have not been taken up seriously in the already operating or emerging institutional structures of policy making in the developing counties. Besides, there exists a gap between policy challenges and institutional responses and even meagre genomic and biotech research in the resource poor countries may lead to growing social opposition.

Zabta Khan Shinwari, Chairman of the Biotechnology Department of Islamabad-based Quaid-e-Azam University laid stress on introducing DNA Barcoding in the degree level curricula in Pakistan and other OIC countries.

Participant from across the OIC region thanked COMSTECH for providing a forum and opportunity to exchange views and discuss latest issues in biotechnology and molecular biology. COMSTECH is a ministerial committee of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) mandated to coordinate science and technology related research and development in its 57 member states.

Council of OIC Foreign Ministers Urges Member States to Cooperate with COMSTECH

Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) has urged the member states and the relevant OIC institutions to cooperate with OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), so that the COMSTECH is able to meet the objectives of the OIC Vision 1441 for science and technology and related provisions of the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action. The CFM declared this during its 36th meeting held from 23-25 May, 2009 in Damascus, the capital city of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The CFM appreciated the role COMSTECH is playing for implementation of the OIC Vision 1441 for science and technology and science related agenda of the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action.

The CFM commended the decisions of the 13th General Assembly of COMSTECH which recommended optimum utilization of the science and technology for the overall progress, welfare and prosperity of the Ummah.

The CFM urged COMSTECH to continue giving priority to the special program for Africa in accordance with the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action. It also called upon COMSTECH to continue taking the lead in setting policy guidelines to unify and integrate activities of all S&T institutions in the OIC system.

The Damascus meeting of the foreign ministers of OIC member states called upon COMSTECH and ISESCO (Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to keep up and consolidate their cooperation for science and technology development in the Islamic world.

The foreign ministers welcomed the initiative of the COMSTECH Inter-Islamic Network on Water Resources Development and Management (INWRDAM) for organizing an expert group meeting in Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from 18-19 October 2008 which led to a sideline OIC ministerial meeting on water during 5th World Water Forum held in Istanbul on March 20, 2009. The INWRDAM, under COMSTECH umbrella, is working towards developing OIC Water Vision.

The CFM appreciated the setting up of Science and Technology Venture Capital Fund by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry to support transfer of technology and urged the OIC member states to contribute generously to the Fund.

The session called upon the member states to establish technology parks in order to strengthen the linkages between research and development and between higher education and industry. It also recommended demonstration of technology innovations through organizing technology trade fairs.

Thirty-sixth session of the Council of Foreign Ministers held with the theme “enhancing Islamic solidarity” also adopted a number of resolutions on a host of other issues including matters related to culture, economy, environment and politics.

The Damascus Declaration issued at the end of the meeting underlined the need for mastering science and knowledge in order to be powerful in the international comity of nations.

Reported by Ameen Amjad