The Inaugural Meeting of the International Advisory Council (IAC) with the INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE DIPLOMACY AND SUSTAINABILITY (IISDS) at UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was convened by its Director, Tan Sri Dr. Zakri Abdul Hamid, on 14-15 November 2023. The IAC members are:
- Distinguished Professor Tan Sri Dr. Zakri Abdul Hamid FASc, Director, International Institute of Science Diplomacy & Sustainability (UCSI-IISDS)
- Professor Datuk Ir. Ts. Dr. Siti Hamisah Binti Tapsir FASc, Ex Officio member, Vice Chancellor, UCSI University
- Distinguished Professor Dr. Phang Siew Moi FASc, Ex Officio member, Deputy Vice Chancellor, UCSI University
- H.E. Madame Irina Bokova, Former Director-General, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO
- H.E. Dr. Yongyuth Yuthavong, Former Deputy Prime Minister, Thailand
- Professor Paul Arthur Berkman, Founding Director, Science Diplomacy Center, Harvard University, USA
- Academician Dato’ Lee Yee Cheong FASc, Emeritus Chairman, International Science, Technology & Innovation Centre (ISTIC)
- H.E. Ambassador Tan Sri Radzi Abdul Rahman, Secretary-General, World Islamic Economic Forum (WIFE)
- H.E. Ambassador Dato’ Dr Shazelina Zainul Abidin, Former Director General, Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR)
- Datin Paduka Professor Khatijah Yusoff, Former Vice President, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)
UCSI University formally established IISDS a new Centre of Excellence on 29 August 2023. As noted by Tan Sri Zakri:
Today, the need for science diplomacy is growing. Never has it been more crucial, timely, and appropriate for Malaysia to develop such a centre to lead the way forward. This region has been faced with gargantuan challenges such as the annual haze occurrence, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution.
As noted by Tan Sri Zakri:
The vision is to position the university as a leader in science diplomacy and sustainability for the betterment of Malaysia’s interests and those of Asean’s and the Global South’s. Such institutes are normally found in the Global North, where the awareness and preparedness to connect the scientific community with policymakers and politicians are more pronounced. The IISDS may be the first fully fledged science diplomacy centre in the Global South.
The following Malaysian television broadcast was recorded at the time of the International Advisory Council meeting for IISDS.
