We are looking forward to welcoming many of you in a few days in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the 17th TWAS General Conference. We gather in person at a very sobering and unprecedented time as a global community and as an Academy celebrating its 40th anniversary. This is an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come, and to look ahead with renewed purpose on how science can serve humanity and bring hope through science that unites rather than divides.
The event, organized in partnership with the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and TWAS, will appropriately focus on the theme 'Building a Sustainable Future: The Role of Science, Technology, and Innovation for Global Development.' The rich 4-day programme includes high-level keynote lectures, thematic symposia, and sessions led by young scientists, showcasing the power of science to drive sustainable development through inclusive, collaborative, and synergistic partnerships grounded in the realities of the global South.
We will hear from leaders in government, academia, and international organizations; celebrate the achievements of TWAS Fellows and Young Affiliates; and welcome a new cohort of Fellows and Affiliates. We will honour the legacy of our visionary founding members and leadership who built this Academy on scientific solidarity and global cooperation. Importantly, we approach this from a much-needed global South perspective, as the path toward overcoming today’s challenges has to be grounded on lived contextual realities: rising temperatures, growing inequalities, increasing poverty, growing numbers of displaced populations—including scientists,and the loss of biodiversity. Meanwhile, destruction of scientific, educational, and health infrastructure, are everyday realities for many.
Our conference will allow us to gather and reaffirm our shared commitment to building a more equitable knowledge ecosystem, one where scientific talent can flourish regardless of passport, paycheck, or postcode. It will be a moment to demonstrate that supporting science is not just about funding it: It is about investing in people, building institutions, and pushing for ideas that can transform our everyday lives and ensure a healthy planet and human security for generations to come.
As we gather in Rio, let us carry with us Salam’s vision that has guided TWAS for over four decades: a world where science serves all of humanity, and where no one is left behind.
Safe travels.