Davidovich, and TWAS President Prof. Quarraisha Abdool Karim
More than 300 main scientists from over 60 nations gathered in Rio de Janeiro this week to rejoice growing world analysis achievements and chart the way forward for science in rising economies, culminating within the announcement of prestigious awards recognizing groundbreaking work from Ethiopia to Zimbabwe.
The seventeenth TWAS General Conference concluded Thursday after 4 days of programming that introduced collectively researchers, policymakers, and institutional leaders from throughout the worldwide South. The occasion, held below the theme “Building a Sustainable Future: The Role of Science, Technology, and Innovation for Global Development,” showcased analysis addressing synthetic intelligence, international well being, and sustainable growth challenges.
The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), a worldwide benefit primarily based science academy headquartered in Trieste, Italy, and administered as a UNESCO Programme Unit, organized the convention in partnership with the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (BAS). The gathering supplied a platform for TWAS Young Affiliates to current their analysis alongside established scientific leaders.
In her closing remarks, TWAS President Quarraisha Abdool Karim acknowledged the unprecedented challenges presently going through science and humanity whereas thanking members together with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who delivered a video message, and Guatemalan Vice President Karin Herrera. “We’ve had some amazingly inspiring and rich scientific discussions through presentations,” Abdool Karim mentioned. “We’ve also had some incredible opportunities to network with old friends and also make new friends.”
BAS President Helena Nader emphasised scientists’ obligation to have interaction with societal points past their laboratories. “I want to thank each one of you, and take this message back home: fight for the rights of humanity,” Nader informed attendees.
The convention’s centerpiece got here with the formal presentation of the 2025 TWAS Apex Award to Luiz Davidovich, a quantum physicist and emeritus professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. The award, marking its twentieth anniversary this 12 months, carries a financial prize of USD 100,000 together with a medal and certificates. It focuses on quantum science and expertise in 2025, coinciding with the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology recognizing a century since quantum mechanics’ preliminary growth.
The award cites Davidovich “for his contributions to theoretical advances and groundbreaking experiments in quantum optics and quantum information, and for his worldwide leadership in the area of quantum science.” In his medal lecture, which fashioned a part of the official IYQ celebrations, Davidovich walked the viewers by way of 100 years of quantum mechanics resulting in fashionable applied sciences together with mind scanning, superior lasers, atomic clocks, improved photo voltaic panels, and quantum computer systems.
Five further awards introduced at the assembly highlighted distinctive achievements throughout the growing world. Adey Feleke Desta of Ethiopia obtained the 2025 TWAS Samira Omar Innovation for Sustainability Award for her work safeguarding water environments from contamination and advancing Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clear water and sanitation. “Receiving the Samira Omar Award is a powerful affirmation of science driven by local challenges and global impact,” Desta mentioned.
Fatouma Mohamed Abdoul Latif of Djibouti received the 2025 TWAS Abdool Karim Award in Biological Sciences for pioneering analysis on pure substances with well being and environmental functions, alongside together with her management advancing STEM and worldwide scientific collaborations in Djibouti.
Gift Mehlana of Zimbabwe obtained the 2025 TWAS Atta ur Rahman Award in Chemistry for growing porous supplies as assist platforms for organic and chemical catalysts. “Being awarded the TWAS Atta ur Rahman Award in Chemistry is a proud and humbling achievement,” Mehlana mentioned, noting it affirms his dedication to scientific excellence whereas enhancing Midlands State University’s worldwide profile.
Kanishka Biswas of India secured the 2025 TWAS CAS Young Scientists Award for Frontier Science within the Physical Sciences for pioneering analysis in inorganic stable state chemistry, particularly growing new steel chalcogenide compounds with excellent thermoelectric efficiency.
Angelina Mwesige Kakooza of Uganda obtained the 2025 TWAS Fayzah M. Al Kharafi Award in Medical Sciences for her analysis on neurodevelopmental issues, notably epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and nodding syndrome, together with advancing coverage, analysis mentorship, and neighborhood interventions enhancing kids’s well being. “This award highlights the importance of neurodevelopmental disorders which are a great health problem worldwide, often diagnosed late and treated poorly,” Kakooza mentioned.
TWAS Executive Director Marcelo Knobel emphasised the convention’s significance in bringing collectively numerous voices in science. “This kind of event is truly special, because of the vast and diverse voices in science it brings together and for the opportunity to show the world the excellent level of scientific research they are conducting in the global South,” he mentioned.
To mark the Academy’s fortieth anniversary, TWAS launched a brand new e-book celebrating 4 a long time of supporting science in growing nations, obtainable by way of the group’s web site.
The convention demonstrated how scientific excellence more and more transcends geographic and financial boundaries, with researchers from useful resource constrained settings making elementary contributions to fields from quantum physics to public well being. Whether these awards translate into sustained assist for growing world science, or stay symbolic gestures in a analysis panorama nonetheless dominated by rich nations, will turn out to be clearer in coming years.