ISLAMABAD, Nov 19 (APP): The Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS) and the Science Council of Asia (SCA) jointly organized the 24th SCA Conference at PAS Secretariat, Islamabad, from 16 to 18 November 2025 on the theme of “Food Security, Sustainability, and Biodiversity”. The conference was supported by the Science Council of Japan (SCJ).
The scientific program of the event included Technical Sessions and Poster Presentations on the theme of the conference, as well as the Young Researcher’s Session, and Future Earth Symposium. In total, 145 physical participants and 48 online participants attended the event. The foreign resource persons of the Conference included those from Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
The Conference was inaugurated by the Honourable Prof. Dr. Atta Ur Rahman FRS, former Coordinator General of COMSTECH followed by welcome address by Prof. Dr. Kauser Abdulla Malik (President Pakistan Academy of Sciences), and Prof. Dr. Mamoru Mitsuishi (President Science Council of Japan), while Prof. Dr. Muhammad Aslam Baig (President Science Council of Asia, and Secretary General PAS), shed light on the need and importance of hosting this conference in Pakistan.
During the three-day progression of the event, eminent foreign and local speakers presented very thought-provoking lectures on a broad range of topics in line with the three sub-themes of the 24th SCA. In total, 35 Technical Lectures, including 5 online lectures, were delivered by 20 local and 16 foreign speakers during the course of the Conference, while 30 shortlisted posters were presented by participating young postgraduate researchers attending this Conference.
The Young Researchers’ Session emphasised that communication among young researchers must be strengthened to promote knowledge-sharing and collective growth through joint initiatives, exchange programs, and continuous engagement across borders. In the Future Earth Symposium, Prof. Dr. Fumiko Kasuga, Director Future Earth Japan, and the resource persons discussed very stimulating and promising ideas with the participants of the session to resolve issues related to Future Earth and highlighted that the Future Earth-Japan wishes to have closer collaboration with the people of Pakistan in this regard.
The participants of the Conference appreciated the timely organization of this event on the theme of food security, sustainability and biodiversity in the wake of foreseeable adverse impacts of climate change, and stated that the Conference bears significance for academicians, scientists, technologists, researchers, environmentalists, agriculturists and policy makers across the globe, especially in Asian countries, for the health and safety of mankind and all living beings.