On February 4, Okayama University hosted a research presentation event for the “Young Female Scientist Programme in Japan,” organized in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Four participants from the 4th batch (two from Botswana, one from the Philippines, and one from South Africa) who participated in the program this year presented their research outcomes from their activities at Okayama University online.

Okayama University and UNCTAD signed a comprehensive partnership agreement on January 9, 2020, to foster human resources for Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), marking the world’s first such agreement between a university and UNCTAD. The course, implemented under this agreement, receives recommendations from government delegations of CSTD (*1) member states in Africa and the ASEAN region. After passing a rigorous screening process, young female scientists participate in research activities for two weeks to a month under the guidance of faculty members at Okayama University. So far, 23 scientists have participated; this year marks the fourth intake.

The presentation event was attended online by Angel Gonzalez-Sanz, Chief of Technology, Innovation and Knowledge Development Branch, Division on Technology and Logistics, UNCTAD, and colleagues. From Okayama University, President NASU Yasutomo, Senior Vice President and Executive Director for Academic Affairs SUGA Seiji, Vice President for Global Engagement YOKOI Atsufumi, and Vice President for International Affairs and Alumni SUZUKI Takayoshi joined to encourage the young female scientists who gave presentations.
Additionally, former program participants from the 2nd batch and her Okayama University supervisor presented cases in which they co-authored papers as a result of their participation in the course. This was highlighted as a positive example of fostering collaboration among researchers.

Moving forward, Okayama University will continue to strengthen its collaboration with UNCTAD, a central UN agency responsible for implementing STI for SDGs, and actively promote the development of STI for SDGs from Okayama to the world, both domestically and internationally.

(*1) CSTD (Commission on Science and Technology for Development)

○United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Established in 1964 and headquartered in Geneva, UNCTAD is the central UN agency that comprehensively addresses trade and development, finance, investment, technology, and sustainable development issues. Its mission is to maximize trade, investment, and development opportunities for developing countries, support developing countries facing challenges arising from globalization, and integrate them into the world economy on an equal footing.