The Arab Science Journalism Forum’s fourth edition, hosted by the Kamal Adham Center for Television and Digital Journalism at the American University in Cairo (AUC), focused on highlighting the role of Arab women in science and scientific journalism. This year’s event, held on December 17 in collaboration with UNESCO, received high praise from Hussein Amin, the Director of the Kamal Adham Center, who described it as a unique and successful gathering.
The forum aimed to bridge the gap between the scientific community and the public by making complicated scientific concepts more accessible. It brought together Arab scientists and researchers from various backgrounds to engage in discussions and provide recommendations to address the challenges faced by women in science journalism in Egypt and the Arab region.
Dr. Nouha Belaid joined the forum as a speaker, tackling the importance of supporting science journalism and providing accurate scientific information to the public.
The first panel of the forum, titled “Women in Science Journalism,” focused on the struggles faced by Arab women as they enter a field that was historically dominated by men. The panel, moderated by Dr. Nadine al-Sayed, featured Dr. Maya Nichols, Nadia al-Awady, and Bothina Osama. They highlighted the underrepresentation of women in science and science journalism, despite higher numbers of women entering STEM fields in the Arab world compared to the West. The panel called for equal representation of women in these fields.
The second panel, “Gender and Climate,” shed light on the disproportionate challenges faced by women, particularly in poorer nations, due to the impact of climate change. The panelists, including Hadeer Elhadary, Raghida Haddad, and Rahma Diaa, emphasized the need for science journalism to address the social and economic consequences of climate change and to highlight the specific impacts on women. They also highlighted the lack of sufficient research in this area.
The third panel, “Women in STEM: Perspectives on How Science Should be Communicated,” discussed strategies to help women in STEM fields overcome gender barriers. Despite women representing 57 percent of STEM graduates in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, men still dominate higher STEM rankings. The panel, moderated by Ashraf Amin, included Dr. Fayrouz Ashour, Mohamed al-Sonbaty, and Dr. Mubaraka Saad Alghariani. They emphasized the need for further support and encouragement for women in STEM fields and the importance of showcasing successful women to inspire others and promote gender equality.
The panel also underscored the significance of fostering a love for science from an early age, recognizing the importance of early exposure and encouragement to engage more women in STEM disciplines. Overall, the fourth edition of the Arab Science Journalism Forum successfully highlighted the contributions and challenges of Arab women in science and scientific journalism. It provided a platform for meaningful discussions, recommendations, and initiatives to promote gender equality and empower women in these fields, while also addressing the impact of climate change on women and the need for accurate scientific communication to the public.
