According to the MSTF media center, the body seeks to appreciate Muslim scientists by awarding the Mustafa (PBUH) Prize biennially. In line with such efforts, the MSTF has launched the first round of the STEP forum in collaboration with University Putra Malaysia located in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.
The opening ceremony of the forum was held on December 19th at UPM, with 150 delegates from Iran, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and other Muslim countries taking part in the event, IRNA reported.
The Mustafa (PBUH) Prize Representative, Sa’eed Sarkar, was among the keynote speakers. He stressed the need to advance science and technology in the Muslim world and to turn “our knowledge to wealth”.
Elsewhere in his remarks, he emphasized that the goal of the Mustafa (PBUH) Prize is to employ knowledge in bringing prosperity to Muslim countries.
Sarkar added that the Mustafa (PBUH) Science and Technology Foundation envisioned revitalizing “the golden era” of science and technology in the Muslim world. To this end, he said, Muslims need to come together and “not to scatter”.
Meanwhile, the UPM’s Vice Chancellor Dr. Aini Ideris gave the final speech in the opening ceremony and thanked the Mustafa (PBUH) Prize for “its support given to University Putra Malaysia”.
She hailed the importance of the STEP in highlighting the latest achievements made by Muslims in the realm of science, and hoped that the forum will foster closer collaboration among Muslims to achieve better goals.
Delegates regard the STEP forum as a network that connects major scientific institutions and scientists from around the Muslim sphere. Jordanian Chemist, Omar Yaghi, and Singaporean Nanotechnologist, Jackie Ying, who were the laureates of the 2015 Mustafa (PBUH) Prize held in the Iranian capital Tehran, are also at the event.
The STEP forum will run for five days until December 23.
EghtesadOnline: The Science, Technology Exchange Program (STEP) affiliated to the Mustafa (PBUH) Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF) inaugurated a nanoscience and nanotechnology development forum jointly with the University of Putra Malaysia (UPM) on Monday in the presence of prominent Muslim scientists from around the world.