Background
This session will address one of the key mandates of the STI Forum, namely the science-policy interface and demonstrate the value of robust scientific facts and understanding for policy-making and related actions. Evidence-based policy is crucial to solving the interconnected and complex challenges our societies are facing at all levels. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance and potential of science to address such challenges, including by having vaccines developed at record-speed. At the same time, the pandemic has also highlighted the need to foster trust in science and technology as an essential basis for swift and effective policy actions. This session will take stock of the overall global picture and critically explore specific recent cases to answer the question of how stakeholders can work together to jointly build trust in science and technology, to tackle misinformation, and to explore how the science-advisory systems across the UN system, governments, civil society and private sector could work together in a more effective way.
Chaired by H.E. Ms. Mathu Joyini, Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations
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Moderator:
- Ms. Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Associate Scientific Director, CAPRISA, South Africa;Professor, Columbia University’ Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of KwaZulu-Natal; UNAIDS Special Ambassador for Adolescents and HIV; co-chair, Secretary General’s 10-Member- Group
- Panelists:
- Mr. Joel Netshitenzhe, Executive Director, Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection(MISTRA)