23rd Annual Meeting of the Science Council of Asia (SCA) at Dhaka, Bangladesh (November 30 to December 02, 2024)
The Science Council of Asia (SCA) is an international scientific organization founded in 2000 by Asian science academies and other national scientific organizations. SCA aims to provide scientists in all fields, including cultural and social as well as natural sciences and technology, a collaborative platform for promoting scientific exchange and cooperation in Asia, and to develop and promote a holistic vision focusing on sustainable development and improvement in quality of life. At present, SCA is comprised of 31 academic organizations in Asia, and SCA Conference has been held annually since 2001.
As President of the Science Council of Asia (SCA), Prof. Dr. Aslam Baig, Sec. General PAS, presided over the 23rd SCA Meeting held at Dhaka, Bangladesh from Nov. 30, 2024 to Dec. 02, 2024. The meeting discussed the schedule and agenda for the 24th SCA meeting to be held in Pakistan tentatively during November 2025. The conference was jointly organized by Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS) and Science Council of Asia (SCA), and supported by the Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Approximately 300 participants from 10 countries and regions joined the conference in person and online.
The conference theme was “Fourth Industrial Revolution and Future Society”. The conference aimed to address the crucial challenges and opportunities arising from the Fourth Industrial Revolution to transform how we live, work, and interact with technology by blending the physical, digital, and biological worlds; and to create new efficiencies, drive innovation, and bring about a deeper integration between the digital world and the physical world.
Emeritus Prof Dr AK Azad Chowdhury, President, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS) and Chair, Organizing Committee, chaired the inaugural session; and Prof Dr Zahurul Karim, Vice-President, BAS and Chair, Program Committee welcomed the conference delegates and participants. During the inaugural session, opening remarks were delivered by Prof Dr Muhammad Aslam Baig, President, SCA; Prof Dr Haseena Khan, Secretary, BAS; and Prof Dr Mitsuishi Mamoru, President, Science Council of Japan. Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General, OIC-COMSTECH, was invited as a Special Guest while Prof Dr SMA Faiz, Chairman, University Grants Commission, Bangladesh was a Chief Guest at the occasion. At the end of the inaugural session, Prof Dr Liaquat Ali, Organizing Secretary, 23rd SCAC gave a Vote of Thanks to all the conference delegates, participants and invited speakers. The foreign and local eminent speakers presented about Sixty (60) lectures in Twelve (12) technical sessions at this event.
During the concluding session, Emeritus Prof Dr AK Azad Chowdhury President of BAS, addressed the conference delegates/participants; followed by a brief open discussion moderated by Prof Dr Liaquat Ali, Organizing Secretary; remarks by Prof Dr Muhammad Aslam Baig, President, SCA; Prof Dr Zahurul Karim, Vice-President, BAS; and Prof Dr Haseena Khan, Secretary, BAS. The conference declaration was delivered by Prof Dr Shibusawa Sakae, SCA. Prof Dr Saleh Hasan Naqib, Vice-Chancellor, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, was invited as a Chief Guest at the concluding session. At the end, Prof Dr Yearul Kabir, Co-organizing Secretary, 23rd SCAC gave Vote of Thanks to all the conference participants, visiting delegates and invited speakers.
This event brought together a diverse group of scientists, experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss the transformative impact of emerging technologies on society, economy, and governance; and to explore how the Fourth Industrial Revolution (driven by AI, robotics, IoT, blockchain, and other technologies) will shape the future, both globally and locally.
