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Session 1: Harnessing STI for the SDGs –the key to unlocking STI potentials
This session will set the scene for the overall STI Forum and provide elements of a vision on harnessing the potential of STI for sustainable development.

Brief remarks: Co-Chairs of STI Forum (3-minute each)

- H.E. Mr. Macharia Kamau, Co-Chair of STI Forum
- Dr. Vaughan Turekian, Co-Chair of STI Forum

Moderator:

Ms. Elenita Daño, Asia Director, Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration, the Philippines (and TFM 10-Member Group)

Speakers:

- Prof. Indira Nath, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, India
- Prof. Taikan Oki, Senior Vice-Rector, United Nations University
Biographies
Dr. Vaughan Turekian
Named Executive Director of Policy and Global Affairs, USA
Dr. Vaughan Turekian

Named Executive Director of Policy and Global Affairs, USA

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Vaughan C. Turekian to be the Executive Director of the Policy and Global Affairs Division (PGA), effective May 12, 2018.

Dr. Turekian is currently serving a joint appointment as Senior Director of the Program on Science and Technology for Sustainability (STS), a program within PGA for which he was hired August of 2017. Prior to joining the STS program, Dr. Turekian served as the fifth Science and Technology Advisor to the U.S. Secretary of State. In this capacity, he advised the Secretary of State and other senior State Department officials on international environment, science, technology, and health matters affecting the foreign policy of the United States. From 2016 to 2017, he served as a country co-chair, along with the Kenyan Ambassador to the United Nations, for the Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals, a high-level discussion at the United Nations designed to accelerate progress toward globally agreed upon development targets. In 2018, Dr. Turekian was appointed by the U.N. Secretary General as one of the ten international members to promote the role of science, technology, and innovation for achieving for the 17 SDGs.

Dr. Turekian drew upon his background in atmospheric chemistry and extensive policy experience to promote science, technology, and engineering as integral components of U.S. diplomacy. Previously, he was Chief International Officer for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Director of AAAS's Center for Science Diplomacy (2006 - 2015). In this capacity, he worked to build bridges between nations based on shared scientific goals, placing special emphasis on regions where traditional political relationships are strained or do not exist. As Editor-in-Chief of Science & Diplomacy, an online quarterly publication, he published original policy pieces that have served to inform international science policy recommendations. In addition, Dr. Turekian worked at the State Department as a Special Assistant and Advisor to the Under Secretary for Global Affairs (2002 - 2006) on issues related to sustainable development, climate change, environment, energy, science, technology, and health. He also served as Program Director for the Committee on Global Change Research at the National Research Council (2000 - 2002), where he was study director for a White House report on climate change science.

Dr. Turekian holds a B.S. in Geology and Geophysics and International Studies from Yale University and a M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia where he focused on the transport and chemistry of atmospheric aerosols in marine environments. Dr. Turekian not only brings both technical expertise and over 15 years of policy experience to the position, but also a decorated track-record and steadfast commitment to utilizing our nation's capital science and technology innovation to advance the long-term sustainability and U.S. diplomacy.

H.E. Mr. Macharia Kamau
Co-Facilitator of the negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda and Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations
H.E. Mr. Macharia Kamau

Co-Facilitator of the negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda and Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations

Macharia Kamau is the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kenyan Mission to the United Nations. Along with the Irish Ambassador to the United Nations, Mr. Kamau is the cofacilitator for the intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda and was the co-chair of the UN Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Ms. Elenita Daño
Asia Director of ETC Group (Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration), Philippines (Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism and Science & Technology Major Group)
Ms. Elenita Daño

Asia Director of ETC Group (Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration), Philippines (Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism and Science & Technology Major Group)

Elenita “Neth” Daño is Asia Director and Coordinator of the Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration (ETC Group) based in southern Philippines. ETC Group is an international civil society organization that monitors the impacts of new and emerging technologies on marginalized communities, tracks corporate concentration and governance in food and agriculture, and investigates erosion of biodiversity.

Neth earned her bachelor’s degree in Development Studies and graduate degree in Community Development from the University of the Philippines. She has represented environmental non-governmental organizations in the Advisory Board to the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) of the UNFCCC, and in global environmental governance discussions at UN Environment. She was appointed for a two-year term (2016-2017) by the UN Secretary-General in the 10-Member Group that supports the UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism.

Prof. Indira Nath
Professor of Indian National Science Academy, India
Prof. Indira Nath

Professor of Indian National Science Academy, India

Prof. Indira Nath is an Indian immunologist. Her major contribution in medical science deals with mechanisms underlying immune unresponsiveness in man, reactions and nerve damage in leprosy and a search for markers for viability of the Leprosy bacillus. Prof. Nath's fields of specializations are Immunology, Pathology, Medical biotechnology and communicable diseases. Of the numerous people who may contract the leprosy bacillus, not all of them develop the same form of the disease. Among those who develop lepromatous leprosy, its most serious form, Professor Nath identified a deficiency in the immune response system that was causing the disease. This discovery constituted a significant advance towards the development of treatments and vaccines. When Nash started her career in the 1970s India had the largest number of leprosy patients in the world – 4.5 million people. Nath’s work has helped see that number fall to less than 1 million today, with earlier detection and better treatment meaning that the awful disfigurements that were commonplace are now rare. Over these years, she has received a lot of honors. She was elected Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India, Allahabad (1988), Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore (1990), Indian National Science Academy (INSA; 1992), National Academy of Medical Sciences (India) (1992), Royal College of Pathology (1992) and the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) (1995). She was Member, Scientific Advisory Committee to Cabinet, Foreign Secretary INSA (1995–97), Council Member (1992–94, 1998-2006) and Vice President (2001–03) of the National Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad, and Chairperson, Women Scientists Programme, Department of Science and technology, India (2003). She was awarded the Padma Shri by Government of India in 1999, and L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science in 2002.

Prof. Taikan Oki
Senior Vice-Rector, United Nations University, Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations (Japan)
Prof. Taikan Oki

Senior Vice-Rector, United Nations University, Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations (Japan)

Prof. Taikan Oki joined the United Nations University as Senior Vice-Rector on 1 October 2016. His responsibilities include supporting management initiatives UNU-wide and maintaining UNU’s scientific partnership with the University of Tokyo and broader relationships in Japan, including with government ministries and the general public. As UNU Senior Vice-Rector, he holds the post of United Nations Assistant-Secretary-General. Prof. Oki is a prominent researcher on global hydrology and the sustainability of world water resources. He currently works at the Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), University of Tokyo, where he is managing the research group on Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering. His previous academic positions include Associate Professor with IIS (2003–2006); Associate Professor with the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (2002–2003); and Associate Professor (1997–2002), Lecturer (1995–1997), and Research Associate (1989–1995) with IIS. He also served as Deputy Director for Environment and Energy with the Council for Science and Technology Policy, Cabinet Office of Japan (2005–2006). Taikan was also recently appointed as Special Advisor to the President of the University of Tokyo. Prof. Oki holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Tokyo. He has received a number of major awards, most recently the Cultural Publication Award (Japan Society of Civil Engineering, 2014) and the Biwako Prize for Ecology (The Ecological Society of Japan, 2011).

Statements
Statements
Group of 77 and China
Presentations
Prof. Indira Nath, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, India
Prof. Taikan Oki, Senior Vice-Rector, United Nations University
United Nations