Chetsanga (PhD Univ. of Toronto, 1969; postdoc fellow, Harvard Univ., 1969-72) is prof. of Biochemistry at the Univ. of Zimbabwe, Harare since 1983 and former chair of the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education and the Zimbabwe Research and Intellectual Exposition Program (2009-2016). Previous positions include: inaugural Dir. Gen., Scientific and Industrial Research Centre (1993-03); pro-vice chancellor, Univ. of Zimbabwe, Harare (1991-93); member, UNESCO Exec. Board (1996-99); pres., Zimbabwe Acad. of Sciences (2004-2010); prof. of Biochemistry, Univ. of Michigan (1972-83). He is a member of African Academy of Sciences and American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. His honours include: President’s Award for Distinguished Contribution to Science and Technology (1990); honorary D.Sc. degrees (2000, 2010).

Ghassib is professor of theoretical physics at the University of Jordan. After obtaining a PhD in physics and completing postdoctoral work at Manchester University, he returned to Jordan in late 1975. Since then he has worked in various capacities at the University of Jordan and other institutions, including the Arab Thought Forum, Majlis El Hassan and the newspaper AL ARAB AL YAWM. His honors and awards include: Abdul Hameed Shoman Prize for Young Arab Scientists in Fundamental Sciences, Amman, 1986; Al-Hussein Order of Merit for Distinguished Contribution, 2nd order, 1998; and 1st order, 2000; Distinguished Researcher Prize, The University of Jordan, 2011. He is a member of the Jordan Academy of Arabic (1984-) and the New York Academy of Sciences (1981).

Kayanja is chancellor of Gulu University in Uganda. Doubly qualified in veterinary and human medicine, he attended undergraduate courses at the Universities of London and Oxford, was a postdoctoral researcher at the Nuffied Orthopaedic Unit, University of Oxford, and obtained his PhD from the University of Cambridge, UK. He has received an honorary causa doctorate and was a gold medalist of the Royal College Medical Association. He was also awarded The Commendeur de l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques by the Republic of France and the Science Research Excellence Award of the Republic of Uganda. He is a member of the African Academy of Sciences and the Uganda National Academy of Sciences. Research interests: Mammalian reproduction; the vascular role in osteogenesis; Zoonotic diseases; Ecology and the Environment.

Professor Moncada’s scientific career began at the Royal College of Surgeons, where he was part of the team that discovered the mechanism of action of aspirin-like drugs, thus explaining how they act to relieve pain, control temperature, reduce inflammation and cause gastric damage. During his time at the Wellcome Research Laboratories he led the team that discovered thromboxane synthase and the vasodilator prostacyclin. This work is the basis for the understanding of how low doses of aspirin prevent cardiovascular cardiovascular disease and events such as heart attacks and strokes. In the 1980’s he discovered nitric oxide as a biological mediator, the mechanism of its biosynthesis and many of its biological functions. As Director of Research at Wellcome, he also presided over the work that resulted in the development of several new medicines, including Lamotrigine, Atovaquone, Somig and La

Rodríguez-Iturbe is Distinuguished University Professor at Texas A&M University and James S. McDonnell Dist. Univ. Professor Emeritus at Princeton University. He is author of over 300 papers in international journals and 3 books. His memberships include: US National Academy of Sciences, US National Academy of Engineering, Pontifical Vatican Academy of Sciences, Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences, Mexican Academy of Engineering, Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti. His awards include: Stockholm Water Prize, Prince Sultan Abdulaziz Water Prize, Bowie Medal, Horton and Macelwane Medals, American Geophysical Union; Langbein Lecture, AGU; Huber Prize and VT Chow Award, American Society of Civil Engineers; Horton Lecture Award, American Meteorological Society; Premio Mexico of Science and Technology; National Science Prize of Venezuela; and Honorary Degrees from the universities of Genova, Cantabria and Zulia.

Youdeowei (PhD in agric. entomol., U. of London) is a consultant and IPM specialist for Global IPM Facility, FAO Reg. Office for Africa, Accra, Ghana, and World Bank, Washington, DC, USA. He is also Dir., Pesticides Action Ntwrk UK; Dir., West Africa Book Publ. Ltd, Nigeria, Vis. Prof., U. of Greenwich, UK in Capacity Strengthening for Afr. Agric. Research. He was: Dean, Fac. of agriculture and forestry, 1976-79; act. vice chanc., 1978, U. of Ibadan, Nigeria ; research associate, Intl. Ctr. for Insect Physiology and Ecol., Nairobi, 1973-77; sci. coord., ICIPE/UNEP Group, Pest and Vector Mngmnt. System, 1978-82; and dir., Training and Communications, West Africa Rice Devlpmnt. Assocn., Côte d’Ivoire, 1990-97. He is a founding fellow of: African Acad. of Sciences; Science Assocn. of Nigeria; Entomol. Soc. of Nigeria; Royal Entomol. Soc., London. Winner Intl. Plant Protection Award of Distinction, IPPAD 2015

Lee received his B.S. degree from the National Taiwan University in 1959 and Doctorate from UC Berkeley in 1965. After working with Professor Mahan at Berkeley and Professor Herschbach at Harvard as a post-doctoral fellow, he was appointed Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago in 1968. He returned to Berkeley as Professor of Chemistry in 1974. He was University Professor and Principal Investigator at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, UC Berkeley, before he returned to Taiwan to serve as the President of Academia Sinica from 1994 to 2006, the highest ranking academic institution in Taiwan. He was elected President of the International Council for Science (ICSU) in 2008 and served from 2011 to 2014. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and Doctor Honoris Causa from 41 universities throughout the world.

Andriambololona (PhD, CNRS, France, 1967) is former founding director general of the National Institute for Nuclear Sciences and Technologies (INSTN), Madagascar. He returned to Madagascar in 1968. He was former member of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); scientific adviser to the President, Madagascar Republic; national coordinator for African regional Agreement (AFRA) in Nuclear Energy since 1989; and developer of INSTN (1992). He was awarded the Grand Croix de l’Ordre National Malgache and Commandeur de l’Ordre de Mérite de Madagascar. He is former founding vice president of the African Academy of Sciences, member of Académie Malgache, founding president TWAS Madagascar Chapter and part of many other professional associations including the IAEA and Intl. Radiation Protection Assoc. Executive President of Commission Raoelina Andriambololona pour la Nanotechnologie (CORANANO) (2013). Member of International Energy Foundation. Former member of Pan African-Pugwash Group. Member of Society of African Physicists and Mathematicians (Accra, Ghana).

Hassan is currently president of Sudanese National Academy of Sciences. He was professor and dean of the Faculty of Mathematical Sciences, University of Khartoum; chairman of the International Advisory Board of the Centre for International Development, Germany; president of the InterAcademy Partnership; founding executive director and president of TWAS; president of the African Academy of Sciences; founding president of the Network of African Science Academies; chairman of the Council of the United Nations University; chairman, Honorary Presidential Advisory Council for Science and Technology, Nigeria. Among his honours: comendator, Grand Cross, and National Order of Scientific Merit, Brazil; and officer, Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. He is a recipient of G77 Leadership Award and the Abdus Salam Medal for Science and Technology. He is a member of several merit-based academies of science, which include Pakistan Academy of Sciences; Academy of Sciences of South Africa; the Pontifical Academy of Sciences; Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology; the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; and the Royal Society.

Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, PhD organic chemistry Cambridge University (1968), 1608 international publications in organic chemistry ( 399 books (11 authored,388 edited) , 875 research publications, 91 international patents and 70 book chapters. Editor-in-Chief of six European chemistry journals, Editor of Studies in Natural Product Chemistry (89 volumes, Elsevier). h-index 84,Citations 44,990, UNESCO Science Prize (1999), Fellow of Royal Society (London,UK)( 2006). Honorary doctorate degrees : Cambridge University (UK) (1987), Coventry University (UK) Bradford University (UK). Honorary Life Fellow Kings College Cambridge, High Civil Award of Austria (“Große Golden Ehrenzeischen am Bande) (2007). Vice President (TWAS). TWAS Prize for Institution Building (Durban,2009), President NASIC (Network of Academies of Science of Islamic Countries) (2003-present). Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences; highest International Science Technology Collaboration Award by President of China. Institutions in China and Malaysia named after him ( https://aurins.uitm and http://cpecinfo.com/hunan-university); President Pakistan Academy of Sciences (twice), Coordinator General COMSTECH (1996-2012)

Touré is currently Vice-President of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) for the advancement of science in developing countries, representing the African Region. He is a founding and active member of the Senegalese National Academy of Science and the African Academy of Science. He served as scientist and science manager for 32 years, respectively in the Senegalese agricultural research system (1974-1988) at the Work Bank and at the Global Environment Facility headquarters in Washington, D.C. (1989-2006). He was educated at the University of Orleans (B.Sc.), and the University of Rennes (M.Sc and PhD in agronomy and soil sciences), France. As a researcher, Touré worked in the fields of agronomy, soil chemistry, desertification and sustainable land management. As a science manager, he was instrumental in the design and management of the nascent Senegalese agricultural research system. He spearheaded the establishment of regional collaborative platforms at both sub-regional and continental levels. Prior to and after retirement, he was actively involved in the discussion and implementation of the SDGs related to the protection of the environment and enhancing livelihoods.