S. Diop is professor, U. Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal. He was head of the Ecosystems Section, UNEP Division of Early Warning and Assessment, Nairobi, Kenya. He obtained his 3rd cycle doctorate in coastal tropical geomorphology (1978) and his state doctorate in physical geography and coastal geomorphology (1986) at U. Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, France. He was a senior Fulbright scholar at Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, USA (1986-7). He is a member of various expert and working-groups, has more than 40 refereed publications, 5 books as main author and co-author and more than 120 publications such as technical documents, research work, monographs, thesis, abstracts and book reviews. S. Diop is a member of the Natl. Acad. of Sciences and Techniques of Senegal and the African Acad. of Sciences. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Certificate (IPCC 2007).

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.