[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 168 (Wednesday, October 23, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MALTA CONFERENCES

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 23, 2019

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the greatest 
example of science diplomacy, the Malta Conferences, their founder and 
president Professor Zafra Lerman, and the important work that the 
conferences facilitate. This year marks the ninth meeting of the Malta 
Conferences. The conferences help identify unique opportunities for 
collaboration to meet the scientific and technological challenges of 
the Middle East region. In the Malta Conferences, the common language 
of science is used for science diplomacy, which serves as a bridge to 
peace, tolerance and understanding.
  These peace congresses have made it possible for scientists from 
countries that are often on opposing sides of political and cultural 
conflicts to meet in a politically neutral environment, where they can 
collaborate on solving regional problems, and forge relationships that 
bridge deep chasms of mistrust and intolerance. These unique gatherings 
draw scientists from many Middle East countries, including Bahrain, 
Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, 
Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey and the United Arab 
Emirates.
  In each of the Malta Conferences, Middle East scientists meet with 
science Nobel Laureates to catalyze enduring collaborations on 
scientific and technological problems, including water scarcity, 
environmental degradation, nuclear and chemical security, science and 
technology education for all, energy, and climate change.
  The founder and president of the Malta Conferences, Professor Zafra 
Lerman, is my friend and constituent. Professor Lerman is a life-long 
champion for human rights, freedom, and peace. For more than four 
decades, she has worked tirelessly to promote peace and justice around 
the globe, especially among nations whose governments are hostile to 
one another.
  Professor Lerman has received over 40 international awards, including 
the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and 
Engineering Mentoring from President Clinton, the Royal Society of 
Chemistry Nyholm Education Award, the American Chemical Society George 
C. Pimentel Award, the American Association for the Advancement of 
Science (AAAS) Award for Science and Diplomacy, the American Physical 
Society Andrei Sakharov Prize, and the UN NOVUS Summit Peace and 
Justice Award. Professor Lerman received her bachelor's and master's 
degrees in chemistry at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, and 
her Ph.D. from the Weizmann Institute of Science.
  Despite many obstacles to success, the Malta Conferences have 
developed several avenues for change: Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Egypt, 
and Kuwait formed a working group on Drinking Water Quality Assessment 
in the Middle East; Palestinian students from Al Quds University in 
Palestine are pursuing PhD studies at Weizmann Institute of Science in 
Israel; a women's group was formed in order to empower women scientists 
across the region, and encourage young girls to pursue careers in STEM; 
and a unified science curriculum for the Middle East is being developed 
which will include climate change, chemistry, nuclear security, and 
ethics. More than 700 Middle East scientists and 15 Nobel Laureates are 
now in the network.
  I would like to thank Professor Zafra Lerman and the Malta 
Conferences for their continued hard work to bring peace to the Middle 
East.

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