The Yemeni Researchers and Experts Conference is a pioneering academic event organized by Tawakkol Karman Foundation, to be held in Istanbul from October 11 to 12, 2025.
The conference stems from a deep conviction that scientific research is the most vital pillar for shaping a mature public discourse and providing practical solutions to the challenges Yemen faces. Its aim is to create an independent intellectual space that highlights academic voices capable of analyzing issues with a methodical and impartial approach, free from political and sectarian polarization.
The conference also seeks to generate referential knowledge that can be shared, documented, and serve as a reliable information platform for researchers and those interested in Yemeni affairs. It operates within a purely voluntary framework, driven by the efforts of Yemenis themselves.
A distinguished group of Yemeni academics and experts from inside and outside Yemen will participate, addressing pivotal developmental issues such as health, education, identity, environment, food, and the economy.
The organizers hope this initiative will pave the way for the desired national change and entrench a culture of dialogue grounded in knowledge and evidence, serving Yemen’s present and future, its land and its people.

1. Contributing to reframing the discussion reframe the public discourse in Yemen by grounding it in objective scientific methodologies, away from populist or divided political rhetoric.

2. Analyze Yemeni problems with academic tools and research methodologies to produce actionable recommendations that contribute to sustainable change.

3. Generate reliable reference content in development fields (health, education, identity, environment, food, economy) to enrich the research landscape on Yemeni affairs.

4. Establish a sustainable information platform that serves researchers and stakeholders, built on the voluntary efforts of the Yemeni community.

5. Promote a culture of scientific research as a tool to understand reality and guide policy, by engaging the academic elite in shaping Yemen’s future.

6. Build bridges of trust and cooperation between Yemeni researchers inside and outside the country through a unifying meeting aimed at exchanging expertise and complementing efforts.

7. Present qualified research voices to lead the public debate on Yemeni issues through an academic and professionally responsible lens.

Dr. Marwan Abdulghafor

Consultant in Cardiology and Director of the Cardiac Device Implantation Unit at St. Peter’s Academic Hospital, Wuppertal, Germany. Faculty member at Taiz University. Holds a PhD from the University of Duisburg-Essen.

Dr. Abdulghani Gaghman

Petroleum expert and consultant in natural resource development. Holds a PhD in governance and sustainable development. Researcher in governance, sustainability, and post-conflict reconstruction.

Dr. Borhan Radman

Researcher and academic at the Faculty of Medicine – University of Tübingen, specializing in molecular medicine and cancer research. Holds a master’s degree from the University of Jena and a PhD from Heidelberg University, Germany. Former researcher at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Dr. Tamara Al-Hakimi 

Faculty member – Department of Economics, Taiz University. Holds a PhD in Economics.

Dr. Nada Qanbar

Researcher and specialist in audiovisual translation. Holds a PhD in sociolinguistics. Her research focuses on the intersection of feminist theory, language, and translation.

  Dr. Ali Al-Kazmi

Researcher and academic in data science and artificial intelligence at the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.