Istanbul will host the Yemeni Researchers and Experts Conference, organized by Tawakkol Karman Foundation from October 11 to 12, with the participation of more than 40 academic and scientific papers addressing Yemen’s development challenges in key sectors including education, health, economy, energy, and identity. The papers will be presented by Yemeni scholars and academics from within Yemen and over 15 countries around the world. More than 200 experts, researchers, and development professionals are expected to attend the conference, which aims to present scientific and practical visions that contribute to shaping realistic solutions to Yemen’s most pressing challenges across various fields.
Misk Al Junaid, Executive Director of Tawakkol Karman Foundation, stated, “This conference seeks to affirm that there is another voice beyond that of politics—the voice of science and knowledge—and that it is essential to listen to it when addressing Yemen’s development challenges and shaping effective solutions.”
She added, “This is the first Yemeni conference of its kind to bring together Yemeni minds and talents from across the country and 15 nations worldwide, contributing over 40 rich academic and scientific studies in diverse fields such as health, education, energy, water, food, economy, environment, technology, agriculture, arts, culture, security, and politics. These efforts aim to chart a roadmap toward development and peace.”
Al Junaid emphasized that through this conference, Tawakkol Karman Foundation seeks to strengthen ties among Yemeni intellectuals inside and outside the country, elevate public discourse around national and developmental issues, and create an independent knowledge space that mitigates polarization while contributing effectively to peacebuilding and sustainable development in Yemen. The conference continues a series of events and forums previously organized by the foundation in Yemen, Türkiye, Europe, and the United States.
Marwan Al-Ghafouri, Yemeni physician, writer, and head of the conference’s scientific committee, said, “The complexity of the Yemeni crisis has surpassed the capacity of politicians alone to manage it.” He added, “It is time to involve the scientific and academic elite in breaking down the crisis into its core elements and addressing each issue independently to build a comprehensive bottom-up understanding of the situation.”
He continued, “While the outlook in Yemen appears bleak, we believe that science and knowledge have the power to illuminate this dark tunnel and open windows toward the light.”
Concluding his remarks, Al-Ghafouri noted, “This conference stems from an old idea: that nations falter when those who know remain silent, and those who do not know keep talking. That’s why we sought out those with knowledge—whether partial or complete—and invited them to speak collectively under one roof in evidence-based discussions aimed at building a foundation for the future.”
Tawakkol Karman Foundation is an international non-governmental organization founded by Tawakkol Abdel-Salam Karman, Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The foundation works to promote peace and sustainable development by empowering communities through education, health, infrastructure, and economic initiatives, while enhancing the role of women and youth in leadership and public life. It places a strong emphasis on democracy, good governance, and human rights as pillars of lasting peace and comprehensive development.
For more details about the conference, please visit our website: https://yre.tkif.org/en/