Tamara Al-Zain Delivers Opening Lecture at UNESCO Conference in Paris

Environment Minister Tamara Al-Zain traveled to Paris in response to an invitation from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to deliver the opening lecture at the fourth Conference of Senior Science Advisors (CSAR), held on November 10 in the French capital under the theme: "Science, Power and Accountability in an Era of Plural Truths."

The invitation to Al-Zain stems from her experience combining research, science policy, and government work, along with her expertise in linking these fields. This allows for highlighting the challenges facing scientific advisory systems and the role of scientific evidence in guiding public policies and decision-making, as noted by UNESCO in its invitation.

This experience is based on a scientific and academic career in nuclear chemical sciences, during which she obtained two patents, participation in several international scientific councils, and serving as Secretary General of the National Council for Scientific Research, culminating in her appointment as Minister of Environment. She also chaired the Science Commission at the UNESCO General Conference in 2023.

In her lecture, Al-Zain will discuss her experience working at the intersection of science and public policy, balancing interests and evaluating scientific evidence, and lessons learned from her career in scientific research, scientific institutions, and government work, particularly in addressing environmental challenges in the Lebanese context.

She will also address her experience as a woman in male-dominated circles, and the challenges this experience poses in both the scientific and governmental fields.