 | Mr. Koichiro Matsuura
Director General, UNESCO |
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Mr. Koichiro Matsuura graduated from the Faculty of Law, Tokyo in 1959 and the Faculty of Economics, Haverford College , USA in 1961. Prior to joining UNESCO as Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee in 1998, he held various positions with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, culminating as Japanese Ambassador to France (concurrently to Andorra and Djibouti ). Mr. Matsuura was elected for a six-year term on 15 November 1999 and re-elected for a second four-year term on 12 October 2005 as Director General of UNESCO. |
| |  | Dr. Raj Reddy
Mozah Bint Nasser University Professor of Computer Science and Robotics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh | | View Abstract | | View Speech |
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Dr. Raj Reddy is University Professor of Computer Science and Robotics in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University . He began his academic career as an Assistant Professor at Stanford in 1966 and has been a member of the Carnegie Mellon faculty since 1969. He served as the founding Director of the Robotics Institute from 1979 to 1991 and the Dean of School of Computer Science from 1991 to 1999. Dr. Reddy's research interests include the study of human-computer interaction and artificial intelligence. His current research projects include Million Book Digital Library Project; PCtvt: an Information Appliance for rural environments (PC, TV, PVR, Video Phone, Audio Phone all in one) for use by illiterate people; FTTV: Fiber To The Village Project; Mobile Autonomous Robots; and Learning by Doing. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academyof Arts and Sciences. He was president of the American Association for Artificial Intelligence from 1987 to 1989. Dr. Reddy was awarded the Legion of Honor by President Mitterand of Francein 1984. He was awarded the ACM Turing Award in 1994, the Okawa Prize in 2004, and the Honda Prize in 2005. He served as co-chair of the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee (PITAC) from 1999 to 2001 under the Clinton Administration. |
| | Dr. Mir Asghar Husain is the Director of Education Policies and Strategies in UNESCO, Paris(1999-2006). Prior to that, he was Director for Development, Priority Africa Department, UNESCO Coordinator, and UN Special Initiative for Africa(1995-1999). Dr. Husain was a coordinator of education systems reform in the Arab region, Central Europe andAsia .
He has been employed by UNESCO since 1977 for different field posts in Africa , Asia , the Arab countries and UNESCO Headquarters in Paris . He was also a lecturer in Education Planning for post-graduate students at the University of Paris . He has participated in renovation of rural schools, literacy, non-formal and women's education in India . Dr. Husain holds an MS degree in Education and Development, a post graduate degree in Education Planning, and a PhD degree in Economics of Education and Human Resource Development from SorbonneUniversityinParis . Dr. Husain is a member of the European Union's Commission on Resources for Education. | | | Dr. Nour Dajani is currently Programme Specialist, Literacy and Non-Formal Education, UNESCO Regional Office, Beirutsince 1996. Prior to that she was Programme Specialist, Literacy and Non-Formal Education, UNESCO Regional Office, Amman . Dr. Dajani was Director of Health, Education and Social Development Department at the Ministry of Occupied Territories, Ammanand Director of Economic Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amman(1985-1992). Dr. Dajani holds an MA Degree and a PhD Degree in Social Science fromSyracuse University,USA . She also attained an MS Degree in Rural Sociology from the American University of Beirut . Dr. Dajani has taken part in many consultations for UN's ESCWA, FAO and IFAD organizations and for the Canadian Development Agency. |
| Dr. Patricio Lopez list has worked for over 30 years in Tecnológico de Monterrey, Dean of Science and Humanities (1985-1997), Vice-president for Information Technologies and International Programs (1997-2002) and President of the Virtual University since 2002. Dr. Lopez holds an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Tecnológico de Monterrey, and Graduate Degrees in Business Administration and Computer Science from Tecnológico de Monterrey and Imperial College, London. |
| Ms. May Rihani is the Senior Vice President and Director, Global Learning Group and Director, Center for Gender Equity at the Academy for Educational Development. Ms. Rihani studied at the American University of Beirut where she took MA courses in Political Science. Her expertise is girls' education; basic education; women's issues; gender equity; community participation; social mobilization in support of education and she is known for designing flagship projects in these fields. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Rihani held the position of Senior Vice President, Creative Associates International and Vice President, TransCentury Foundation. Ms. Rihani has worked in several countries including Benin , Congo , Egypt , Ghana , Guinea , Jordan , Lebanon , Lesotho , and Liberia , to name but a few. Her publications include "Learning for the Twenty-First Century: Strategies for Improving Girls' Education in the Middle EastandNorth Africa," UNICEF, 1993. She is also the Co-author of "Forward Looking Strategies on Education" for the 1995 Beijing Women's Conference. |  | Dr. Anna Karola
Director, The Learning Center, Qatar Foundation | | View Abstract |
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Dr. Anna Karola is currently the Director of The Learning Center, a small international school devoted to working with students of average to above intellectual ability and who are experiencing academic difficulties. The mission of the school is to work with students in the 1st through 12th grades and to teach them compensatory skills allowing them to successfully pursue advanced training and education. Dr. Karola is an educational psychologist who received her PhD in Educational Administration and Educational Psychology from The Union Institute and University. She has worked in the Middle East for thirteen years, having started in Kuwaitas a founding member of Fawzia Sultan International School, also devoted to working with students having academic problems. Dr. Karola has been involved in the field of education for over 35 years, as a classroom teacher as well as a school counselor and psychologist. Her Doctoral work concentrated primarily in the area of Learned Helplessness within a cultural context. Her work as an educational psychologist has been in the effective evaluation of students who do not speak English. | H. Thomas Hickerson's information technologies role includes direction of the Division of Digital Library and Information Technologies, with general responsibility for library systems operation, digital library development, and scholarly communication. Mr. Hickerson was named 2001 Computerworld Honors Program Laureate in recognition of his contributions to the use of information technologies for the benefit of society. His special collections responsibilities include oversight for the Library's principal rare book and manuscript programs, and he directed the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections from 1992 through 1998. He is a Fellow and recent President of the Society of American Archivists and has also served as a member of the Executive Committee of the International Council on Archives. |
 | Dr. Joel M. Smith
Vice Provost and Chief Information Officer for Computing Services Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh | | View Abstract | | View Speech |
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Dr. Joel M. Smith is the Vice Provost and Chief Information Officer of Carnegie Mellon University. He also directs the Office of Technology for Education. Dr. Smith had directed academic and administrative computing at a number of institutions of higher education including Allegheny College, The Claremont Graduate University, MiraCosta College, and Carnegie Mellon.
He holds a Ph.D. from the History and Philosophy of Science Department at the Universityof Pittsburgh and a M.S. and B.S. degrees in physics from BaylorUniversity. He has held various academic appointments in philosophy of science at Carnegie Mellon, the University of California at San Diego, Indiana University, The Claremont Graduate University, and AlleghenyCollege. Dr. Smith has been involved in technology enhanced learning projects since 1990.
He is currently the principle investigator in charge of the Open Learning Initiative, a project at Carnegie Mellon, funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, to develop demonstrably effective online courses through the application of design principles and practices from cognitive science. Dr. Smith serves on advisory boards for Intel Corporation, Apple Computer, Campus Technologies magazine, and Harvard University. | | |
 | Dr. Anders Linde-Laursen
Virginia Commonwealth University, USA | | View Abstract |
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Dr. Anders Linde-Laursen is currently Assistant Professor of Anthropology and International Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia, United States. Dr. Linde-Laursen's research ranges from intimate details of everyday life such as dishwashing to discursive understandings of what "belonging" means. During the last ten years, Dr. Linde-Laursen has worked with ways in which the internet can be employed to engage students outside the classroom and to create links between students in different parts of the world. Dr. Linde-Laursen has authored three books, edited five published volumes, and written many book chapters and articles. |
| |  | Dr. Mohammed Samaka
Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Qatar University | | View Abstract | | View Speech |
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Dr. Samaka's number one area of interest is E-Learning. Over the years of his academic career, he has been intensively involved in several research, and development activities associated to this area. They include chairing the steering committee of the International E-Learning Symposium that was held in Dubaion May 2002. Dr. Samaka has major referred publications in Education and Technology, most recent of which are: "Using a Faculty Portfolio In The Distinction Of Teaching", journal of ACM, June 2005, "Developing a Distributed Internet-based PBL Environment Using Java Beans, CORBA and JDBC", the Annual Review of Communications, International Engineering Consortium, June 2002, USA, and "Changing A Computer Science Curriculum In the light of IEEE/ACM CC2001", journal of ACM, December 2002. |
| | Dr. Ian Weber is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at Texas A&M University . His research focuses on new media technologies and civil society, digital television, China 's media development, and education portals and learning communities. Dr. Weber has completed a pilot study in the Department of Communication, titled "Assessing Weblogs as Education Portals". He is currently designing a portal template to assist in the delivery of 106 currently offered "Writing Intensive" courses at Texas A&M University for 3,000 students. |
| | Dr. Bahaa Darwish is Associate Professor, Philosophy Program, Department of Humanities, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University . Dr. Darwish participated in numerous local, regional and international conferences covering a wide range of philosophical issues in: Theory of knowledge, Philosophy of mind, Philosophy of language, Logic, Critical thinking bio-ethics and Ethics of science and technology. So far, Dr. Darwish has published seven books, his most recent published book (2005) is his translation of Alfred J. Ayer's book " Philosophy in the Twentieth Century " preceded by a study on " Ayer's philosophical position in the 20th Century " . |
Dr. Colin Hannaford was a head of mathematics, lately also of ethics, in one of the 12 official European Schools of the European Union for 25 years. There he developed a method of learning mathematics named after the famous Greek thinker Socrates. This method of learning can eliminate inattention and disruption in the classroom. It produces an unequalled degree of interest and co-operation amongst students. In addition, it is excellent training in democratic habits and responses. Dr. Hannaford believes that: "discussing mathematical ideas can demonstrate the value of listening critically to different interpretations and then choosing the most convincing. This is how democracy works. Mathematics is its metaphor". | | | Dr. Hani Q. Khoury is an Associate Professor of Mathematics and Chair of the Mathematics and Science Department at Mercer University 's College of Continuing and Professional Studies (Macon and Atlanta , Georgia , USA ). Dr. Khoury was recently appointed by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission to serve as a content advisory committee member to assist in the development of a new assessment program for individuals seeking educator certification in the area of mathematics in the State of Georgia . |
| | Dr. Eva Vasarheyli has a wide experience of teaching between ages 10 to 18 years and pre-service teacher training students. She has given lectures and seminars for students, teachers and PhD students in Geometry, Informatics and Didactics of Mathematics. Dr. Vasarheyli has been working for the last 10 years on research for the Austro-Hungarian Analogy Project. She has participated in several international and Hungarian conferences, in particular her participation in the Democracy session at the Salzburg Seminar in cooperation with the Garden of democracy. Dr. Vasarheyli is a member of: the Bolyai János Mathematical Society, the German Society of Didactics of Mathematics, and the European Mathematical Society's didactical committee. She has edited 5 books and written 50 publications in scientific journals. |
| | Dr. Ilham Yousef Al-Qaradawi received her B.Sc. in Physics (Hon.) from Qatar University and her M.Sc. in Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics from University of Londonand Ph.D. in Positron Physics from University of London in 1991. She joined QatarUniversity in 1981 as a teaching assistant and is currently associate professor of nuclear physics at the same university. Dr. Al-Qaradawi has attended a large number of conferences and workshops worldwide and organized an international conference on slow positron beams in 2005 and many local conferences. She is a member of many distinguished international societies, she refereed articles in many reputable journals and she was also awarded the British Chevening Scholarship in 1998. Her research interests are mainly in the area of material science particularly using positron annihilation techniques. She has a large number of publications in this field. She has also been involved in research in the area of environmental radiation physics such as radon concentration studies and measurement of natural radioactivity in soil, water, etc. She is involved in many research projects and collaborations on local, regional and international levels. She has built the first variable energy slow positron beam in theMiddle East. She has been awarded the UniversityofQataraward for excellence in research for 2004. Dr. Al-Qaradawi is the founder of the Qatar Physics Society; a body that she hopes will be responsible for spreading physics awareness and improving physics education. For these efforts she was honored by the Arab World Institute in Parisin 2005. |
| |  | Dr. Benjamin Barber
A Distinguished University Professor of Maryland, Director of The Democratic Collaborative, New York Office | | View Abstract |
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Dr. Benjamin Barber has combined a career as a distinguished scholar and political theorist with a life of practical commitment to democratic civic practices and the arts that has given him widespread experience as a fundraiser, administrator, public speaker, educational and political consultant and television and theater writer. As a scholar with a Ph.D. in Government from Harvard University , he has taught at the University of Pennsylvania , Haverford College , Princeton University , The City University of New York, Rutgers University and the University of Maryland .
He has won Guggenheim, Fulbright and American Council of Learned Society fellowships, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from GrinnellCollege, and received the Palmes Academiques (Chevalier) from the French Government and the Berlin Prize of the American Academy of Berlin . |  | HH. Sheikha Mayassa Bint Hamad Al Thani
Chairperson, Reach Out To Asia Initiative | | View Abstract |
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Her Highness, Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani is the daughter to the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned. Sheikha Mayassa attended both primary and secondary schools in Doha, and read a double major BA in Political Science and Literature from Duke University in the USA. Sheikha Mayassa presently holds the position of Chairperson, Reach Out To Asia NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) under Qatar Foundation, that contributes to the development of societies in Asia, including the Middle East, with specific emphasis on improving both primary and secondary education quality, in addition to achieving some of the UNESCO's Education For All (EFA) and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). She is also Chairperson for the Foundation of Museums in Qatar, and Assistant to the Chief-of-Staff at the Emiri Diwan. Prior to her current work, Sheikha Mayassa's humanitarian endeavors have been an integral part of her life. Since 1997 till present, Sheikha Mayassa has raised money for the Palestinian cause. She has organized a diabetes camp in the Gulf countries. During 2000-01, she managed to raise funds for a Cambodian charity. In 2003, she worked closely with Qatar's Red Crescent Organization and raised funds for the provision of clothes and school equipment to Iraqi children. Furthermore, Sheikha Mayassa has always played an active role in international affairs - from the Arab Relations department at UNESCO in 2002, to the vice- president of both HIWAR and the International Association at Duke University. Additionally, from 2003 to 2004, Sheikha Mayassa was the class representative to the administration of Science Po in Sorbonne, Paris and worked at Canal J, the Pan Arabic channel of Qatar (Children TV)where she gained working knowledge on the process and functions of a radio station. | Dr. Omar Bizri has recently retired as Chief of the Information and Communications Division in the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), where he served since 1993. Before joining ESCWA, Dr. Bizri was the Director of Research and Assistant Director General at the Scientific Studies and Research Centre in Damascus , Syria . Dr. Bizri is a spectroscopist, by training and obtained his B.Sc. (Honours) and Ph.D. Degrees from LondonUniversity , Queen Mary and BedfordColleges , respectively. During 1984 - 1987, Dr. Bizri took an active part in a major regional project launched by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization to formulate a pan-Arab strategy for technology development. Dr. Bizri has contributed to national and regional efforts aimed at the formulation of science and technology policies. He is particularly interested in promoting new technologies, with emphasis on information and communications technologies (ICTs), selected new materials technologies and biotechnologies with particular promise for sustainable development. More recently he has helped initiate the design and implementation of field projects aimed at the delivery of integrated modern technology solutions to impoverished communities in the ESCWA member countries with the aim of enterprise creation and poverty reduction. |
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Mr. Andrew Scott is the Director of Policy and Programmes, Practical Action, UK . He has worked for ITDG/Practical Action for more than twenty years, and is currently responsible for the overall direction of the organization's research and advocacy programs. A graduate of the University of Edinburgh , Mr. Scott's educational background is in economics, though he worked extensively in the social sciences field. His own work has focused on concepts relating to science, technology & development, small enterprises and the environment, and the development impacts of modern new technologies. Mr. Scott worked in a number of countries including Botswana , Kenya , Zimbabwe , Malawi , Sri Lanka , India , Nepal and Peru .
|  | Mr. Jonathan Murray
World Wide Public Sector Technology Officer, Microsoft Corporation | | View Abstract |
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As Public Sector Technology Officer, Mr. Jonathan Murray leads Microsoft's World Wide Technology Officer Network. This group of senior technology policy specialists drives Microsoft's engagement with government and academic leaders concerning the future direction of high impact technologies and the implication of these trends on government's social and economic policy agendas. Through these engagements, Mr. Murray and his team work to ensure that the unique needs of government and public sector organizations are increasingly reflected in Microsoft's technology and development strategies. The network ensures that the expertise and engagement experience of the Microsoft's technology officers is shared globally for the benefit of public sector policy makers around the world. Mr. Murray writes on technology policy issues at http://www.technologypolicyblog.com
Prior to his current role, Mr. Murray spent 10 years at Microsoft's corporate headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Most recently he held the position of Vice President of Global Accounts; an organization which he founded in 2000. The Global Accounts Organization is responsible for managing the relationship with Microsoft's fifty largest global customers. He held this position for three years prior to moving into his current role. He joined Microsoft in July 1994 as marketing manager in the Worldwide Enterprise Technical Marketing organization and subsequently held the positions of group manager, director and then general manager of this organization until May 1999 when he became general manager of the Microsoft's Customer and Partner Satisfaction organization. Prior to joining Microsoft, Mr. Murray spent five years with ARCO International Oil and Gas as a technology strategist. He was responsible for information technology projects aimed at improving organizational effectiveness though improved collaboration and knowledge sharing. he previously worked for Scientific Software Intercomp (SSI), an oil industry consulting company, and for Logica, one of the UK's leading systems integration companies, on various large-scale systems projects. Mr. Murray was born in the United Kingdom and is a keen amateur photographer and astronomer. He graduated in 1984 from Kingston Polytechnic in the UK with a Bachelor of Science. |
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Dr.M. Bernardine Dias, Research Scientist, is a faculty member in the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science. She earned her B.A. from Hamilton College, Clinton NY, with a dual concentration in Physics and Computer Science and a minor in Women's Studies in 1998, followed by an M.S. (2000) and Ph.D. (2004) in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Dias has research experience in technology education, autonomous human-robot team coordination, automated navigation, and innovative sensing. She also has teaching experience in robotics, computer science, physics, and in the liberal arts. A native of Sri Lanka, Dr. Dias founded and directs the TechBridgeWorld initiative (www.techbridgeworld.org) that enables research and development in computing technology relevant to, and in partnership with, developing communities throughout the globe. She also has a strong interest in encouraging women in computing and in science, and is a founding member of Women@SCS (www.women.cs.cmu.edu). |  | Mr. Mahmoud Bouneb
Executive General Manager, Al Jazeera Children's Channel | | View Abstract |
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Mr. Mahmoud Bouneb is the Executive General Manager of Al Jazeera Children's Channel, is a veteran broadcaster with more than 25 years experience of international journalism and media.
Mr. Bouneb came to prominence in 1979 when he began a series of high profile roles that soon established him as an international media expert. The positions varied from Press Advisor in Iraq to Head of Communication and Press at the League of Arab States' office in Ottawa, Canada. He then moved to Switzerland with the assignment of Editor in the International Department at the Swiss Radio and TV Corporation and subsequently took on the role of Chief Editor of Arab Programmes for Dutch International Radio and Television NOS. Mr. Bouneb was later appointed head of the Arab Service at the Swiss Radio International, where he stayed for more than seven years.
In the late Nineties, Mr. Bouneb moved to the Middle East and became Advisor to the Chairman of Board of Al Jazeera Channel and President of Qatar Radio and TV Corporation. In 2003, he was appointed Executive General Manager for Al Jazeera Children's Channel, a project he had been working on for the previous two years.
Mr. Bouneb is a holder of a Masters degree in Literature and Civilization from The Sorbonne University. | | | Dr. Abdulla Al-Najjar is Assistant Professor, Department of Basic Science at the University of Sharjah and since 2000, has been President of the Arab Science and Technology Foundation. He received a B.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics from the UAE University in 1982 and was awarded a PhD in Applied Physics and Solar Cells from Durham University , UK in 1992. His research interests include thin film solar cells fabrication, materials and device characterization techniques, electrical properties of new and advanced materials, and solar energy applications. | | Ms. Sabah Al Haidous holds a B.Sc. degree in Mathematics and Physics from Qatar University and has a number of diplomas. She has worked as a Mathematics teacher for secondary levels for 14 years. Ms. Al Haidous has many contributions in Qatar. She is founder of many educational complexes and was a member of the control board for these educational complexes. She was later on a Principal for Al-Bayan Educational Complex. Ms. Haidous has been appointed as Director Educational Institute for the Supreme Education Council since 2004. | | | Dr. Sulieman Sulieman has been Program Specialist for the Technical-Vocational Education (TVE), at UNESCO, Paris since September 1993. He is Responsible for advisement, planning and implementation of TVET - UNEVOC activities in the Arab States (22 Countries), as part of UNESCO's International Program on TVET. Responsibilities also include coordination of TVET - UNEVOC Regional Network (40 Institutes), and implementation of Operational Projects on TVET - HRD, as part of the UN System regional and international cooperation for development.Dr. Sulieman's professional experience includes working in education, training, and HRD as Assistant Professor-Researcher, Technical Training Expert, and Quality Assurance Inspector/Technician in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and USA. Dr. Sulieman's research and publications include several texts, papers, documents, and articles on current issues of education, training and TVET-HRD in the Arab States and other countries. Dr. Sulieman holds an MS degree Industrial Professional Technology and PhD degree in Curriculum and Instruction: Industrial Technology Education from Indiana State University, USA. He is a member of the Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and the Arab Council for Gifted and Talented (ACGT). |
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