News And press

1 October, 2021

Palestine Young Academy (PYA) participated in the second online meeting of Young Academies from around the world took place on 30 September 2021. The meeting was organized by Global young Academy (GYA) and is the largest gathering of young academies so far, with more than 70 representatives from 50 young academies and initiatives.

PYA was represented by both Dr. Sandy Lama, PYA Chairwoman, and Dr. Hazem Elbaz, Co-founder of PYA. The meeting offered a great opportunity for young academy representatives to exchange experiences as well as to discuss successful young academy activities and common challenges.

For further information about the meeting:

Largest-ever online meeting of Young Academies | Global Young Academy

1 July, 2021

Dr Sandy Lama, chairwoman of PYA, participated in the opening session of the training course in writing grant proposals for young Palestinian researchers (GRYPS). This training course aimed to introduce participants to the methodological steps and skills needed to prepare research proposals for projects that need funding, and to enable them to develop and submit their own project proposals to different funding organizations at the end of the training course.

Dr Omar Abu Abed, a member of PYA, joined the team responsible for organizing the training course as a distinguished expert trainer.

Dr. Suha Al-Madbouh, a member of the Executive Committee of PYA, was invited as a keynote speaker during the training session. She gave a presentation on: Recognizing Acceptance of Grant Proposals: What Really Matters! She explained some issues that must be evaluated first before starting to write and submitting the proposal, in order to get a proposal that can compete with other proposals submitted for the desired grant.

Dr Shadi Abudalfa and Dr Hazem Elbaz, both members of PYA, attended the course as participants as well.

PYA was happy to participate in this training course and provide support for Palestinian researchers. In the opening speech, the chairwoman of PYA clarified the role of the Academy which was established by Palestinian young academics in Europe and Palestine in December 2019 as an initiative operating under the umbrella of PALAST. She emphasized that PYA aims to stimulate ideas that connect Palestinian scholars and enhance the capabilities of the academic community and young academics in Palestine and abroad.

The PYA operates independently in a democratic manner whereby an elected Executive Committee and a Chairwoman of the Executive Committee manage the activities and develop plans for cooperation. The Academy aspires to achieve a balanced and proper representation of the Palestinian scientific community in the world.

9 June, 2021

Palestine Young Academy (PYA) with the support of PALAST Academy have hosted its first webinar focused on the importance of the scientific cooperation with Europe & the east. The webinar session included the PYA sharing its aims to provide a platform for young Palestinian researchers to build new bridges and relationships with Arab and international scientific institutions, by encouraging them to engage in multidisciplinary research projects, and avenues for cooperation and participation in future projects. In that regard, AGYA has discussed its scientific programs & workshops implemented and offered by Arab German Young Academy AGYA and the possible collaborations.

The webinar was opened by Dr. Sandy Lama, PYA Chairwoman, who started by welcoming the guests and participants and provided the agenda of the webinar session, then followed that with presenting detailed introduction about Palestine Young Academy (PYA) . Interesting to mention that the establishment of Palestine Young Academy was in December 2019 as an independent initiative with the support of PALAST in order to stimulate ideas that connect Palestinian scientists and enhance the capabilities of the academic community and young academics in Palestine and abroad. Dr. Lama stressed that the missions of PYA are to provide a voice for young Palestinian researchers in Palestine and the diaspora and to building bridges between policy-makers, academics and the rest of the Palestinians through initiating a policy-dialogue strategy. She also illustrated the objectives and visions of the academy.

Then the session was opened for the keynote guest speaker by Arab German Young Academy AGYA Co-chair, Dr. Maha Nasr. The presentation was enriching and useful for researchers. In which she informed the audience about AGYA's Academy and its activities with various Arab countries and Germany, how to join the Academy, the projects performed by the Arab-German Young Academy, the support/ funding available to it and its cooperation with the universities and institutions from various fields.

In the end, the presentation was followed by a Q&A session, which was supervised by Dr. Thabat Khatib, one of the members of the Executive Committee & co-founders of PYA.

22 April, 2021

The participation of Dr. Hazem Al-Baz, Dr. Shadi Abu Dalfa and Dr. Sandy Lama from the Palestine Young Academy (PYA) in the international scientific conference “Young Scientists Network - Malaysian Science Academy (YSN-ASM) International Virtual Scientific Conference (ISVC) 2021” at the invitation of the Malaysian Academy of Sciences.

The objective of the ISVC 2021 conference is to bring together researchers, industrialists, policy makers and graduate students to enhance interdisciplinary knowledge sharing, learning and collaboration between local scientists in Malaysia and from around the world; and to identify emerging research niches/areas that the global research community should champion to address local needs and global challenges; and to develop strategies to enhance the capacity and access to resources to harness the potential of the global research community; and to promote sustainable research leadership amongst emerging researchers in Malaysia and the participating countries.

The conference included interventions from international speakers from academia and industry to exchange knowledge and ideas that meet global needs and challenges. PYA thanks the Palestine Academy for Science and Technology for its cooperation in providing seats to be present and participate with the Malaysian Young Scientists Network. Thanks are also extended to the conference organizers for their cooperation and participation in the conference. The participants also received a certificate of appreciation for participating in the conference

5 March, 2021

The Palestine Young Academy (PYA) is happy to announce that Dr. Sandy Lama will be the new Chair of PYA, after Dr. Thabat Khatib apologized for completing her duties as First Chair of PYA due to personal circumstances. Dr. Thabat Khatib will be joining the Executive Committee as a regular member instead.

Furthermore, Dr. Adeem Massarwi resigned from PYA due to personal reasons. Therefore, Dr. Mohammad Adam joined the Executive Committee as he is the member who took the sixth highest votes during last Executive Committee elections.

19 January, 2021

The Palestine Young Academy (PYA) was pleased with the invitation it received to participate in the meeting held between a high-ranking delegation from the Palestinian Ministry of Education in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Marwan Awartani and the various Palestinian scientific gatherings in order to activate means of cooperation between the different scientific gatherings and national initiatives in Palestine and to discuss methods of training school students in scientific research and critical thinking and their inclusion in the STEM programme.

PYA was represented by Dr. Thabat Khatib (PYA Chair and co-founder) and Dr. Abdalhadi Alijla (PYA co-founder). A communication channel will be opened between PYA and the Ministry aimed at enhancing people's confidence in science and linking them to research, and cooperation in strengthening the role of students in the local community through the working groups formed by the Academy.

16 January, 2021

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the health situation all around the world, the Palestine Young Academy (PYA) decided to hold its first virtual General Assembly and Inauguration Meeting and nomination of the new Members with the presence of PYA Advisory Board, PYA Selection Committee and attended by many academics from Palestine and the world including Palestinian in Diaspora. The meeting included several sessions scattered on 2 days from January 15 to 16 2021.

The PALAST President HE Minister Dr. Marwan Awartani opened the General Assembly by thanking the entire PYA family for keeping the energy of their initiative, continuing to develop the PYA goals and getting prepared for all the events planned in the future. He emphasized, within the scope and outlook of the Academy as it matures, is an addition of a Young Academy under its auspices. The rationale behind the Young Academy is two-fold: To early-on promote and give visibility to promising Palestinian scholars at home and abroad; while providing an intellectual “home” for the next generation of scientists from the diaspora to engage with Palestine in the Arts, Science and Technology.

Afterwards, Dr. Thabat Khatib, a co-founder of PYA, presented Palestine Young Academy (PYA) in a more detailed manner. According to Dr. Khatib, Palestine Young Academy was established in December 2019 as an independent initiative with the support of PALAST in order to stimulate ideas that connect Palestinian scientists and enhance the capabilities of the academic community and young academics in Palestine and abroad. She stressed that the missions of PYA are providing a voice for young Palestinian researchers in Palestine and the diaspora and building a bridge between policymakers, academics and the rest of the Palestinians through initiating a policy-dialogue strategy. She also illustrated the objectives and visions of the academy as well as explained that the logo of PYA was inspired by the Palestine sunbird. Lastly, she emphasized on the hierarchy of PYA.

The meeting included keynote Speaker Prof. Mazin Qumsiyeh, addressed his speech on the importance and role of international academies around the world, as well as he clarified the current situation of a group of diverse research and their difficulties they faced, and stressed that Palestinian researchers are interested to have a collaborative cooperation at home and with various partners around the world aiming to raise scientific research and Palestinian researchers at home and abroad.

Following that, Dr. Abdalhadi Alijla, PYA Co-founder, welcomed 9 new members, and thanked the selection Committee for their efforts in nominating them according to criteria, taking in consideration their research record and diversity.

At the end of the first day, Dr. Shadi Albarqouni, PYA Co-founder, announced the results of PYA President and Executive Committee election. PYA members also elected a new Executive Committee (EC), including the first PYA Chair, using the online voting programme “Election Buddy”. The Chair elected for 2021 is a member of the founding committee. The new Chair is Dr. Thabat Khatib, and the EC included the following: Dr. Abdalhadi Alijla, Dr. Adeem Masarweh, Dr. Shadi Abudalfa, Dr. Suha Almadbouh and Dr. Sandy Lama.

On two consecutive days, the General Assembly Meetings were held to address PYA activities, especially the three working groups that were established during the discussions; namely: Health and Society, Education, Digitalization and Innovation

Also a Task Force Meetings were held to nominate PYA members in three Committees: Nomination Committee, Fundraising Committee, Publicity Committee

The meeting also included an orientation session for Writing a Research Grant Proposal, presented by Dr. Samer Raddad, that will take in PYA consideration to strengthen the research infrastructure at Palestinian institutions.

14 November, 2020

Palestine Young Academy (PYA) and Palestine Academy for Science and Technology (PALAST) hosted their second virtual meeting with the Advisory Board of PYA on Saturday 14 November 2020.

The meeting was inaugurated by PYA Founding Members, who welcomed the Advisory Board members, and provided general information about PYA, its goals, memberships conditions and provided a general background on the methodology of selections of the new members, inspired by the GYA and AGYA, and adopted in the evaluation process of the new PYA members, including the criteria aiming the diversity in the membership of the PYA (regions, disciplines and gender), which were implemented by the evaluation committee compromised from the deans of scientific research in Palestinian universities, members from the Global Young Academy GYA and the Arab-German Young Academy AGYA.

Finally, the PYA Advisory Board approved the newly selected members for this year, and they will support the PYA founding members in exerting more efforts in the next call to attract more applications from abroad.

22 September, 2020

Dr Hazem Elbaz, co-founder of Palestine Young Academy (PYA), participated in the online meeting of Young Academies organized by Global Young Academy (GYA). Many issues were raised, especially the mechanisms used to establish a new young academy, and the challenges it faces such as:

•Funding issues for young academies.

• The relationship with other scientific academies in the country.

• Engaging current members with the alumni.

• Ensuring that members are diverse academically and geographically.

• Organizing training programmes for members (such as scientific advice skills, and promoting writing of research proposals).

• Registration of young academies officially within the country.

The meeting also addressed opportunities available to young academies:

• The necessity of cooperation in young academies in projects and joint work groups.

• Attending regional meetings and cooperation (Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas) by engaging in science diplomacy between countries.

• Encouraging online meetings to share best practices.

•Young Academies’ response to COVID-19.

The meeting concluded with several recommendations, the most important is setting up a specific mechanism to evaluate members of the Young Academies, strengthening means of cooperation between international institutions, supporting new young academies and emerging initiatives from young people aspiring to establish a young academy that represents their country.

7 September, 2020

The founding committee of Palestine Young Academy (PYA) meets after the deadline for applying for PYA membership. PYA’s 2020 Open Call for Applications closed as of 31 August 2020 23:59 Palestine time. If you submitted an application – thank you! We look forward to reviewing your application.

The advisory council will be contacted to inform it of developments, and to begin reviewing applications according to the international standards followed. An Evaluation Committee will be formed, which will include some of the deans of scientific research in Palestinian universities, external members and members of the Arab German Young Academy (AGYA) and Global Young Academy (GYA).