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Serageldin Keynote Speech for Opening the IAP Triennial Conference
The InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) launched its 2025 Triennial Meeting in Egypt on 8 December with a keynote address by Prof. Ismail Serageldin, Founding Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, who reflected on the country’s deep scientific heritage and the critical role of academies in today’s world.
Serageldin highlighted that the meeting comes at a time of rapid scientific advances in artificial intelligence, genomics and digital technologies, while societies struggle with disinformation, rising inequality and the erosion of trust in expert institutions. He emphasized that science remains a foundational social public good and that the values that sustain it are more essential than ever.
He outlined five key recommendations for how academies can reinforce their mission and support society:
- Defend the core functions of academies including scientific rigor, ethics and independent policy advice.
- Preserve autonomy in governance and priority setting, even amid funding pressures.
- Strengthen professional science communication so reliable knowledge reaches the public and counters misinformation.
- Revisit the relationship between basic, strategic, applied and adaptive research to advance international cooperation and sustainable development.
- Create opportunities for promising young scientists, such as associate memberships, to foster intergenerational engagement.
He issued a clear call to action:
Together, all armed with the values of science, we must redouble our commitment to advance the scientific enterprise.
As academies look ahead, Serageldin reminded participants that their leadership will be vital in helping societies navigate transformation, build resilience and ensure that progress is guided by knowledge, responsibility and inclusion.
Full Speech Transcript
Please find the full speech here for download.