Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates
The idea to hold an annual conference in Petra for Nobel laureates to enable people of enlightened minds to exchange ideas and points of view over challenges facing the human community and how best to address them was one step to make the envisioned change and create a world rich in new opportunities.
"The conference served as a venue for networking between the laureates and other world-renowned figures of political and material influence who share the Nobel winners their eagerness to make the world a better place"
The Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates first convened in March 2005, organized by the King Abdullah II Fund for Development and the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity. The event brought together dozens of Nobel laureates from the six disciplines in which the Nobel Prize is awarded each year and international figures to share their insights into global challenges and to generate innovative and practical proposals to address them.
The conference served as a venue for networking between the laureates and other world-renowned figures of political and material influence who share the Nobel winners their eagerness to make the world a better place. The participants have set the priorities for the new century namely, economic development and poverty reduction and afterwards they established a $10 million science fund to promote cooperation in scientific research in the Middle East. Work in that regard started during the third conference of Nobel Laureates in 2007 and the fund went operational during the fourth conference in 2008.
First Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates 18-19 May 2005
" Conference focused on five themes: peace, tolerance, security, stability, economic development, human development, culture and media"
The First Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates was held in May 2005. It attracted the participation of international personalities, including 29 Nobel laureates in various disciplines, along with world's political, economic, religious, cultural and civil leaders.
Discussions focused on five themes: peace, tolerance, security, stability, economic development, human development, culture and media.
Second Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates 21-22 June 2006
"The gathering sought to draw a framework for the missions Nobel laureates could undertake to overcome the political, economic and social headaches of the world."
The laureates returned to Petra for their second conference in June 2006 under the title "A World Endangered" to discuss the challenges facing global security and development.
The gathering sought to draw a framework for the missions Nobel laureates could undertake to overcome the political, economic and social headaches of the world.
Third Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates 15-16 May 2007
"The event was held under the title "Building a Better World" and revolved around health, economy and youth, among other issues."
Discussions during the May 2007 Third Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates revolved around health, economy and youth, among other issues. The event was held under the title "Building a Better World", with the participation of 44 Nobel laureates and an array of global figures.
Youth from Middle Eastern countries participating in the gathering presented their visions on the future of the region and discussed with the Noble winners mechanisms to enhance education prospects of the young generations in this part of the world.
Fourth Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates 17-19 June 2008
"Thirty Nobel winners took part in the conferences to discuss topics including globalization, economic challenges, food security, scientific and medical challenges"
Titled "Towards New Economic and Educational Horizons", the Fourth Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates was held in 2008 to discuss topics including globalization, economic challenges, food security, scientific and medical challenges facing communities and other files related to energy, culture, economic development and enhancing access to education as a key catalyst of socio-economic progress.
Thirty Nobel winners took part in the conferences, along with key politicians, economists, academics and media figures. It witnessed the launch of a $10 Middle East Science Fund under the umbrella of King Abdullah II Development Fund.
