Crawford Lecture and Chairman's Reception

The Sir John Crawford Memorial Lecture will take place on Tuesday December 6, 2005 at 7 pm.

The Dimension of Science and Technology for Development : Perspective from the Maghreb

Dr. (Ms.) Zohra ben Lakhdar, a Professor of Physics at the University of Tunis will deliver this year's lecture. A leading physicist, Dr. Lakhdar was educated at the University of Tunis and University of Paris VI. Dr. Lakhdar has published widely, contributing to over six university textbooks and over 50 scientific and technical papers. While her primary research interests are in the fields of atomic and molecular physics, she has been keenly interested in science education and research and technology development in Africa, the role of science and technology in development, and the strengthening of scientific capacities in the Maghreb region and beyond. She is a founding member of the Tunisian Society of Optics and Tunisian Society of Astronomy, and member of the Tunisian Society of Physics. She has lectured widely, both in her subject area and on the broader theme of science for development. In 2005, she won the prestigious L'OREAL-UNESCO "Women in Science" Award.

Following the lecture, a reception hosted by Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chairman, will provide qan opportunity for participants to meet the lecturer in an informal setting.