Besada, belonging to the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology; and Bello, from the “Marta Abreu” Central University of Las Villas, are part of the 14 academics chosen in Latin America, from a total of 79 new members that will form part of that world institution.

The General Assembly of the World Academy of Sciences took place yesterday, which brings together a thousand members from 112 countries, where 84 percent are notable scientists from the Global South and 13 Nobel Prize winners.

At the meeting, they addressed issues such as science and technology priorities, programs and funding, the importance of supporting young scientists and greater participation of women in the promotion and development of research in less developed countries.

The President of the Academy, Abdool Karim, opened the Assembly by highlighting the challenges facing the institution: the “lack of progress in meeting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the need for scientists’ voices to be heard in order to resolve conflicts,” among other issues.

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