Science, Technology and Innovation in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Dr. Poonam Veer Ramjeawon manages the Blue and Green Innovation portfolio and the Regional and International Cooperation Programme at the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC). She was also the MRIC Project Lead for the EU funded “Transformation of the Waste Sector towards a Waste-energy Nexus in the Southwest Indian Ocean Region (TWENex)” Project, implemented by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) in collaboration with the MRIC. She has more than 34 years of work experience in coordinating multi-disciplinary projects in Mauritius and India. She holds a Ph. D. degree in Knowledge Management, M.Sc. in Agricultural Communication and Extension and B.Sc. (Hons). Madhusudan Bandyopadhyay is a Postgraduate in Food and Biochemical Engineering and has been engaged in diverse fields of science, technology and industry. Mr. Bandyopadhyay started his career in a multinational corporation, and also worked in an Indian public sector undertaking - with responsibilities on technology transfer and project management in Food Processing Industries. He served the Government of India for about 30 years, where he managed many national and international programmes on S&T policy and management including international S&T cooperation, and technopreneurship development. Currently, he is working as Senior Adviser in the NAM S&T Centre [An Intergovernmental Organization], where he is responsible for managing activities on South-South Cooperation in Science and Technology, Science Diplomacy, and Sustainable Development. Dr. Rabindra Prasad Dhakal is the Secretary of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology. He had served as a Chief of Faculty of Technology to Nepal Academy of Science and Technology from 2018 to 2023 and also serving as Spokesperson of NAST from 2021 to 2023. He received his M.Sc. (1995) in Chemistry from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal and received Doctor of Engineering Degree in Chemical Engineering from Saga University, Saga, Japan. Dr. Dumisani Mthembu worked as a Game Ranger for a KwaZulu Natal Nature Conservation Agency for 10 years, specializing in protected area management, biodiversity conservation management and marine resource management. In 2004, he joined government in water resource management and regulation with a specific focus on commercial afforestation licensing and management. He is a former Director of the Department of Environmental Affairs responsible for administration and evaluation of applications for Environmental Impact Assessments authorizations for development projects initiated by the Government and State-Owned Companies. Since 2012, Dr. Mthembu has been employed as a Senior Specialist responsible for Multilateral Environmental Agreements and represents government in the international negotiations; particularly climate change negotiations, with a specific focus on technology development and transfer.