Megawati, Timor Leste President Host Nobel Laureates in Jakarta for Science Dialogue

Former Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Timor Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta have initiated a high-level dialogue in Jakarta, bringing together leading global scientists and thinkers. The event, titled "Luncheon and Discussion with Science for Development Summit Delegation," aims to bridge the gap between scientific advancement and the pressing issues facing the world today.

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This meeting essentially wants to bring science together with the real problems faced by the world.

Organized by the Megawati Institute, the summit focuses on how science and technology can be leveraged to address complex global challenges. Hilmar Farid, Executive Director of the Megawati Institute, explained that the meeting is not a traditional scientific conference but a platform for dialogue. It seeks to foster conversations among scientists, policymakers, and innovators about translating knowledge into actionable solutions for shared problems.

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What we want to build is a conversation among them, and also with political leaders, about how knowledge and technology can be used to address common problems.

Megawati herself emphasized that science and technology should not be viewed in isolation but as integral tools for humanity to confront contemporary issues. She highlighted critical areas such as climate change, environmental degradation, food security, public health, and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. According to Farid, Megawati stressed the importance of strengthening Indonesia's scientific and technological capabilities, while acknowledging the global nature of the challenges.

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Science should be an effort by humans to face the problems of their time.

The gathering includes ten Nobel laureates and one representative from a Nobel Prize-winning organization, alongside recipients of the Turing Award, often called the "Nobel Prize of Computing." Notable attendees include Nobel laureates in Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Economics, Physics, and Peace, as well as the former head of the World Food Programme. This diverse group of experts is expected to engage in discussions that could shape future approaches to global development and problem-solving.

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Indonesia must strengthen its scientific and technological capabilities. But the challenges we face now are global.