This year’s UNESCO Avicenna Prize for Ethics in Science has been awarded to Pakistani bioethicist and Professor of Biotechnology Zabta Khan Shinwari for his scientific and educational work in biotechnology, biosafety and biosecurity and his contribution to advancing the social responsibility of science and his work to promote the participation of indigenous peoples and women in science. Shinwari was conferred the award by Irina Bokova, director-general of UNESCO, on November 4 in Paris at the UNESCO headquarters, Borna News Agency reported. The award presenting ceremony was attended by Iran’s Minister of Science, Research and Technology, Mohammad Farhadi, ambassador and permanent delegate of Iran to UNESCO, Ahmad Jalali. Established in 2002 by the UNESCO’s Executive Board on the initiative of Iran, the donor of the prize, it has been awarded biennially since 2004.
