A Message from SASTIW Director General

Greetings and a warm welcome to the scholars and participants of  The International Summit of Health and Lifestyle: Population Dynamics and Human Capital in Muslim Countries.

The Secretariat for the Advancement of Science and Technology in the Islamic World (SASTIW) was established at University of Tehran by the suggestion of The World Academy of Science (TWAS), Iran Academy of Science, and the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology in 1993, and in the same year the international congress was organized by SASTIW. Subsequently, three international summits under the main theme of Health and Lifestyle were held in Tehran.

The first summit entitled “Culture and Cyberspace” was held in January 2016. The two other summits entitled “Water, Sustainable Development and Healthy Life” and “Global Soil Threats” were held in March and May 2016, respectively.

I am very pleased that The Fourth International Summit of Health and Lifestyle focuses on the issue of Population Dynamics and Human Capital in Muslim Countries during 8-9 May 2018 at Negarestan Garden Museum of the University of Tehran. Recent demographic changes in Muslim countries have led to increase in young population. This can be considered a great opportunity if it is used properly. The human capital of the young people is an asset for these countries if it is developed justly. Sustainable development requires investments in health and education. Good health and well-being as well as quality education are among the United Nations goals for sustainable development. In line with these goals, we need to make policies to enhance the quality of health and education and counter the challenges posed by the rapid demographic and social transitions in the Muslim world.

The International Summit of Health and Lifestyle: Population Dynamics and Human Capital in Muslim Countries brings together prominent scholars from all around the world particularly from the Islamic countries to discuss the issues related to demographic changes in Muslim countries and propose policies to improve population quality. I hope that the outcome of this interaction between scholars in the field of population studies can result in the adoption of policies to achieve justice and sustainable development goals.

Finally, I would like to thank all the participants of this international summit and hope that these activities lead to more collaboration between participants and define the policy procedure protocol in the benefit of the world mankind.

Ali A. Moosavi-Movahedi, (Ph.D.)

Professor and Director General,

Secretariat for the Advancement of Science and

Technology in the Islamic World (SASTIW),

University of Tehran