President of Umm Al-Qura University Dr. Bakri bin M'atooq bin Bakri Assas inaugurated Tuesday evening Rajab 21, 1438 H the 32nd Meeting of the Saudi Biological Society in collaboration with Prince Sultan Chair for Environment and Wildlife. The conference is hosted by UQU College of Applied Sciences  in the period from Rajab 21-23, 1438 H under the slogan: "Human and Environmental Development in the Saudi Vision 2030", with the participation of a large number of researchers and specialists in the Saudi universities and the scientific research centers in the field of environment sciences. It will take place at King Abdul-Aziz Historical hall at the university campus at Abdyia while the scientific sessions and workshops will be held at Holiday Inn Hotel at Azizia District in Makkah. 

  
After initiating the meeting with Quranic recitation, the Dean of Applied Sciences Dr. Waleed Altaf delivered address saying that 20 years passed since the last meeting of the Saudi Biological Society held at Umm Al-Qura University, during these two decades the society continued its meetings and its scientific momentum expanded to include all biological specialties, pointing out that this year's meeting is envisioned to highlight the role of human and environmental development in the vision 2030 and the significance of such role, methods of its development, besides reviewing recent developments of scientific research in the universities and relevant institutions in biological sciences as general, and ways of developing scientific research in this fields, through the themes to be discussed by those involved in this meeting.  

He further added that the meeting will discuss 11 themes including; environment, biodiversity, wildlife, animal sciences, veterinary medicine, animal production, plant sciences, microbiology, plant protection, in addition to topics of water and soil sciences and environmental pollution, food sciences, biotechnology, biochemistry and pharmacy. He valued sponsorship of UQU President of the events of the meeting and appreciated role of Saudi Biological Society regarding the Human and Environmental Development theme. He also lauded efforts exerted by the conference committees to make such meeting which keeps pace with the Kingdom Vision 2030, a success.

For his part, Chairman of Saudi Biological Society's Board of Directors, Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdul Wahid Arif said the society is reckoned one of the first scientific societies in the Kingdom where it was established in1395 H at King Saud University. It's concerned with encouraging scientific research, publishing scientific research, forging close links between specialists in the biological fields at the local, regional and international levels by organizing scientific meetings, training courses and workshops to introduce the scientific renaissance  experienced by our blessed country in this prosperous era. 

During its march, he added the society held 31 meetings annually, yet this one is the 32nd hosted by Umm Al-Qura University for the second time after 20 years, pointing out that the society issues scientific journal internationally ranked as ISI with an impact factor of 2, besides specialized books in Arabic and English, as well as a media magazine. He added the society gives scientific consultancy services to a number of institutions in the public and private sectors to set practical solutions for the challenges facing them. He noted that King Saudi University honored the society this year and gave it "A" ranking within the best societies in the university amounted to more than 50 societies.   

He went on to add that the 32nd meeting is convened this year under slogan of " Human and Environmental Development in the Vision 2030" to keep pace with the local and international concern emerged recently in this side which is reckoned one of the most developmental challenges facing our blessed country. He said the meeting will cover a number of topics in different branches including; human, environment, development, soil and water sciences, pollution, biotechnology and others, indicating that researchers from in and outside the kingdom will participate with specialized scientific papers reaching up to 480 papers 350 out of which will be presented in the scientific sessions while 130 papers will be displayed in scientific posters. Concluding his speech, he wished for this scientific gathering to come up with many fruitful and beneficial recommendations and  he lauded efforts of UQU in organizing the meeting.  

    
He was followed by the meeting sponsor, the President of Umm Al-Qura university Dr. Bakri bin M'atooq bin Bakri Assas who said such meeting comes in line with the Kingdom Vision 2030 to support scientific research particularly in the fields of human, development and environment, stressing that organizing such meeting comes within the scientific momentum currently witnessed by the university in all aspects to review the latest achievements of scientists and make use of their efforts to upgrade scientific research in the kingdom. He lauded the Saudi Biological Society for embracing many specialists in the environment and human sciences at the local, Arab and international levels, wished for the meeting to come out with recommendations serving scientific research system and lauded efforts exerted by the meeting committees.  

   
After that, the main symposium of the meeting was convened under the theme "Human and Environmental Development in the Saudi Vision 2030", and witnessed participation of the member of teaching staff at King Saudi university Dr. Abdul-Aziz bin Abdullah Al-Laboun who submitted a paper on human theme, the Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Environment Affairs Dr. Osama bin Ibrahim bin Mohammed Faqih who submitted a paper on environment, and the member of Board of Directors of Prince Sultan Bin Abdul-Aziz International Prize for Water, Dr. Abdul-Aziz bin Suleiman Al-Turbagh who submitted a paper on water theme.   

On his part, Dr. Mohamed Farooq presented a scientific lecture on "The environmental challenges facing the world in the 21st  century".