May 9 - 11, 2001 Bangkok, Thailand

About 40 scientists and policymakers from the 10 SCA member countries and major international, regional, and national scientific organizations attended the General Assembly. The Academic Symposium organized by the host country attracted about 100 participants.

At the Symposium, the Thai Minister of Science, Technology and Environment delivered the opening remarks, and seven speakers gave presentations. The following three special lectures were delivered in the morning: Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Omar Abdul Rahman, SCA Vice President, gave a presentation entitled “Sustainable Development: A Vision for Asia - A Prosperous, Harmonious, and Greener Asia.” Prof. Dr. Gerard Ward, President of the Pacific Science Association (PSA), spoke on “Pacific Sustainability;” and Prof. Tetsuzo Yasunari, Chairperson of Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX)-GEWEX Asian Monsoon Experiment (GAME), discussed “A Prospect of Sustainable Agriculture in Monsoon Asia.” In the panel discussion in the afternoon, member countries presented their approaches to sustainability.

“A Common Vision for Sustainable Development in Asia” based on a prosperous, harmonious, and greener Asia was accepted, and member countries agreed to proceed with study projects related to sustainable development. Two SCA Joint Projects were launched: Malaysia would anchor “Sustainability Science” Project, and Thailand would spearhead “Sustainable Development Indicators.”

In recent years, there has been much discussion about sustainable development in Europe and North America, and the SCA is in a unique position to put the sustainability issue in the Asian context. The importance of collaboration among researchers in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities was also stressed.

 Chairperson's Summary