104 quotes found
"By implementing eco-taxes and eco-contributions, our objective is to encourage long-term changes in consumption habits. The regulatory framework is clear: para-fiscal taxes help safeguard investments, strengthen the entire value chain, stimulate economic growth, and generate employment. These measures apply to specific products, such as batteries (Dh150, €13.75) and tyres (Dh6, €0.55), with the collected revenues reinvested within the sector. Additionally, significant progress has been made regarding plastic pollution — the production and sale of plastic bags will be banned starting July 2016."
"In a semi-arid country such as Morocco, we have a strong awareness of water usage. With 1800 ml of rainwater per year in the north against 200 ml in the south, we need a water transfer policy along with a water-saving policy. There will be a shortage of 5bn cu metres by 2020. To counter this, the government has launched the construction of seven desalination centres to increase resources."
"I think it is very important for all of us to recognize that the non-State actors are already moving and there are many [actions], initiatives and coalitions and they are very active."
"I think as Africans we need to have the same voice. We need to work together to make Africa shine."
"We believe that Africans can build Africa"
"Climate change is one of the most dangerous crises mankind has experienced in this century, impacting our lives"
"Every time I come to the COP, I feel like we’re negotiating for who’s going to die and who’s going to live"
"The links between climate, human rights and sustainable development are definitively established"
"We call on our members to move from reflection to construction and to urge their government, their territorial communities, their industries to take responsibility for the development of resilient and sustainable public policies"
"We are embarking on a new EIA (ère)??, a new industrial revolution"
"it is to us, through the awareness of the citizens, the assistance of our governments, parliamentarians, our elected officials and our civil society that we will succeed in changing climate change"
"Right in the heart of the Antarctic continent, in one of the coldest, most deserted and inaccessible places in the world."
"This is a unique place where prevailing conditions are of extreme cold, isolation, and where it is night several months of the year. It then becomes possible to observe the stars on a continuous basis."
"There is no soul that lives less than 1,000 miles away. The place is located at 3200 meters, but the weather is as if we were at 4000 meters. Installing an observatory in such an environment resembles a space mission in that we must check all the atmospheric parameters (turbulence, transparency, scintillation (twinkling), aurora, etc.)."
"Astronomy is one of the oldest natural sciences in the world. It is the study of all extraterrestrial objects, that is, those existing outside the Earth or its atmosphere, such as the solar system that consists of our star, the sun, and the objects that orbit it, the Moon, galaxies, planets and comets."
"Astronomy also investigates and explains the origin and evolution of the phenomena associated with such objects, like supernova explosions, gamma rays, quasars, blazars, pulsars and cosmic microwave background radiation."
"Astronomy was used to measure time, mark seasons and navigate oceans based on predictions about the positions of the sun, the Moon and the planets, while stars have helped people to navigate the Earth by lighting up the night."
"In this case, regardless of the mirror’s size—whether 39, 100, or even 200 meters—a ground-based telescope cannot solve the fundamental problem in asteroseismology: the detection of certain pulsation modes that remain unobserved. The limitation arises from the alternation of day and night. For instance, even with the largest ground-based telescopes, such as the VLT, observations can only be made at night. This daily interruption creates gaps in the data, meaning that when we record a star’s brightness over time—its light curve—we obtain an incomplete sequence, marked by interruptions caused by the Earth’s rotation."
"I didn’t like these designations that erase the origin of the rocks."
"Today, more than ten PhD students are working on topics such as meteorites, impact craters, and planetary surfaces, developing significant expertise in these areas."
"The main challenge to the development of this field in Morocco is the lack of sophisticated analytical equipment, and the scarcity of academic and research positions in the country."
"I put Morocco on the meteor research map."
"Morocco’s vast, sparsely populated desert and the presence of hunters and nomads who recognize the value of meteorites have made the country famous for their abundance. However, due to the lack of regulations restricting the export of meteorites and other geoheritage items like fossils and minerals, many were sold and taken abroad."
"We are facing an ascending curve. Today, breast cancer has become an epidemic. From experience, it seems that women with breast cancer are younger in Africa than in the West."
"In industrialized countries, screening starts from the age of 55. In Africa, we should start earlier from the age of 40. Studies must be done to find out the factors that explain this particularity in Africa: is it a genetic question? Could it be linked to the climate, to the way of life? These questions still remain unanswered today."
"There is no one rule that can be applied to all women. It all depends on family status and the type of breast."
"Breasts at risk should be watched closely … It is recommended from the age of 40 or even before, to start doing breast self-examination once a month. This self-examination allows women to find up to 70% of the anomalies. Radiological screening can be done every 1 to 3 years, depending on the type of breast and family status."
"In Morocco, we have the possibility to treat breast cancer according to the best standards in the world. We use the most advanced devices and molecules."
"I call on all women on the continent to realize the importance of health because it is the only real capital anchored in time and space. They should also choose a healthy lifestyle to prevent breast cancer."
"I think we are relatively well placed in Morocco; women make up 30-40% of attendance at the top science schools in the country."
"It is worth noting that Moroccan universities carry out extensive research in close collaboration with the National Center for Nuclear Energy, Science, and Technology (CNESTEN), which operates an exceptional research reactor used for the production of radioisotopes."
"Morocco has established cooperation agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Furthermore, it has a national agency, the Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNuR), which reports directly to the head of government. This agency is responsible for overseeing the use of radiation, whether in hospitals, universities, or other areas."
"It is also worth noting that Morocco has a highly skilled workforce in the nuclear sector, with many well-trained young professionals. In terms of electro-nuclear reactors, the country is well prepared, and discussions are already underway about the potential use of small modular reactors (SMRs) for future applications such as seawater desalination."
"Moroccan universities, with my involvement, are currently organizing a major international conference dedicated to high-energy research. This initiative is the first of its kind in Africa, with a particular emphasis on the continent’s countries. As part of my contribution, I am engaging through research carried out in collaboration with various international partners. Our main goal is to guide and prepare the next generation of scientists and researchers. I view this mission as a lifelong commitment, as it holds great significance for the future of our nation."
"Increasing the impact of science and building confidence in science can only be achieved through science education, scientific mediation and the development of scientific and technical skills."
"I'm really honoured to be selected as a recipient of one of the 2022 TWAS Medals. This is also a recognition of the high level of Moroccan science, which is now part of the most important international collaborations."
"the strong force, which holds together atomic nuclei; the weak force, which is behind radioactivity; the electromagnetic force, including both visible and non-visible light; and gravity. The ATLAS collaboration is searching for a new physics, transcending our current vision of the universe,"
"It was designed to detect particles that can be created only through proton-proton collisions at extremely high speed. Through these experiments, the international community hopes to recreate the conditions existing in the universe less than one billionth second after the Big Bang, about 13.7 billion years ago."
"Being involved in such a collaboration has helped us, as Moroccan researchers, to position ourselves internationally, and that is what has helped us to be ranked among the top now."
"It was a very big challenge, because there absolutely could not be any mistakes."
"It shows that perseverance pays off in the end. That it's not over. And that's why I tell all my younger colleagues: Never hesitate! Don't say that we're in a less developed country or that we don't have the resources. We can achieve anything and we can do anything."
"There need to be role models, and girls also need to seek mentors to help and advise them."
"Understanding how desert plants develop resilience is key to unlocking solutions to the problems of water scarcity and agricultural land use.”"
"a genuine fascination with plants developed almost immediately, in particular with their roots. It’s easy to overlook the role that roots play in plant biology but understanding their function in the greatest possible detail has now become Blilou’s life’s work"
"Understanding how these plants develop such resilience is key to unlocking solutions to the global challenges of water scarcity and agricultural land use."
"Based on the conditions they are confronted with, the roots adapt their structure over time so that they can best serve the rest of the plant."
"Student is like a seed, plant it, nurture it, you give it as much attention as needed and at the end it will start flourishing and give you flowers.”"
"You are smart enough and capable enough to join any field in STEM, and you are equally as deserving to be in these fields as anybody else. Follow your curiosities and believe in yourself."
"The promise approach to achieve gender balance in sciences is to show young people the full range of scientific professions while they’re still at school. Fostering and supporting girls to consider scientific careers may help them to choose to study science disciplines."
"Having women in positions of responsibility in scientific institutions is useful to show the younger generation that a brilliant career in science is possible for women."
"It is essential to ensure that everyone has the same opportunities, regardless of gender, ethnicity or culture. This is the true meaning of equality, and having an open and welcoming environment is critical to support diversity"
"I have learned how to appreciate science that provides us a way of thinking and knowing the world better. I have always been fascinated by knowledge, because it can give power to human beings to know how to explore nature and harness energy, understand our environment and use them for our benefits."
"We have to mitigate the shortage of women in science via promoting and encouraging careers in science. The benefits of gender balance are not just for women and girls, but to ensure the coherence of the human beings as a cornerstone of society."
"I have a true passion for science and a real need to understand the building blocks of the universe, from its early stages to its current state and future evolution."
"Math is hard, Physics is beautiful. is the best process to build scientific knowledge."
"Physics reveal the mathematical beauty of the universe at scales ranging from subatomic to cosmological."
"I was fascinated with Quantum Physics, which is a fundamental theory in physics that explains how everything works, noting that it is the best description we have of the nature of the particles that make up matter and the forces with which they interact."
"I have always been interested in the fundamentals of mathematics. To know if all that is true is demonstrable."
"I sent my file through the Paris Diderot University. I was selected and I had a monthly scholarship of 1,700 euros for the duration of my thesis, that is to say three years, in addition to a stipend of 5,000 euros to buy the material needed."
"I am currently a research fellow at the CNRS at the LIP. My research interests include proof theory and the study of circular proofs for verification, with a recent shift toward relation algebras, graph logic, and automata theory."
"If you didn't understand much of what I said, don't worry, that's normal! It's math, and we're not all geniuses."
"Let's call this formula the great implication. If we fail to prove the great implication, it is because the system does not verify the specifications. But if we prove it, we are sure that the system satisfies the specification. Moreover, this proof can be seen as a certificate, which can be communicated and even executed. This technique is also more informative than others; the proof tells us why the system verifies the property, which provides explanatory elements and therefore additional confidence."
"Women were in streets like men: both the antagonist wings were present in those strikes and revolutions; we have to say that the number of women was not as important as this of men. They were more or less behind the violence and the determination of men. Veiled women were more important in number that unveiled ones; from the beginning of the Arab Spring, it was clear that Islamists opinions were led by men and that women were led by men. Now, it’s an evidence: women are prayed to support and go on their old roles in society."
"Yes, I agree: the most important thing is to have a strong law imposing equality between men and women regarding salaries all over the world. It’s evident that in this field women are bad treated: doing the same jobs, having the same training, they are less paid and this is the same all over Europe, and of course more visible in the other traditional societies."
"In Morocco, for example, women were employed in a huge number in factories because not involved in strikes, not included in trades unions, paid half or less in front of male comrades. It’s more or less the same until now."
"In the political campaign of May 2012 for the election of the French President, this point was at the top actions of the leftist candidate, I mean inequalities between men and women in one of the most advanced country in the world… we are in the same landscape considering work field. I’m involved as specialized Physician in Medicine Work and Ergonomics."
"It was so difficult to be a girl.It was so hard to be a student of medicine among men. I used to ask myself: why do I have to suffer so much to be myself, to exist."
"My research is based on seeking to understand different people around the world. Then I also go into psychoanalysis, trying to understand common aspects among people and seeing how different cultures mix and merge."
"The people who matter the most in the world are not given due importance, according to the Moroccan academic."
"People who go to work at 4am, people working in hospitals at night does anyone ever acknowledge these people We have to be more and have less."
"I will continue writing and I will carry on trying to promote my thinking. I want to use my research to create awareness in a bid to improve the current situation."
"Violence against women is traditional and ritualistic. And yet, women are best suited to bring peace, while men allow themselves to be overwhelmed by their masculine impulses."
"According to official figures from the High Commission for Planning, in 2021 the total cost of physical and/or sexual violence against women was estimated at 2.85 billion dirhams (approximately $308 million) per year. 62.8% of women aged 18 to 65 report having experienced physical, psychological, sexual, or economic violence; among them, 55% report being victims of domestic violence and 13.5% of family violence. Violence affects all categories of women, but particularly those between the ages of 15 and 24."
"Within the framework of a renewed, modernized UNESCO, eager to act more than before, within which it is high time that absent countries find their place, we must, together, ensure that the Organization can initiate the process necessary to fully play its role, asserting itself more intensely as an intellectual Organization, a Forum for reflection."
"Together we must reject any attempt to establish a hierarchy between cultures, any amalgamation between terrorism and a given culture, religion or ideology. We must instead contribute to promoting rationality."
"Together we must strengthen the ethical sense among peoples, work so that we can enrich ourselves from our differences."
"Together, we must strengthen the spirit of ethics among nations and work to ensure that our differences become a source of mutual enrichment."
"Q: You've talked about how with some children the light goes out of their eyes. Is there a situation during your practice, whether in the hospital or on the streets, where you just weren't able to help? A: Oh yes, I have seen so much, my dear. There are children who are so deeply broken that it becomes too late to reach them. It’s incredibly difficult to work with those in such dire situations so much trauma, so many emotional scars, a lack of affection, and cases of rape and incest. What I have witnessed in my life is overwhelming. More recently, while visiting a refugee camp in Lebanon, I met a 13-year-old boy. He told me, When I arrived here, I was very young. I’ve been living in this camp for seven years. I feel like I’m imprisoned in this camp and in my own body. Then he said, This is not life. When I asked him what could make him want to live again, he replied, It’s too late. Around the world, suffering, despair, and suicide are on the rise. We must be very careful about what we do it’s always a fragile balance between hope and despair. That is why I keep urging that we act swiftly. We must act quickly."
"Q: In 2008, you were named UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography. That must have been quite a challenge, you know, for the world. What did you try to achieve with that role and what needs to be done in the world on behalf of those children? A: We have to never forget. Children are becoming a big market. You have not only child sexual abuse material, but you have grooming, sexting, sextortion, live streaming. You have promotion of suicide. You have promotion of self harm. You have enrollment. You have fake news. You have, you know, theft of identity and privacy of children that are used. You have gambling. You have gaming. The list is huge. And exposure to violence, exposure to harmful content, exposure to violence, sexual, you know. It's why I'm pushing currently, even when we are seeing with countries, we have this pushback regarding sexual education and reproductive health, to tell them, My God, it's needed more than ever. It’s not encouraging them to have sex. So, we need to make sure that they are aware."
"The number of 300 million, you know, of children victims of sexual exploitation online is not reflecting the truth because the problem is also reporting, and we have not all the data. Why we arrive at this stage? Because you have more and more children connected, and more and more children younger, more and more younger children are connected. The other point that it's important that you have also more and more predators and sexual offenders who are connected."
"The issue is truly significant, which is why we are strongly advocating within the Global Digital Compact. I also recently returned from the Global Cybersecurity Forum to ensure that child protection online is properly integrated."
"It is not an easy issue to resolve, as there are three key aspects to consider: the child who is the victim, the child who is the bully, and the bystander."
"Child labor is considered as a violence against children because normally children have to be in school, or in another way, but not working. The problem is currently is this number is high because of what is going worldwide. Because of all this crisis, you know, forced displacement, food insecurity, poverty, social disparities, you know, conflict, climate crisis. The number of children who are enrolled in child labor and in many cases in the worst forms of child labor, really is increasing. And many children are victims of violence at the place of their work. But many children who are victim of child labor are also victim of trafficking. Are victims of smuggling, are victims of sexual exploitation."
"That is why I emphasize that violence results from multiple factors. Unless we address all the key causes, we will neither end it nor prevent it."
"You hear some strong policymakers telling us our children are our future. They are not your future. You are the past; they are the present and they are their own future."
"What I learned in my life, it's the eyes. When you are speaking with children, when you have light in their eyes, it's still possible. When the light switches off, it’s too late."
"My job is to focus on venom composition, drug development to treat envenomations and clinical trials to test those drugs. My country Morocco has many snakes, causing a public health problem, and our laboratory is thus of paramount importance."
"Morocco has the greatest diversity of snake fauna with a high rate of endemism. It’s a serious problem for the citizens but also for the health professionals due to the unavailability of effective treatment. The snake envenomation entails over 400 cases with thirty deaths annually and this data is likely an underestimation."
"What I enjoy most about my work is finding ways to solve this serious health problem."
"Snakebites and other envenomations cause many deaths in Africa and other parts of the world. I believe it’s very important to find solutions that can help reduce these deaths. The main treatment is something called antivenom. To make it, scientists inject small amounts of venom into animals, usually horses. The animals then produce antibodies that can fight the venom. Later, some of their blood is taken, and those antibodies are turned into medicine that works well for people. Of course, collecting venom from live snakes or other animals is very dangerous. It takes people who are brave, passionate, and truly love these amazing creatures."
"This is a multidisciplinary challenge, which requires a network that brings together experts from various fields including herpetology, arthropology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, medicine, community health, toxinology, toxicology, antivenom production, and legislation. Our research follows a translational approach aimed at studying the composition of the most medically important venoms. We use modern biochemical, immunological, toxicological, pharmacological, taxonomical, clinical, and epidemiological methods. This detailed understanding of venom toxins will deepen our knowledge of the mechanisms of envenomation and support the development of more effective and innovative antivenoms."
"Anuran fossils are extremely rare in Morocco. All known specimens discovered to date belong to the Middle Miocene-Holocene periods. These fossils have been recovered from ten distinct deposits located across various regions of the Kingdom. Due to their scattered distribution, it is not possible to trace the evolutionary development of Anurans within a single area."
"Despite this limitation, the available fossils provide a broad view of faunal changes that have occurred since the Middle Miocene and form a foundation for hypotheses regarding the origins of modern species. The evolution of Anuran fauna in Morocco appears to be closely linked to climatic variations and paleogeographic transformations."
"Morocco’s geographic proximity to southwestern Europe likely influenced the composition of its Anuran fauna through historical paleogeographic connections. Understanding the origins of Moroccan Anurans, therefore, requires consideration of the evolutionary history of those from southwestern Europe."
"I believe that science holds the key to addressing many of the interconnected challenges we face today — not just one or two isolated issues. Through science and innovation, we can optimize how we utilize our biodiversity by identifying the most suitable crops, animals, fish, and fibers for specific environments. At present, there is often a disconnect between what ecosystems can sustainably produce and what is actually being produced around the world. This imbalance stems largely from decisions that overlook scientific knowledge and the urgent need to meet the demands of a growing population. I am convinced that science and innovation can lead to more efficient production with fewer inputs, ensuring sustainability for the future."
"Science and innovation can greatly improve nutrition. Although over 6,000 plant species are cultivated for food, fewer than 200 dominate global production, and just 9 provide 66% of all crops. This limited genetic base reduces nutritional diversity. Expanding the use of neglected and underused species through technology can boost both food variety and environmental health."
"From an environmental perspective, science and technology offer many ways to reduce our impact—whether in greenhouse gas emissions, water use, or soil management. Agriculture currently consumes most of the world’s freshwater and emits about 30% of greenhouse gases, yet it employs 4.5 billion people. Scientific innovation can make agri-food systems more sustainable through resilient crop varieties, improved farming practices, and technologies that boost productivity while lowering carbon and water footprints."
"our goal is to ensure that farmers enjoy better livelihoods. Today, they remain at the bottom of the income pyramid, receiving the least reward for their hard work. By improving productivity and enhancing the nutritional value of what is produced, we can create stronger economies and ensure that these benefits reach small-scale producers worldwide."
"Marginal environments are going to be the norm of tomorrow, so we'd better be ready for it and have solutions."
"It is doable to make these lands productive but it requires investment in research and in science."
"In a few years, if we don't stop what we're doing to planet earth, we would all be living in marginal environments."
"I don’t think we can afford to have only men in leadership positions anymore. Throughout history, it has been shown that female leadership is different from men’s in many positive ways. So, if we want to bring out the full potential of humankind, we should be conscious of those differences and push for gender equality. It’s not so much equality of positions, it’s much more about equality of opportunities."
"We should also provide women with freedom of choice. With this, eventually society will develop around equal opportunities, and women will feel much more in control of their destiny and not have to choose anymore between having a career and being a mother."
"On the challenges and obstacles that might hold back some women from getting to top managerial positions, there are many common challenges between the Middle East and the West, but also some cultural differences. In terms of common challenges, all mothers feel protective towards their children and want to give them a lot of love and time. This can get in the way for some women wishing to attain high-level positions."