ICTP and other scientific institutions that are part of the Trieste System were well represented at the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in Johannesburg, South Africa, between 26 August and 4 September. The Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) was one of the primary organizers of the Science Forum held during the summit's first week, and TWAS's executive director, Mohamed H.A. Hassan, participated in the roundtable discussions that took place between summit participants and heads of states during the summit's second week. Arturo Falaschi, director of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), spoke at the summit's plenary session and David King, science advisor to UK's Prime Minister Tony Blair, cited ICTP as an ideal model for the training of scientists in the developing world.