Amman - The Fourth Conference of Nobel Prize Laureates will be held at Jordan's ancient city of Petra June 17-19 under the slogan "Advancing Access to Science Education as a Critical Driver of Economic Growth and Social Progress", an official statement said Monday.

More than 30 winners of the Nobel Prize will take part in the meeting which is expected to consider the best learning and teaching strategies that are already being implemented in worldwide education, it added.

The conference, which will be held for the fourth consecutive year at Petra, is patronised by King Abdullah II, who described it this year's event as a "unique opportunity" for the region's youth.

"The knowledge and experience the participants impart is making a substantial contribution to the nurturing of young leaders throughout the region," the monarch said.

King Abdullah said that he looked forward to the "operational launch of the Middle East Science Fund" that was initiated by the conference organizers last year.

The In addition to science education, economics and drivers of growth, sessions during this year's conference will address the global finance crisis, food security, health, energy and the environment, organizers said. (dpa)