IFS eNews No. 14, February 2005

IFS eNews appears quarterly. Ad hoc newsbulletins (fellowship announcements etc) are also sent out to all IFS eNews subscribers. We hope that it is an effective way to inform you about recent developments. Your comments on the contents of IFS eNews are most welcome to info@ifs.se

Developing Science - Science for Development

In this issue

1. Viewpoint
1.1 New grants approved
1.2 Farewell Bruno Messerli
1.3 Welcome Pierre Roger
1.4 Governance meetings

2. Asia/Pacific in focus, 2005
2.1 IFS Asian Regional Assembly
2.2 International Science Congress 2005, Science for Humanity
- Poster opportunity for grantees
2.3 Tsunami in Asia

3. IFS policy development
3.1 Long term planning process
3.2 Evaluation of Natural Products research area

4. Partnerships and funding
4.1 IFS and IAEA sign MOU
4.2 IFS and BECA/ILRI sign LOA

5. Grantees, Alumni and Advisers
5.1 IFS Awards
5.2 Loss of a friend and Adviser

6. Meetings and workshops
6.1 IFS at AAAS Meeting in Washington DC this month!
6.2 Training seminars in human dimensions of global environmental change

7. IFS Secretariat

8. Announcements
8.1 Microtrop 2005 Summer University, April, Senegal
8.2 XXII IUFRO World Congress, August 2005, Australia
8.3 MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, November 2005, Cameroon
8.4 Trieste Science Prize
8.5 African Journal of Ethnomedicines
8.6 Google Scholar - New search tool on Internet

 

1. Viewpoint

1.1 NEW GRANTS APPROVED

IFS is happy to announce that 114 new research grants have been approved, from applications processed during the second half of 2004. Since 139 new grants were approved during the first session of the year, we have approved altogether 253 grants for funding during 2004.

Researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa have been awarded 47% of the grants, with four percent going to the Middle East and North Africa, 27% to Latin America and the Caribbean, and 22% to South and South East Asia and the Pacific. Congratulations to the successful grantees, we look forward to following your progress with great interest.

Now the Scientific Advisers and the Secretariat have started assessing almost 600 applications received for the next granting round. We are very appreciative of all the work done by our legion of Scientific Advisers, and in particular the members of the Scientific Advisory Committees (SAC) whose input is invaluable both for IFS and for young scientists from the developing countries.

1.2 FAREWELL BRUNO MESSERLI

It is with considerable regret that we have to say farewell to Professor Bruno Messerli, the outgoing Chairman of the IFS Board of Trustees.

Professor Messerli has been involved with IFS since the 25th Jubilee Reception in May 1997, when he joined the Board as a Trustee. His four year term as Chairman of the Board began in 2000. Perhaps it is his unique perspective on the world as a mountain climbing geographer which enabled him to provide such visionary leadership to IFS throughout the past four years. He certainly provided inspirational guidance to IFS through a period of turbulence and change. It is very clear that as a result of his contribution since 1997, Professor Messerli leaves IFS much better fitted to fulfil its mission of strengthening the capacity of developing countries to use scientific research for the sustainable management of biological resources.

We shall miss him, and while wishing him well in all his future endeavours, we hope that he will continue to be involved with IFS as our distinguished "Chairman Emeritus" for many years to come.

We also bid farewell and thank you to the two outgoing board members, Eva Selin Lindgren from Sweden, and Mahabir Gupta from Panama. Professor Selin Lindgren, IFS donor-nominted Trustee, also served as Chair of the IFS Donors Group for the period 1997-2004. Dr Gupta, a former IFS grantee and a Scientific Adviser also served for many years on the IFS Nominations and Membership Committee.

1.3 WELCOME PIERRE ROGER

We are delighted to welcome Dr Pierre Roger in his new role as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. A long term supporter of IFS through the French Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), microbiologist Pierre has contributed warmth, charm and scientific expertise as a Trustee and subsequently Vice-Chairman of the Board. We look forward to working even more closely with him as Chairman.

We are also pleased to welcome the three new Trustees who were elected at the governance meetings in November:

1.4 GOVERNANCE MEETINGS

The above mentioned changes in the composition of the Board were made during the governance meetings which IFS held in Vienna, Austria 27 - 30 November, 2004. The meetings were hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and they included a joint IFS-IAEA seminar. The governance meetings include the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees and its subcommittees as well as the Donors' Group. During the meetings the activity report of 2004 was presented, the preparations for the IFS long term programme (2006-2010) were discussed, and the budget and work plan for 2005 were approved.
Dr Jürg Pfister, Head of the International Relations at the Swiss National Science Foundation, was elected chair of the Donors' Group for 2005 and 2006.

 

2. Asia/Pacific in focus, 2005

2.1 IFS ASIAN REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

IFS Asian Regional Assembly to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 2005 The first IFS Regional Assembly for its Asian constituency will be held in Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with the International Science Congress (ISC) organised by the Malaysian Scientific Association (MSA) (www.msa.org.my) celebrating its Golden Jubilee. We are grateful to MSA (one of 135 IFS Affiliated Organisations) for helping us organise the Regional Assembly.

The purpose is to provide a forum for input into the IFS programme 2006-2010, and specifically, the future role of IFS in Asia. In addition, the assembly will revitalise IFS collaborations and partnerships with Affiliated Organisations in Asia.

The Regional Assembly will be organised as a workshop. Presentations on pertinent topics will be followed by discussions and group works. The focus will be on the predicament of young researchers in Asian countries and how IFS can best support them in their early careers. Experiences from different countries will be compared, and the role of IFS in this process will be highlighted.

Invitations to the IFS Regional Assembly will be sent in February. IFS governance and Donors' Group meetings will be held in conjunction with the Regional Assembly.

2.2 INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE CONGRESS, MALAYSIA, AUGUST 2005

The Malaysian Scientific Association (MSA) will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2005 with many activities; a highlight will be the International Science Congress (ISC) to be held between August 3-6 at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

With "Science for Humanity" as its theme, the conference will encompass agriculture, food and nutrition, life sciences, medicine and health sciences, chemical and physical sciences, engineering and environmental sciences, information and communication technology.

IFS will participate in the scientific sessions at the ISC and will have an information booth. For futher information, including registration details for the Congress see www.msa.org.my.

Poster opportunity for grantees at the MSA congress:
IFS grantees in Asia are urged to take the chance to display their research in a poster presentation. MSA, the congress organisers, are eager to have presentations from IFS grantees. For further information see MSA's website (www.msa.org.my) or email malsci@tm.net.my.

Up to ten of the IFS grantees accepted by MSA to present posters, will be chosen to receive IFS travel grants - apply to MSA, there is no need to contact IFS.

2.3 TSUNAMI IN ASIA

We would like to express our sympathy to all those affected by the tsunami disaster in Asia. IFS has many grantees and Advisers in the countries of the region, and our thoughts go out to you all at this time. We hope that you, your families and your colleagues are safe and well. IFS needs information about any grantees or Advisers who have suffered loss due to the tsunami. We appreciate any help you can give us with this; please email your contact person at IFS.

 

3. IFS policy: Planning for the 2006-2010 period


3.1 LONG TERM PLANNING PROCESS

The IFS programme is guided by strategic plans: during 2005 the strategic plan for 2006-2010 will be prepared, in consultation with IFS partners, clients, donors and other stakeholders.

It was the IFS External Evaluation 2000-2001 (the report "Mobilising Scientists for Development: A Precious Mission in a Changing Context" is available on the IFS website - wwwifs.se) which established a new framework for IFS. IFS has now completed the 2002-2004 medium-term programme based on recommendations from that evaluation.

The long term planning process will be accelerated through 2005, and finalised by the IFS Board of Trustees at the end of the year.

3.2 EVALUATION OF NATURAL PRODUCTS RESEARCH AREA

Evaluating the separate research areas at IFS is now an integral part of the long term planning process. The Natural Products research area is being evaluated during 2004/2005. The evaluation process has been undertaken by Dr Ulrika Huss and Professor Hermann Niemeyer. Preliminary information was presented to the IFS Donors Group meeting in November.

The compilation phase included systematising information on close to 1,000 research projects in the Natural Products area which have been supported by IFS. A substantial database has been developed with a vast number of identified parameters related to the researcher and the project content and characteristics. Each grant has been thoroughly scrutinised and registered according to these parameters/keywords.

The analytical phase reflects on and analyses the material provided from the data compilation. Based on that, and considering the major trends in Natural Products research, the analytical phase will also present options for future Natural Products research funding. Topics analysed include scientific quality, relevance, and scientific capacity building; the implementation of research results, and the identification of areas to be supported by IFS in the future.

The evaluation report with proposals for change will be presented by Prof. Niemeyer at a seminar in Stockholm in April 2005.

Planning is underway to initiate an evaluation of the Food Science research area in 2005/2006.

 

4. Partnerships and funding

4.1 IFS AND IAEA SIGN MOU

The International Atomic Energy Agency has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IFS, on opportunities for future collaboration between IAEA and IFS. The MOU specifies the development of joint activities to address issues of mutual interest, designed to promote greater science and technology capacities in developing countries and to facilitate the building and consolidation of a global partnership in the scientific community.

The MOU envisages mutually fostering the adaptation and adoption of appropriate nuclear technologies in line with the national priorities of developing countries. Co-sponsoring and organising seminars and workshops are also included in the MOU, as is expert consultation in relevant fields at global, regional and national levels where practicable.

It is envisaged that IFS grantees could participate in IAEA training courses, and benefit from IAEA fellowships and scientific visits. Former IAEA fellows could be encouraged to apply for IFS grants, while IFS Advisers and former grantees could become resource persons for IAEA in their own countries.

4.2 IFS AND BECA/ILRI SIGN LOA

IFS signed a Letter of Agreement with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), based in Kenya, acting on behalf of the Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa (BECA), which is a research network platform established under the auspices of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). IFS and BECA will collaborate in providing opportunities for young African researchers to conduct high quality science related to biosciences. The joint activities will be developed during 2005.

 

5. Grantees, Alumni and Advisers

5.1 IFS AWARDS

The Sven Brohult Award is the most prestigious scientific award by IFS. It is awarded every three years. The IFS Jubilee Award and the IFS-Danida Award are given every year.

The Board of Trustees, at their annual meeting in November 2004 decided to award the following ex-grantees:

IFS Sven Brohult Award
Prof Enrique Galindo, Mexico, for his research on "Rheology and Mixing of Viscous Fermentation Broths".

IFS Jubilee Award
Dr Monica Moraes Ramirez, Bolivia, for her research on "Structure, Density and Phenology of Palm Forests in the National Park Madidi, Bolivia".

Dr Mariel Marder, Argentina, for her research on "Synthesis of Flavone Derivatives, Evaluation of their Affinity for the Central Benzodiazepine Receptor (BDZ-R) and Pharmacological Characterization".

IFS-Danida Award:
Dr John Mworia, Kenya, for his research on "The impact and distribution of invasive non-indigenous dicotyledons in a semi-arid area of Kenya".

Prof Mukaila Kadiri, Nigeria, for his research on "Cultivation of Lentinus subnudus (Polyporales: Polyporaceae) on plant wastes".

Other Awards
Food Science grantee Dr Sakamon Devahastin, from King Mongkut's University, Bangkok, was given the 2004 Young Technologist Award by the Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Technology, Thailand. He received the award in recognition of his research into a new drying technique, which culminated in his development of the low-pressure superheated steam drying (LPSSD) process. This steam drying technique succeeds in maintaining more high quality physical and nutritional properties in various food products compared with products obtained from conventional hot air drying processes. Dr Devahastin's work was partially funded by IFS.

Grantee Dr Wenresti G Gallardo (Philippines), Visiting Research Fellow at Nagasaki University, Japan, has been declared Outstanding Young Scientist in the field of Marine Science by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Philippines.

Rafael D Guerrero III (Philippines), Scientific Adviser and former IFS grantee, has been awarded the Managing Director Jan D F Heine Memorial Award 2004 by the International "Je Dois Faire" Assembly in recognition of his "outstanding efforts to stimulate sustained improvement of world wide human living standards in the spirit of Managing Director Jan D F Heine". The award was conferred at the 6th International Symposium on Tilapia in Aquaculture, in Manila.

Writing to IFS, Rafael Guerrero said that he wished to share the award with IFS since it was very instrumental in the development of his aquaculture career as a young scientist and professor at the Central Luzon State University in the 1970's. Today, Rafael Guerrero is Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Aquatic & Marine Research and Development and President of the Philippine Fisheries Association. IFS would like to thank Professor Guerrero for this generous gesture.


5.2 THE LOSS OF A FRIEND AND ADVISER

It was with much sorrow that we learned of the death of a long-time friend and Scientific Adviser to IFS. Dr Robert J. Carsky was killed on November 6, 2004 in Bouaké, Ivory Coast when seeking shelter during the recent violence. Bob will be sincerely missed. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends and colleagues.

The eulogy delivered at the funeral of Dr Carsky is available on the website of his home institution, the Africa Rice Center - WARDA (www.warda.org).

 

6. Meetings and workshops

6.1 IFS AT AAAS MEETING IN WASHINGTON DC THIS MONTH!

Will you be in or near Washington DC in February?
If so, IFS would like to see you!

We would like to meet IFS partners, Advisers, and friends when we visit Washington DC for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting to be held this month, February, 2005 (www.aaas.org/meetings/Annual_Meeting/). If you plan to attend the AAAS meeting, or if you are based in the Washington-New York City area, please let us know. We would like you to visit us at our booth in the exhibition area, or come to the IFS Seminar to be held at the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) (Keck Building) in Washington DC, on Tuesday, February 22nd at 2:00 pm. During our visit, we intend to:

Please send an email to Mr Eren Zink (eren.zink@ifs.se), Scientific Programme Coordinator, if you would like to remain informed about, or have suggestions regarding, IFS activities and events in conjunction with our participation in the AAAS meeting.


6.2 TRAINING SEMINARS ON HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

Application deadline: February 15, 2005.
The International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP) is organizing training seminars on issues related to the human dimensions of global environmental change. The seminars on October 6-8, 2005 near Bonn, Germany, are for young scientists, particularly those from developing and emerging economies. Workshop working titles are:

 

7. IFS Secretariat

Ms Monica Dahlberg, Programme Administrator for Forestry/Agroforestry, will be retiring from IFS in mid-March. Since joining IFS in 1991. Monica Dahlberg has particularly appreciated developing contacts with so many scientists, from those at the very start of their careers through to the Advisers who contribute so much to the work of IFS. The organisation has enjoyed having Monica as part of the IFS team, dedicated to opening up opportunities for young scientists in developing countries.

Following on from her intensive work on the evaluation of the Natural Products research area, Dr Ulrika Huss has started a one year project position as Scientific Programme Coordinator for Natural Products. She is also involved in launching an ecological sanitation initiative, in the research area 'food' evaluation, and on a project to rationalise IFS administration.

Ms Laura Ekbäck, a native of Brazil, has joined the IFS Secretariat as Registration and Alumni Administrator while Ms Sri Sahlin, a native of Indonesia, is continuing at IFS with a new project assignment - Programme Administrator for the IFS-CORAF Initiative and the Food Science Research Area.

 

8. Announcements

If you have information or an event that could be of interest to the readers of IFS eNews - people working in areas related to the sustainable management of biological resources - e-mail it to info@ifs.se for publication in this section of the next IFS eNews.


8.1 MICROTROP 2005 SUMMER UNIVERSITY, APRIL, SENEGAL

The 2005 Microtrop Summer University in the Microbial Ecology of Tropical Environments to be held in Dakar, Senegal, 28 April - 30 May 2005 will have the theme "Microbial Diversity and Environmental Disturbances".

Vous êtes intéressé(e) par l'écologie microbienne et le rôle des bactéries dans les déséquilibres environnementaux ? Si c'est le cas, inscrivez vous à la formation Microtrop via le site: www.ird.sn/microtrop. Se déroulant au Sénégal, une pratique courante du français est nécessaire pour y participer.

Yes, you need fluent French to participate in Microtrop 2005. It is an intensive training programme to study microbial communities in natural environments. Microtrop 2005 will focus on environmental problems such as chemical and/or human pollution, salinity or water stress that soil and water have to deal with in the tropics.

The five week course aims to provide training in modern methods of microbial ecology, and to establish a regional network of young scientists working in this area. If you are interested to participate, contact Microtrop through their website www.ird.sn/microtrop - do not contact IFS.


8.2 XXII IUFRO WORLD CONGRESS, AUGUST 2005, AUSTRALIA

"Forests in the Balance: Linking Tradition and Technology"
8 - 13 August, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

The 22nd International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) World Congress will be held 8-13 August 2005 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, hosted by the Queensland Government, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries in association with IUFRO.
For detailed information on the Congress check www.iufro2005.com or contact the Congress Manager at iufro20052@ozaccom.com.au.


8.3 MIM PAN-AFRICAN MALARIA CONFERENCE, NOVEMBER 2005, CAMEROON

"New Strategies Against an Ancient Scourge"
13 - 18 November, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

The Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) Pan-African Malaria Conferences are the largest meetings worldwide solely focusing on malaria, and provide a unique opportunity for malaria scientists from all disciplines to meet, discuss and form new partnerships. For more information see www.mim.su.se/conference2005.

The Conference is being organised by the MIM Secretariat, hosted by Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden on behalf of MIM partners and in close collaboration with the Biotechnology Centre of University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.


8.4 TRIESTE SCIENCE PRIZE

A new science prize has been announced to honour outstanding scientists from developing countries. TWAS, The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, and coffee producer Illycaffé, have launched the Trieste Science Prize.

The prize, which has a USD 50,000 cash award, will rotate each year through different disciplines. The first two prizes will be awarded this year in physics and biology. Agricultural sciences will be recognised in 2007. The main purpose of the prize is to highlight the enormous contributions that developing world scientists are making to international science.

Prizes will only be awarded to individuals for scientific research of outstanding international merit carried out at institutions in developing countries. Candidates must be nationals of developing countries, working and living in the South. For further information and to download a nomination form, see www.twas.org.


8.5 AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ETHNOMEDICINES

The first two issues of the new African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines (AJTCAM) are now online at www.africanethnomedicines.net, and the publishers are calling for articles.


8.6 GOOGLE SCHOLAR - NEW SEARCH TOOL ON INTERNET

Google has released a new search tool for academic content called Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.com/. It searches for keywords and phrases in peer-reviewed journal articles, theses, books, and technical papers, as well as preprints (articles available on the Internet prior to publication).

IFS eNews comes from the International Foundation for Science (IFS) in Stockholm, Sweden. Subscribe to IFS eNews by sending an email to: listserv@listserv.ifs.se with the following message: subscribe IFS-NEWSLETTER (first name) (last name). Use one line only and insert your name but omit the parentheses. You may also subscribe by contacting IFS at info@ifs.se and informing us of your email address. For more information about IFS visit our web at www.ifs.se.

The IFS eNews and the IFS email discussion groups are sponsored by L-SOFT, the manufacturer of LISTSERV Software: www.lsoft.com.

 

| top | IFS Newsletters | IFS home page |

 

IFS Publications

List of All IFS Publications

IFS eNews

IFS Annual Reports

Developing Science, Science for Development - IFS 30 Years

IFS Impact Studies (MESIA)

External Evaluations of IFS

IFS Strategic Plans

IFS Work Plans

IFS News (1996 - 2000)

Other IFS Reports and Documents