IFS eNews No. 15, July 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 approved1.2 2004 Annual Report
2 IFS POLICY – PLANNING FOR 2006-2010
2.1 Workshop in Nairobi
2.2 IFS Regional Assembly, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
3 PARTNERSHIPS AND FUNDING
3.1 Visits to donors
3.2 African Forestry Research Network (AFORNET)
3.3 MoU signed with CATIE
4 MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS
4.1 Launch of Nelson Mandela Institution
4.2 IFS-CODESRIA workshop in Dakar
4.3 Water Resources workshop in Zambia
4.4 Burkina Faso workshop on pesticides and other organic pollutants
4.5 Research proposal workshop in Bolivia
4.6 Arab Region Roundtable, Dubai
4.7 IFS/CORAF WECARD, Dakar
i. Methodology workshop
ii. General Assembly
4.8 International workshop on grey-water reuse, Jordan
4.9 Science capacity building in Rwanda
4.10 Science and Technology development in Southern Africa
5 IFS SECRETARIAT
5.1 Executive Committee
5.2 Scientific and Grants Committee
5.3 Seminar on Natural Products analysis
5.4 Staff News
6 ANNOUNCEMENTS
6.1 Free genetics statistics software - GenStat Discovery Edition (DE)
6.2 The World Academy of Young Scientists (WAYS)
6.3 Arab Science and Technology Foundation International Forum
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1. VIEWPOINT
1.1 New grants approved
Successful applicants for grants processed in the first half of 2005 have just been notified of their success. IFS is happy to announce that 117 grants have been approved, for a total of USD 1.3 million. Of these grants, 65% have been allocated to researchers based in low income countries with vulnerable scientific infrastructures.
Congratulations to the successful applicants, and commiserations to those who did not achieve the desired result this time. Close to 600 applications were received, and nearly one in five of these research proposals were approved for grants.
Grant applications received up to June 30, 2005 are now being processed, and the new granting session has started for the deadline of December 30, 2005. Please check www.ifs.se for details, and for information on the special programmes for which we are seeking applicants: for research on Sustainable Sanitation and Grey-Water Reuse in Developing Countries; and for Water Research in OIC (Organisation of Islamic Conference) Countries.
1.2 2004 IFS Annual Report
The IFS Annual Report for 2004 can now be accessed on www.ifs.se, and printed
copies will be available soon.
The report confirms that in 2004 IFS continued its emphasis on supporting
young scientists in less developed countries. More grants were awarded, to
more grantees from those targeted countries, and other capacity enhancing
initiatives were introduced. IFS is on its way to achieving its goal to award
70% of grants, by 2005, to scientists in countries with vulnerable research
infrastructure.
But in analysing the sustainability of this trend, IFS recognises that when grantees come from institutions which cannot provide adequate academic support, a grant alone is no guarantee of success. The challenge for IFS is that the granting programme must be reinforced with a capacity enhancing package of support.
IFS has been, and is, actively fundraising, and concomitantly entering into new partnerships with other organisations to build on synergies and opportunities to work together on this important scientific-capacity-enhancing mission. As new Chairman Pierre Roger emphasises, only a sustainable use of biological resources can provide food security and equitable rural development, while conserving the resource base for future generations. So IFS must continue its core work of identifying and supporting promising young scientists.
During 2004 the special initiative to support social science research projects at IFS developed to become a core activity within the main granting programme; and in the Water Resources research area IFS is developing scientific capacity in Burkina Faso, with a coordinated group of researchers investigating pollution by pesticides and other organic pollutants.
Some of the challenges and the successes of the IFS approach are discussed in a major article on Latin America. Latin American and Caribbean scientists have received 1737 grants over the past 30 years, nearly one third of the total grants distributed by IFS. The research career of Sven Brohult awardee Professor Enrique Galindo, who received three IFS grants early in his career, is one outstanding example of how the IFS vision has succeeded in Mexico; while young scientist Dr Álvaro Eiras in Brazil, whose research is spinning off into commercial success in the fight to control the dengue mosquito, cheerfully gives IFS maximum credit: “It all began with the IFS grant. Great isn’t it?”
Many of the scientists emphasise three key elements in Latin America: instability, huge variation in environmental conditions to do science, and a lack of jobs for young scientists. Yet a mood of optimism is developing: and as two researchers from Colombia said, the effect of IFS support can be catalytic, enabling young researchers to develop and build national and international scientific credibility.
The IFS Audited Financial Statement 2004 is available on request from info@ifs.se.
2 IFS POLICY DEVELOPMENT – PLANNING FOR 2006-2010
2.1 Workshop in Nairobi
African science leaders, policy makers and administrators welcomed the opportunity to scrutinize issues facing young scientists in Sub-Saharan Africa in the IFS workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, in June.
The workshop was part of the IFS regional consultations with stakeholders, for input into the Five Year Programme (2006-2010). Participants included Directors of National Science and Technology Commissions, Vice Chancellors, Directors of Research Centres, Faculty Deans and University Professors. The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs contributed funding for the workshop, which was coordinated by the Inter University Council of East Africa (IUCEA) for IFS.
The keynote speech was given by Dr Zerubabel Nyiira, director of the Uganda National Commission for Science and Technology.
The workshop highlighted the IFS message that more attention needs to be paid to the incoming generation of African scientists who will be responsible for the ambitious research agenda needed to further the UN Millennium goals and the ambitions of the African Union and NEPAD to put Africa on the path to sustainable development.
The focus of IFS on supporting young scientists through the competitive grants scheme was endorsed, allied with requests for training courses to develop essential skills: particularly on how to conceptualize and develop research proposals, and on writing science research papers.
In addition, IFS was recommended to establish an organizational presence in Africa in order to facilitate maintaining close contact with grantees in marginalized institutions and arranging a variety of supporting activities. Ensuring effectiveness and cost-efficiency for this would require careful planning and good links with African organizations.
The workshop report is being edited and will be made available on the IFS website.
2.2 IFS Regional Assembly, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The next regional consultation with be with Asian stakeholders at the IFS
Regional Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in early August.
3 PARTNERSHIPS AND FUNDING
3.1 Visits to donors
A series of visits to current and potential donors has been initiated, as
part of the long term planning process. Donors visited include the Organization
for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW); the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
the Netherlands; the Department for International Development (DFID), Great
Britain; Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional; Programa Iberoamericano
de Ciencia y Tecnologia para el Desarollo (CYTED); the French Ministry for
Foreign Affairs; the Swiss National Science Foundation; the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
(DFG), The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); and
a number of US agencies.
3.2 African Forestry Research Network (AFORNET)
Discussions were held with AFORNET in Kenya in April, on coordinating activities
between their young scientists programme and the IFS Forestry/Agroforestry
Research Area.
3.3 MoU signed with CATIE
In May IFS signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tropical Agricultural
Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) in Costa Rica.
4 MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS
4.1 Launch of Nelson Mandela Institution
IFS took part in the launch of the “Nelson Mandela Institution for knowledge
building and advancement of science and technology in Sub-Saharan Africa”
in January. It was held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the African
Union in Abuja, Nigeria. With seed money from the World Bank the proposed
four-part institution is intended to become a world-class teaching and research
facility. IFS addressed participants (including 16 African science and finance
ministers) on the need to support the young generation of scientists, outlining
the IFS approach.
4.2 IFS-CODESRIA workshop in Dakar
A joint workshop was held in Dakar, Senegal, January. Seven research teams
about to start their research as part of the IFS-CODESRIA initiative “Sustainable
Agriculture” presented their research projects for peer review and worked
with resource persons on methodological issues. IFS also surveyed participants
about access to research funding.
4.3 Water Resources workshop in Zambia
IFS runs a special initiative on “Research capacity building for the
sustainable use of scarce water resources in biological production”
with funding from Sida’s Department of Natural Resources and the Environment.
A workshop was organised for 22 Zambian researchers in late January to identify
research areas within the main theme to link with the Sida-supported Agricultural
Support Project in Zambia.
4.4 Burkina Faso workshop on pesticides and other organic pollutants
This workshop in Burkina Faso in February was co-organised by IFS and the
University of Ouagadougou, and financially supported by OPCW, INWRDAM, COMSTECH
and ISP. More than 70 people met and shared experiences, established networks
and appreciated the opportunity for theoretical and practical training on
sampling and analytical methods, as well as on scientific methodology in general;
and on developing a scientific research project proposal.
4.5 Research proposal workshop in Bolivia
Prof Jan Feynen from the University of Leuven, Belgium, and long term Crop
Science adviser, invited IFS to help organize a workshop on “How to
conceptualize research proposals” in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in March.
The four day workshop was part of the collaboration between VLIR-UDC (University
Development Cooperation Programme of the Flemish Inter-University Council)
and the Universidad Mayor de San Simón (UMSS). More than 40 participants
worked in multidisciplinary teams on topics ranging from geotechnics to biotechnology.
4.6 Arab Region Roundtable, Dubai
In April IFS participated in the “Arab Region Roundtable on harnessing
science, technology and innovation for sustainable development” in Dubai,
United Arab Emirates. The meeting was organized by the Academy of Sciences
for the Developing World (TWAS) and the Zayed International Prize for the
Environment. Discussions revolved around the need to raise the profile of
science and technology as an important precondition for the achievement of
sustainable development in the region.
4.7 IFS/CORAF WECARD
i. A methodology workshop was coorganised by IFS and CORAF WECARD in Dakar,
Senegal, in April, for the 18 members of four research teams which had been
short-listed for research projects in West and Central Africa. Working with
five resource people from Senegal, Ivory Coast and Belgium, the scientists
developed strategies to strengthen the scientific quality of their projects
so the team proposals could be resubmitted for evaluation.
ii. The CORAF WECARD General Assembly in Dakar in May provided an opportunity
for IFS to learn about its partner’s priorities and their vision for
the future.
4.8 International workshop on grey-water reuse, Jordan
IFS co-organised the “International workshop on grey-water reuse –
research priorities and scientific methodologies”, held in Amman, Jordan
in early May. The host and local organizer was the Inter-Islamic Network on
Water Resources Development and Management (INWRDAM), and the workshop was
also supported by the Organization of Islamic Conference Standing Committee
on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) and by Sida. The workshop
raised the profile of the INWRDAM-COMSTECH-IFS initiative on grey-water reuse,
the safe use of treated waste water from households for irrigation.
4.9 Science capacity building in Rwanda
IFS participated in a meeting on science capacity building in Rwanda in May
called by the Minister of Education to help draft a National Science, Technology,
Scientific Research and Innovation Policy. A sizeable contingent of African
science personalities and donors were among the more than 1,000 people who
attended the meeting.
4.10 Science and Technology development in Southern Africa
IFS participated in a working group organized by the Southern African Regional
Universities Association (SARUA), to formulate policy for science and technology
development in Southern Africa. The meeting was held in South Africa in May.
The IFS model and its success in stemming the brain drain among our constituency
was recognized as a valid model to be incorporated into the SARUA recommendations
to the Commission for Africa and NEPAD.
5 IFS SECRETARIAT
5.1 The Executive Committee (EC) of the IFS Board of Trustees held its meeting in Stockholm at the end of April. Highlights for the year will be the first Regional Assembly for IFS in Asia in August, and preparation of the Five Year Programme for 2006-2010 with the active involvement of significant stakeholders.
An update to the 2005 budget was presented, including additional contributions to programme services in support of the Work Plan for 2005 (which is available on the IFS website).
5.2 The Scientific and Grants Committee met in association with the EC meeting. The Committee composed of representatives from the eight Scientific Advisory Committees discussed issues related to the preparation of the new five year programme, the results of a questionnaire survey sent to stakeholders, criteria for IFS involvement in joint initiatives with other organizations, and the handling of ethical and safety issues.
5.3 Seminar on Natural Products analysis
Prof Herman Niemeyer presented highlights from his draft report on the analysis
of the Research Area Natural Products on the day after the EC meeting. It
provoked animated discussion on how to measure research success, and it was
agreed that scientists from developing countries cannot be judged solely according
to how often they publish in international journals.
5.4 Staff News
IFS welcomes new staff member Maria Dutarte who has joined IFS as Programme
Administrator for the Social Sciences Research Area. Maria is a social scientist
with Finnish and Swedish nationality and a master’s degree in International
Education. She has a particular interest in international issues and in languages,
with fluent English and French as well as her native languages, and basic
skills in Italian, Spanish and Japanese.
We bid farewell to Sri Sahlin, who was contracted to work for IFS on a special project. It was a pleasure working with Sri, and we value her contribution. We wish her well in her future activities.
6 ANNOUNCEMENTS
6.1 Free genetics statistics software - GenStat Discovery Edition (DE)
The GenStat Discovery Edition is a free version of GenStat developed by VSN
International for use by not-for-profit research organizations, charities
and educational institutes based in the developing world. To find out whether
you qualify for the discovery edition, check out http://discovery.genstat.co.uk/
6.2 The World Academy of Young Scientists (WAYS)
WAYS has created an online newsletter to inform WAYS members worldwide about
the network’s achievements and issues of interest for young researchers.
Contributions are welcome to ways@sztaki.hu.
For more information about WAYS, click onto http://www.waysnet.org
6.3 Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF) International Forum
The ASTF International Forum 18-20 September 2005, will be Phase 4 of the
international initiative to engage the Iraqi Science & Technology community
in Iraq’s development process. The forum intends to bring together experts
from Iraq, the international scientific community, and funding organisations.
Further information can be found on http://www.astf.net
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