IFS eNews No. 7, July 2002
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
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dear reader,
I took up my position as Director of IFS on 1 July. I am proud
to have been given the confidence by the Board of Trustees to lead IFS. Since
a press
release on my appointment was circulated to you in May, I will not repeat
my C.V. here. However, I want to emphasise that during my various assignments
in research, teaching and administration related to rural development, I
have become deeply committed to the crucial role of scientific capacity building
as a basis for development. I look forward to a fruitful communication with
you all.
Thirty years ago, the founding fathers of IFS came together, in May 1972, to sign the charter which, inter alia, states that IFS will seek out young scientists from developing countries and provide them with material and moral support in their work on condition that the research takes place in a developing country and that the results are used for the benefit of that country.
This year, IFS celebrates the achievements of the past three decades. We will use this occasion to look ahead at the challenges for the coming years. The research landscape has changed profoundly since IFS was started. The information and communications revolution and breakthroughs in molecular biology and new materials have convinced many developing countries that science-based development is a necessity. These changes have prompted them to invest in scientific capacity building and to establish national scientific authorities as well as research grant facilities. IFS has a small share in this development as many of our early grantees have emerged as science leaders with political influence in what are today called "middle income countries", precisely those countries which realised the benefit of investing in scientific capacity building.
In the coming years, the challenge facing IFS is to support young promising researchers in countries and institutions which are yet to establish conducive policies for science and technology. IFS will stick to its core activity i.e. provision of grants to promising young individuals on a competitive basis. However, the programme will, to an increasing extent, be organised on sub-regional basis, and will include components of development relevance and applicability. Strategic partnerships will continue to be formed with key organisations; a dialogue between natural and social scientists on themes related to sustainable development will be encouraged and we will explore new ways of building capacity through the formation of research teams, assignment of mentors and attention to institutional issues. IFS will observe its 30th Anniversary at the time of its governance meetings in Sigtuna, Sweden, 17 - 22 October. A discussion on the challenges for scientific capacity building will be coupled with meetings of the Board of Trustees and its committees, the Scientific Advisory Committees as well as the meeting of the IFS Donors Group. You will hear more about this discussion and other important events in the upcoming eNews.
Michael StŒhl
ANNOUNCEMENTS
New Electronic Application Form
IFS has developed a new electronic application form for a first grant. Applicants
can complete the new form on their computer and send it to IFS as an email
attachment. This new form is currently available in English only.
Application Form
Free Access to Scientific Journals, Sri Lanka
Researchers in Sri Lanka, working in natural and social sciences and who are associated with national research organisations, universities and not-for-profit organisations in Sri Lanka, may now access - free of charge - a wide range of on-line scientific journals and electronic databases. This is possible through the PERI (Programme for the Enhancement of Research Information) initiative of the International Network for the Acquisition of Scientific Publications (INASP). For more information, please contact the Director of INASP, Carol Priestley at: cpriestley@inasp.info.
IFS Information Material
Scientific conferences and workshops are perfect occasions to display information material about IFS and inform young researchers about the funding opportunities on offer. If you are attending a meeting and would like to help IFS by putting up a poster, displaying brochures and application forms, or even by giving a presentation about IFS, please contact us. IFS can mail the material directly to the venue so that it is waiting for you on your arrival. We can also provide a short PowerPoint presentation to illustrate your talk. Please contact Pirkko Tolamo, IFS Office Assistant at: pirkko.tolamo@ifs.se, if you would like to receive this material or Richard Fuchs, IFS Head of Programme at: richard.fuchs@ifs.se, if you have any questions or want to make suggestions.
The Third World Academy of Sciences Prizes The TWAS Prizes, which were launched in 1985, are among the most noteworthy prizes in science in the developing world. The Academy has recently expanded the fields in which the prizes will be given and is now encouraging individuals and scientific organisations of excellence to submit nominations. Prizes will be granted in the following fields: biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, agricultural science, earth sciences, engineering sciences and medical sciences. Each prize carries a USD 10,000 award and a plaque highlighting the recipient's major contributions to his or her field. The prizes usually are given at a major event - for example, the TWAS General Meeting - where recipients are asked to present a lecture. For additional information about the TWAS Prizes, contact Helen Grant, at the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), c/o The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Strada Costiera 11, 1-34104 Trieste, Italy; phone: + 39 040 2240 387; fax: + 39 040 224559; website: www.twas.org.
IFS ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS
Association des Boursiers de International Foundation for Science (ABIFS), Benin
The Beninese Association of IFS grantees (ABIFS) is a non-governmental association created in July 1995 by a group of twenty-three young scientists (IFS grantees and candidates for IFS grants) working in different research institutions in Benin. The members of the Association are convinced that there are many promising young scientists in Benin who can benefit from the IFS grant, but who do not know that this opportunity exists. The objectives of the Association are to facilitate the exchange of information between IFS and future candidates in Benin. It aims also to act as a forum for the exchange of experiences (management of research activities, supply of material and chemicals, etc) among Beninese IFS grantees. From 1995 to June 2002, the President of ABIFS was Dr Adam Ahanchede. The current President is Prof Joseph Hounhouigan.
Since its creation, the Association has held seminars on IFS grantees research activities in different parts of the country. The number of young scientists (about fifty) who participated in the last workshop organised on "How to write a good research proposal" (more information under Workshops and Conferences below) has shown how useful an association such as ABIFS can be for the promotion of young scientists in a developing country. The Association is presently trying to get this kind of training introduced into the formal curricula of high schools and university faculties in Benin.
For more information about ABIFS please contact Prof Joseph D Hounhouigan, FacultŽ des Sciences Agronomiques, UniversitŽ d'Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526 COTONOU, Benin; email: hounjos@bj.refer.org
IFS Alumni Association, Bangladesh
An IFS alumni association will be established in Bangladesh in connection with a Silver Jubilee Conference of the Bangladesh Chemical Society, 11-13 January 2003. For details please contact Professor Mohammed Mosihuzzaman, DOB 06 Aug 1940, Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh, email address: ban01@bangla.net.
IFS PROGRAMME
RESEARCH GRANTS AWARDED, MAY 2002
A total of ninety research grants (fifty-two first grants and thirty-eight renewals) was approved for the Spring 2002 session out of 316 applications reviewed by the Scientific Advisory Committees (SACs). For the full list of grant recipients, please visit the IFS website: www.ifs.se. Please note that the conditionally approved grants that have not yet fulfilled all requirements do not appear on the list.
WORKSHOPS, MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
IFS/MISTRA Workshop on Plant Pathology and Biocontrol, Agadir
A workshop was held in Agadir, Morocco, 22-27 April as part of the joint programme with the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research (MISTRA). The purpose of this workshop was to bring together researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden and African scientists working in the areas of microbial antagonism of plant disease and post-harvest spoilage.
Thirty-nine participants representing Sweden and thirteen countries in Africa attended the workshop. Also present were Richard Hall, IFS Scientific Secretary for Crop Science and Ingrid Lindhe, IFS Assistant. The on-site arrangements were undertaken by Mohamed Achouri and M'Barek Fatmi of the Departement de Protection des Plantes, Institut Agronomique et VŽtŽrinaire Hassan II, Agadir, Morocco. Aside from exchanging experiences and ideas, a number of potential collaborations were discussed and it was agreed that a new network should be established to facilitate communication among researchers in the field of Microbial Antagonism.
Meetings in Rome
Jacques Gaillard made a presentation about IFS at the annual Assembly of the Network of Agricultural (tropically and sub-tropically oriented) Universities and Scientific Complexes Related with Agricultural Development (NATURA) and attended the General Meeting of the European Forum on Agricultural Research for Development (EFARD) in May 2002 in Rome. Opportunities for strengthened collaboration were discussed with NATURA including a partnership grant programme for PhD studies and Research for the benefit of young scientists in the Developing World.
How to Write a Good Research Proposal, Benin
The IFS Alumni Association, Association des Boursiers de International Foundation for Science (ABIFS) (see information under IFS Alumni Associations above), organised a workshop in Cotonou, Benin, 12-14 June 2002 on "How to Write a Good Research Proposal."
IFS sponsored the training course that was attended by fifty scientists and graduate students and IFS Scientific Secretary for Food Science, Nathalie Persson Andrianasitera. This workshop was a result of the participation by IFS grantee Jean Ganglo in a workshop for trainers held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in February 2002. Dr Ganglo was assisted by IFS grantees Adam Ahanchede and Eleonore Yayi and IFS Scientific Adviser and former grantee Joseph Hounhouigan. It was agreed that half of the participants would send a research grant application to IFS by the end of the year. IFS will be able to use these applications as indicators of the value of these training courses and possibly, as a way to see if any modifications in the workshops are needed.
In connection with this meeting, Ms Persson Andrianasitera met with the Minister of Higher Education and Research, DorothŽ Sossa, to present IFS and discuss the quality of the applications coming from the Sub-Saharan region. They discussed the necessity of providing training on the preparation of research grant proposals for young scientists and graduate students at the national level. Mr Sossa was positive to the idea and his adviser will work with ABIFS on this issue.
Ms Persson Andrianasitera also met with the Minister of Technical and Professional Education, Dominique Sohounhle and the Chancellor of the University of Abomey-Calavi in Cotonou to discuss the issue of how to improve the quality of applications and the difficulties faced by African scientists.
World Water Week, Stockholm
IFS is a co-convener of the World Water Week in Stockholm, 11-17 August 2002. The World Water Week serves as an interdisciplinary platform to focus global attention on key water issues. IFS grantee Ganlin Zhang from China will give a presentation on "Minimising Agricultural Water Use and Non Point Pollution in Typical Agro-ecological Zones of China". For more information on the World Water Week please contact the Stockholm Water Institute (SIWI): siwi@siwi.org or visit their web page: www.siwi.org
Workshop, Costa Rica
A workshop on "Semiochemicals and Biopesticides: Their Role in Integrated Pest and Disease Management in South and Central America" is being planned by IFS, The Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry (KSLA) and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) in Costa Rica, on the initiative of Bjšrn Lundgren, former IFS Director. The meeting will take place at CATIE, during the first half of 2003. The final dates of the meeting will be announced in the next IFS eNews.
SPECIAL PROGRAMMES
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IFS and FAO is being prepared that will allow IFS to extend the already existing agreement with the Livestock Division of the Department of Agriculture to other Departments and other research areas within FAO. The MoU was discussed during a meeting between Jacques Gaillard of IFS and representatives from the technical Co-operation, Agriculture and Sustainable Development departments at FAO in May.
IFS GOVERNANCE
Executive Committee Meeting
The IFS Executive Committee (EC) of the Board of Trustees (BOT) met for their annual meeting in Stockholm, 25-26 May. The EC Members - Bruno Messerli, IFS Chair; Alberto Nieto, IFS Vice-chair; Beyene Kebede; Eva Selin Lindgren and Jacques Gaillard, Acting Director and ex-officio member of the BOT - approved the IFS Annual Report and Audited Financial Statement for 2001 (available by contacting IFS at: info@ifs.se). The Committee discussed at length the various components of the IFS Sub-regional Programmes including the provision of scientific information to grantees, targeted recruitment efforts for applicants and training in the preparation of research proposals. Updates on the new initiatives - Water Resources and Social Sciences - were also on the agenda. In addition, the Trustees reviewed the issue of eligibility criteria for countries, applicants and purchasing services. The discussion on eligibility criteria will continue at the Board of Trustees meeting in October.
Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees
The meetings of the IFS Board of Trustees and its sub-committees, as well as the meeting of the IFS Donors Group, will take place in Sigtuna, Sweden, 17-22 October. For further information, please contact Ylva Egardt, Secretary to the Director at: ylva.egardt@ifs.se.
IFS DONORS
New Partner, Fundacion Antorchas, Argentina
IFS is proud to announce a new funding partner - the Fundacion Antorchas in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The aim of Fundacion Antorchas is to promote activities that help improve the well being of the community. To achieve this objective, Antorchas focuses on three major areas: education and scientific research; culture and community development. More information about the Foundation can be found at: www.fundantorchas.retina.ar.
For the Spring 2002 granting session, Fundacion Antorchas and IFS co-funded four renewal research grants to young scientists in Argentina.
Continuing Partnership, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia, Mexico
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACYT) has provided funding for two Mexican grants in the Spring 2002 session. This is the fourth year in a row that CONACYT has contributed to the IFS programme.
Swiss National Science Foundation Supports the Social Sciences at IFS
We are pleased to announce that the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) will contribute EUR 62,500 to the IFS Social Science Initiative during 2002-2004. The Social Science Initiative promotes transdisciplinary communication and extends the research support and services that are provided under the auspices of the IFS Granting Programme to social scientists that are conducting research on the conservation, production and sustainable utilisation of the biological resource base. In addition to supporting the social sciences at IFS, SNSF contributes to the IFS core budget and was a co-sponsor of the most recent external evaluation of IFS. For more information about the Social Science Initiative at IFS, contact Eren Zink, Project Secretary: eren.zink@ifs.se
Potential New Donors
IFS is expanding its contacts with funding organisations and potential member organisations. During a visit to Rome in May, Jacques Gaillard established contacts with a number of Italian Institutions including the Italian Academy of Sciences, the National Research Council and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two first mentioned have expressed interest to join IFS as Member Organisations.
Jacques Gaillard also visited the Instituto de Cooperacao Cientifica e Tecnologica Internacional (ICCTI) in Lisbonn in June to discuss a possible contribution from Portugal.
Funding for the IFS 30th Anniversary Brochure
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency's (Sida) Department for Research Cooperation (SAREC) has confirmed funding towards the development and printing of a brochure celebrating IFS' 30th Anniversary. The brochure will highlight thirty-three grantees out of the more than 3000 young scientists that have received research grants from IFS since its inception. Sida has also confirmed its continued core contribution for 2002.
IFS SECRETARIAT
As of 1 March 2002, responsibility for Aquatic Resources activities was transferred to Ingrid Leemans, Scientific Secretary and Annika Eriksson, Assistant - Dr Leemans and Ms Eriksson will continue with the Animal Production Area as well. Cecilia …man, Scientific Secretary; Eva Rostig, Senior Assistant and Jenny Lidholm, Purchasing Manager, have added the responsibility for Water Resources to their work with the Natural Products Research Area.
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