IFS eNews No. 8, December 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. We would appreciate your comments on the contents of IFS eNews to info@ifs.se.
Developing Science
IFS 30 YEARS
Science for Development
In this issue
1. MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
1.1 IFS 30th Anniversary
1.2 IFS former grantees are everywhere
1.3 IFS focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa in 2003
2. IFS GRANTING PROGRAMME
2.1 Awards to IFS grantees
2.2 New grants approved October 2002
2.3 Call for applications - Deadline DECEMBER 31st, 2002!
2.4 Reconsideration of the age criteria for Sub-Saharan Africa
2.5 Comment by e-mail on "the missing generation of scientists in Africa"
2.6 Social sciences initiative
2.7 Biodiversity and taxonomy
3. IFS BOARD OF TRUSTEES' ANNUAL MEETING
3.1 New Trustees on the IFS
Board
3.2 New IFS Member Organisations 2002
4. MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS
4.1 Scientific equipment
4.2 Sustainable agriculture
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS
5.1 Hot off the press! MESIA REPORT No 4 - Science
and IFS in Tanzania
5.2 IFS Scientific Adviser Peter Wood honoured by HM Queen Elisabeth II
5.3 START Young Scientists' Global Change Conference November 16-19, 2003
1. Message from the Director
1.1 IFS 30TH ANNIVERSARY
IFS celebrates its 30th anniversary. During six days of meetings in October in Sigtuna, Sweden, the Board of Trustees, Scientific Advisory Committees and Donors discussed the future orientation of the IFS programme. An all-day seminar, where former grantees reflected on the role of scientists in developing countries, was held on October 19. In addition, IFS launched the "Developing Science & Science for Development" booklet containing 33 personal histories of former IFS grantees and their careers. The stories illustrate both the diverse backgrounds of our grantees and the existence of an important common denominator: how an individual IFS grant can become a rallying point for the establishment of a research team at the grantee's institution thereby spurring enthusiasm and hope. The stories also show how the grant can become a stepping stone to a lifelong career as a leading scientist. The first edition of the booklet is limited, but you can express your interest in a copy to info@ifs.se. More news from the meetings below.
1.2 IFS FORMER GRANTEES ARE EVERYWHERE
The 33 scientists whose stories are told in the "Developing Science & Science for Development" booklet are just a small sample of a much larger constituency. During my participation in three recent major conferences (The World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, The General Assembly of the International Council for Science, ICSU, held in Rio de Janeiro, and the Annual Meeting of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research, CGIAR, held in Manila), I repeatedly had the pleasure of meeting former IFS grantees in key positions in national scientific establishments, the UN system and international agricultural research and policy organisations. I was reminded of the IFS mission stating that the purpose of a grant is to help young scientists become established as science leaders and recognised nationally and internationally. This is by now a fact. Former grantees constitute an impressive part of the science and development establishment both in individual countries and in international organisations.
1.3 FOCUS ON SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA IN 2003
IFS now looks to the future. At the October meetings the Board of Trustees approved a strategy to reach greater numbers of researchers in countries with vulnerable scientific infrastructures. In 2003 IFS will therefore initiate activities in Central America, some Andean countries, and South East Asia.
However, our main effort will be put into a major campaign to increase the number and competitiveness of applications from researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa. IFS has carried out intensive research to understand the constraints encountered by researchers in this region. The decision to focus on Sub-Saharan Africa is our response to the communication we have had with over 700 African researchers. We learned that research opportunities are limited by a lack of research equipment, poor library facilities, limited access to the Internet, insufficient research funding, and low salaries. As a result, many young top graduates choose not to proceed with a scientific profession, and those who attempt to do so face an uphill battle when they compete for research funds with researchers from developing countries in Asia and Latin America which have invested in science. These and other findings are further elaborated in MESIA Report No 2 and MESIA Report No 4 (Item 5.1 in this newsletter), available on the IFS website, www.ifs.se
Our focus on Sub-Saharan Africa is further underpinned by the realisation that there is a "generation gap" in the research community in this region. The present population of professors and senior researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa is a "greying" lot. The shortage of scientifically trained personnel in most African countries will assume critical proportions in a few years time when many established scientists retire, and efforts to achieve sustainable development will be fatally undermined without a serious commitment to revitalising science in Africa.
Now that IFS is drawing up a strategy to retrieve the "missing generation" of scientists in Africa, your personal experiences would again be invaluable to us. I would therefore like to invite you to correspond with me on the issue by e-mail (michael.stahl@ifs.se). Some of our questions are defined under Item 2.5 in this newsletter.
As we enter the new century the need for scientists in developing countries is growing fast. The global knowledge economy has arrived. Sustainable development must be science-based and technology-driven. This is particularly important in Africa where development is constrained by unsustainable patterns of land use, environmental degradation, outmoded infrastructure and obsolete industrial technology. The challenge is daunting. In sectors such as water, energy, agriculture as well as biodiversity and ecosystem management, there is already an impressive array of project proposals in the planning stage. Funding will be available from the international donor community and the private sector, following the outcomes of the UN summits on Sustainable Development and on Finance for Development, held during 2002. However, if these projects are to take off, there must be an ample supply of qualified African professionals, especially scientists, technicians and managers. Meanwhile, the required scientific capacity to implement technologies for clean production and environment-friendly use of natural resources does not currently exist in Africa, and is not likely to be imported.
During 2003, IFS will work closely with partner organisations to develop a comprehensive strategy for responding to the impending shortage of science capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa. In February 2003 a team from IFS will tour the major universities and research institutes in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda to launch the MESIA reports and to discuss with researchers and science administrators a number of concrete steps that could increase the number of East African researchers that are awarded IFS grants. The team will also discuss the need for further supporting activities such as preparatory courses, assignment of mentors, establishment of thematic networks, etc. After the release of a new study on the situation of researchers in Cameroon later in 2003, a similar drive is projected for West Africa.
Michael Ståhl
IFS Director
2. IFS Granting Programme
2.1 AWARDS TO IFS GRANTEES 2002
Each of the annually attributed Awards is in the amount of USD 2,000 and given for noteworthy achievements clearly associated with work supported fully or in part by IFS.
This year, our warmest congratulations go to
the IFS/Danida Awardees:
** ETIENNE DONGO, Cameroon
** ADOLPHE MONKIEDJE, Cameroon
** SAMBA NDAO SYLLA, Senegal
and
the IFS Jubilee Awardees:
** M C NANDEESHA, India
** TUYA SHARKHUU, Mongolia
** JIANG YUEMING, China
As a mark of the 30th Anniversary, the Board decided to change the name of the IFS Silver Jubilee Award to the IFS Jubilee Award (The IFS Silver Jubilee Award was established to celebrate IFS' 25 years in 1997). The IFS Jubilee Award will continue to be given to grantees outside Sub-Saharan Africa, whilst grantees in Sub-Saharan Africa are eligible for the IFS/Danida Award.
2.2 RESEARCH GRANTS APPROVED OCTOBER 2002
In the winter 2002 session, the IFS Scientific Advisory Committees (SACs) reviewed 328 grants applications, of which 276 were first grant applications and 52 renewal grant applications. Region-wise, 48% were from Africa, 22% from Latin America/the Caribbean and 30% from Asia/the Pacific.
The Director has approved 96 project proposals for funding from the winter 2002 session for a total of USD 964,000.
The new grantees are being personally informed, after which a complete list of the grants will be available on the IFS website.
2.3 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
** Deadline for the spring 2003 session: December 31st, 2002 **
Potential applicants! If you wish to have your application processed in the spring 2003 session, you should make sure it arrives at the IFS Secretariat before December 31st, 2002. Applications are accepted all year-round, but the selection process works in six-month cycles. The final decision for applications filed before the end of this year will be taken in May 2003 and communicated to the applicants in June 2003.
In order that IFS might extend its support as broadly as possible, we take this opportunity to remind you to inform your colleagues about IFS and the possibility of getting a research grant. In particular, we would like to involve all our grantees in the promotion of the IFS granting scheme.
We wish to thank those of you who have offered to inform others about IFS when attending workshops and conferences. If you are going to a meeting where you would like to display IFS information material, just send a message well in advance to Pirkko Tolamo (IFS Office Assistant) - pirkko.tolamo@ifs.se - to get the material posted to you or to the venue.
2.4 RECONSIDERATION OF THE AGE CRITERIA FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
We have identified the 40-year rule as particularly difficult to meet for scientists in Sub-Saharan Africa, and are therefore pleased to announce a reconsideration of the age criteria for applicants from this region.
If you are a citizen of a Sub-Saharan country (excl. South Africa), you can still apply even if you are over 40 years of age, provided that you took your highest academic degree (minimum MSc or equivalent) less than five years ago and are entering a research career. For more details, e-mail info@ifs.se.
2.5 COMMENT BY E-MAIL ON "THE MISSING GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS IN AFRICA"
Anecdotal evidence indicates that the present population of professors and senior researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa is a "greying" lot. The average age is high and many are close to retirement. Recruitment of a young generation of scientists has been grossly inadequate. The reasons are well known. In the 1980's and 1990's most African countries suffered from general economic decline while at the same time vastly growing cohorts of secondary school-leavers put pressure on the universities. Undergraduate training was prioritised while research dwindled. Research institutes saw their budgets severely cut. The number of research positions and scholarships was restricted. A number of researchers left their institutions and moved out of Africa, others moved into consultancy and business.
In order for IFS to develop appropriate strategies to retrieve the "missing generation of scientists in Africa", we need your feedback. As mentioned above (Item 1.3), IFS Director Michael Ståhl would therefore like to invite all African researchers reading this newsletter to share your reactions and thoughts with him by e-mail, michael.stahl@ifs.se
In particular IFS would appreciate knowing the following:
a) What is the age structure of the academic staff at your department?
b) If there is a shortage of "young" (below 40 years of age) academic
staff; what is the reason?
c) How could the situation be remedied?
d) What could IFS do?
We are eagerly awaiting your comments!
2.6 SOCIAL SCIENCES INITIATIVE
We are pleased to announce that the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) has made a three-year financial commitment to the IFS Social Sciences Initiative. DFG joins the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Netherlands Foreign Ministry as a co-funder of the initiative.
The initiative, launched in 2002, makes IFS research grants available to developing country researchers exploring the social and/or economic aspects of the sustainable management of the biological resource base, including water. For more information about the initiative, please contact Eren Zink by e-mail - eren.zink@ifs.se. Researchers interested in applying for research support under this initiative can download the standard IFS application form from the IFS website or request an application form - either electronic or in paper form - from applications@ifs.se.
2.7 BIODIVERSITY AND TAXONOMY
IFS supports research in taxonomy where this supports sustainable development. In this context, we are now delighted to welcome BioNET-INTERNATIONAL as a Member Organisation of IFS. We hope that collaboration between BioNET-INTERNATIONAL and IFS will support long-term improvements in human infrastructure related to taxonomy. More information on BioNET-INTERNATIONAL: www.bionet-intl.org
3. IFS Board of Trustees Annual Meeting 2002
Sigtuna, Sweden, October 21-22
3.1 NEW TRUSTEES ON THE IFS BOARD
The IFS Board of Trustees has nominated three new Trustees to begin their terms as of January 1st, 2003.
** for Latin America/the Caribbean:
ANA MARÍA CETTO, a full-time research professor of the Institute of
Physics and a lecturer at the Departments of Physics and Biology of the Faculty
of Sciences at National University of Mexico (UNAM). Professor Cetto received
her professional degree in Physics from UNAM, an MA in Biophysics from Harvard
University and an MSc and PhD in Physics from UNAM. She occupies senior posts
in prominent international organisations, such as Chair of the Executive Committee
of the Pugwash Conferences (Nobel Peace Prize 1995). Professor Cetto replaces
Alberto Nieto of the Universidad de la Republica in Uruguay. Professor Nieto
is a former IFS grantee and Adviser and has served as an IFS Trustee since
1997 and as Vice-chair of the Board for the period May 2000 - December 2002.
** for Africa:
SARA BAISAI FERESU, Director of the Institute of Environmental Studies in Zimbabwe
and an Associate Professor of Microbiology at the Department of Biological
Sciences at the University of Zimbabwe. Professor Feresu received a BSc in
Biological Sciences at Wolverhampton Polytechnic and a PhD in Bacteriology
from the University of Leicester. Professor Feresu is a former IFS grantee
and Adviser. Professor Feresu succeeds Dr Beyene Kebede of the Ethiopian
Science and Technology Commission. Dr Beyene has been an IFS Trustee since
1997.
** for North America/Europe:
WENDY WHITE, Director of the National Research Council's Board on International
Scientific Organization at the US National Academy of Sciences. Ms White
heads the unit that administers the US components of the international scientific
unions. She has degrees in French and History and a Master's in Library Science.
Ms White follows Professor Carl-Olof Jacobson, formerly the Secretary General
of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and IFS Trustee since 1997.
IFS welcomes these three excellent and very well qualified individuals to the Board of Trustees and thanks, with deepest appreciation, the outgoing Trustees for their devotion and service to IFS.
3.2 NEW MEMBER ORGANISATIONS 2002
This year, IFS welcomes nine new Member Organisations (MOs). They are
in Africa:
** Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Kenya
** Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique (CNRST), Mali
** Comité National de la Recherche Agricole (CNRA), Mali
** Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), Sierra Leone
** National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Uganda
in Asia:
** Mongolian Academy of Sciences
and the regional and international organisations
** Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central
Africa (ASARECA), Headquarters in Entebbe, Uganda
** Institut du Sahel (INSAH), HQs in Bamako, Mali
and
** BioNET-INTERNATIONAL(The Global Network for Taxonomy), HQs in Surrey, United
Kingdom
This brings the total number of IFS MOs to 135 in 86 countries.
4. Meetings and Workshops
4.1 SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT
International workshop on Purchasing, Servicing and Maintenance of Scientific Equipment in Western Africa, November 5-8, University of Buea, Cameroon
IFS and Buea University hosted an International Workshop on the situation of the scientific equipment at research institutes and universities in Western Africa . which brought together stakeholders at all levels of maintenance, purchase and decision making. Participants came from eight countries in the region; Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Togo and Senegal. The workshop established initiatives to solve the major problems experienced by technicians, researchers and policymakers. Follow-up activities are to be put into immediate action, and proceedings from the workshop will be published by IFS.
A list of participants with contact information and other workshop material will be available on the IFS website shortly.
UPCOMING: NUSESA Annual Meeting, December 9-13, University of Namibia
NUSESA - the Network of Users of Scientific Equipment in Eastern and Southern Africa - will hold its annual meeting at the University of Namibia December 9-13, 2002. Representatives of the 15 networking countries will discuss plans for national and regional training courses as well as databases of available scientific equipment and technical resource persons in the region. IFS will be represented by Ingela Taxell.
4.2 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Livestock as the focal point of sustainable farming systems, November 10-11, Mérida, Mexico
A two-day regional workshop on the role of livestock in sustainable agriculture was held at the Autonomous University of Yucatán (UADY). The workshop was arranged under the IFS/Mistra programme(Mistra = the Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research, based in Sweden). The aim was to create an opportunity for young researchers in the region to meet with senior scientists to exchange experiences, opinions and ideas with a view to future collaboration. Among the some 25 participants were several IFS grantees and IFS advisers.
Highlights of the sessions, conclusions and recommendations, a list of the workshop participants and their PowerPoint presentations were compiled to CD-format and will be available on the IFS website shortly. For further information contact Ingrid Leemans, e-mail ingrid.leemans@ifs.se
The IFS/Mistra workshop participants also attended the international conference "Responding to the increasing global demand for animal products", organised by the British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) and its Mexican and American sister organisations, November 12-15.
UPCOMING: The CODESRIA-IFS Sustainable Agriculture Initiative
IFS and the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa
(CODESRIA) are launching a three stage initiative on agricultural sustainability
in Africa. This initiative aims to help African researchers working in the
field of sustainable agriculture to orient their activities towards meeting
the needs of African farmers.
A workshop on this issue will take place December 15-16, 2002, in Kampala, Uganda. Representatives of CODESRIA and IFS will join African researchers, policy makers, extension agents and farmers to identify research agendas that can answer farmers' demands for sustainable solutions to farming problems. IFS and CODESRIA will use the recommendations of the meeting as a foundation for a joint research grant programme supporting African researchers working on multidisciplinary research problems in the field of sustainable agriculture. More information from Eren Zink, e-mail eren.zink@ifs.se
5. Announcements
5.1 HOT OFF THE PRESS! MESIA No 4 - SCIENCE AND IFS IN TANZANIA
The fourth MESIA Impact Study Strengthening Science Capacity in Tanzania: An Impact Analysis of IFS Support provides both an overview of the Tanzanian science and technology environment, and an in-depth analysis of the impact of IFS support for young researchers. The report finds that well-targeted support to young scientists at the beginning of their research career strengthens national science capacity, even in environments characterised by a fragile science infrastructure and insufficient funding.
Electronic copies of MESIA Report No 4, as well as earlier reports, are available from the IFS website. Hard copies of the report can be requested from Pirkko Tolamo, e-mail pirkko.tolamo@ifs.se
5.2 IFS SCIENTIFIC ADVISER PETER WOOD HONOURED BY HM QUEEN ELISABETH II
IFS congratulates Peter Wood, member of the IFS Forestry/Agroforestry Scientific Advisory Committee, who was made an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen's Jubilee Honours this year "for services to Commonwealth Forestry".
After his first Commonwealth posting in 1957 in Tanzania, Peter Wood worked as head of Tropical Silviculture at Oxford University. He worked also as a consultant for the World Bank, FAO, British Overseas Development and IDRC, in India, Nepal, most countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, some Pacific islands and several countries of the Middle East.
Peter Wood joined ICRAF in Nairobi in 1983, and was in 1990 appointed Senior Forestry Adviser with the British Government's Overseas Development Administration, responsible mainly for programmes in Africa and south Asia. He was chairman of the Commonwealth Forestry Association from 1993 to 1997 and for many years leader of the IUFRO Tropical Silviculture working group. Since retirement from ODA/DFID he is working for organisations such as the African Forest Research Network (AFORNET), Ford Foundation, India, the Commonwealth Forestry Association, of which he is vice-president, and IFS.
5.3 START YOUNG SCIENTISTS' GLOBAL CHANGE CONFERENCE, TRIESTE, ITALY, NOVEMBER 16-19, 2003
The Third World Academy of Science (TWAS) and the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) will host the First International START Young Scientists' Global Change Conference in November next year. The conference is "intended to stimulate competition, encourage excellence, reward outstanding performance and encourage the development of personal and institutional networks." Young scientists (under the age of 35) are invited to submit papers and posters on the physical, biological and human aspects of global change. Read everything about the conference on http://www.start.org/Fellowships/YS_Conference.html
More information can also be obtained from Kristy Ross of the Climatology Research Group at the University of the Witwatersrand, e-mail: kristy@crg.bpb.wits.ac.za, fax: +27 11 717-6535
We hope that IFS eNews is an effective way to inform you about recent developments. Your comments on the contents and form of IFS eNews would be most appreciated; e-mail them to Tanja Lundén - tanja.lunden@ifs.se
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