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Year 2023 – Vol. 35 – N.3

A new generation for global South science

EDITORIAL

Ensuring a chance for young scientists to flourish

Franco Cabrerizo, TWAS Young Affiliates Network chair

Seven years ago, the first executive committee of the TWAS Young Affiliates Network—or TYAN—came together during the 27th TWAS General Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, to launch our organisation. Today, our Network is an active member of the global science community, offering specialized and vital resources to young scientists in the developing world.

We organise workshops and conferences throughout the developing world. We connect the great challenges in sustainable development to the need for a corps of young scientists in the global South. And we actively advocate for the interests, needs, and activities of early-career researchers—as well as the importance of nurturing long-term science—to policymakers, journalists, and entrepreneurs throughout the world.

It’s a great honour to open this TWAS Newsletter, in which the Academy is featuring many signs of TYAN’s strong growth. I’m proud to see the path we have cleared, together, for young scientists in every corner of the developing world to take part in the science we need in order to tackle important topics such as climate, biotechnology, big data, open access, and education.

TWAS YOUNG AFFILIATES NETWORK

Learning from hands-on practice

The TWAS Young Affiliates Network (TYAN) organized a five-day summer school in La Paz, Bolivia. The school offered more than 100 young students and scientists from Latin America and the Caribbean not only the chance to attend theoretical seminars and hands-on sessions but also to establish mutual collaborations.

The Higher University of San Andrés (UMSA) and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) of Bolivia hosted the event. UMSA Rector Oscar Heredia praised the opportunities offered by TWAS Young Affiliates and encouraged further similar activities in the future. "A country without science and education is a country without a future," he said in his welcome remarks.

"For young scientists in developing countries, events like this one break their isolation and build a positive sense of community. By creating these connections, TWAS plays an influential role worldwide," said TYAN member and plant biologist Pablo Bolaños-Villegas, a group leader at the Universty of Costa Rica.

TYAN: A helping hand to re-enter science

In a recent essay, early-career biologist Sdenka Moscoso of Bolivia describes her experience returning to science from full-time motherhood and attending the TYAN Summer School in Bolivia.

In her essay, Moscoso describes her situation before attending the school: "In 2015, I returned from Brescia, Italy, proud to have achieved one of my life’s goals — a doctorate on research with zebrafish as an animal model."

"I returned to my home country, Bolivia, for family reasons and my aspirations of becoming a mother. Although this led me away from science for seven years, I must say it was completely worth it. I am now the proud mother of three beautiful treasures, alongside my admirable life partner," she adds. "However, my day-to-day life was increasingly filled with a concern to return to academia, and to be honest, I began to feel professionally frustrated. So, I decided that I needed to make a change.”

South–South collaboration is key

Practical laboratory training is critically needed for scientists in the global South, said Franco Cabrerizo, the chair of TYAN, in a recently published Correspondence in the British weekly scientific journal Nature.

Cabrerizo underlined this point in his message to Nature’s readership, drawing on knowledge from the first TYAN Summer School held in Bolivia, where he was an instructor. 

"Our South–South initiative equipped trainees with the tools to further their research," he said. "Now more investment in research is needed so that they can apply these tools effectively.”

Jaqueline Mesquita receives MAECI award

Jaqueline Mesquita, a Brazilian mathematician and an alumna of the TWAS Young Affiliate programme, is one of the five female researchers to receive the ‘Science, She Says!’ award.

The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) established the prize in 2022 to acknowledge women in science who have distinguished themselves in their country of origin. The ‘Science, She Says!’ award includes a medal and a diploma signed by the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Antonio Tajani.

"I would like to thank the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for this prize and for the recognition," Mesquita said. "This award is very important for my career, as it recognizes the science I am investigating and encourages scientific collaboration with the Italian mathematics community."

TWAS announces four Medallists

The TWAS Council has announced its four TWAS Medallists for 2024. These medals celebrate excellence in research and contributions to developing world science.

Medallists traditionally deliver TWAS Medal Lectures at a TWAS General Conference. 

The 2024 medallists are:

• TWAS Fellow from the South, recognized for scientific achievements: Akiça Bahri of Tunisia
• TWAS Fellow from the North, recognized for scientific achievements:
  Anton Zeilinger of Austria (Nobel Laureate)
• Recognized for contributions to issues of inequalities in developing countries: Shirley Malcomof the United States
• TWAS Young Affiliate Alumnus, recognized for scientific achievements: Li Yin of China

A look back: The launching of TYAN

9 December 2016: Scientific competence, energy and the urgency to promote social responsibility are qualities that members of the newly established TWAS Young Affiliates Network (TYAN) all share.

They met for the first time during the TWAS's 27th General Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, where they officially established the network and began planning a series of ambitious endeavours.

"The founding and development of TYAN is a good platform for collaboration and communication among young scientists," said then-TWAS President Bai Chunli. "I think that TYAN will become a platform where young scientists can make contributions to the excellence of science, and also encourage collaboration in developing countries. I believe that, with its wisdom and capacity, TYAN will be successful for the future."

TWAS NEWS

UNESCO-TWAS Executive Director Murenzi retires

After serving as UNESCO-TWAS Executive Director for more than a decade, Romain Murenzi retired on 30 November 2023. The Director-General of UNESCO has appointed Atish Dabholkar, Director of the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), as the interim Executive Director.

The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has acknowledged the remarkable accomplishments of TWAS during his tenure. She said: “The Academy has gone far and achieved so much. By providing funding and equipment, it has played a vital role in ensuring appropriate working conditions for scientists in the global South. By fostering the potential of young people, particularly women, it has actively contributed to the development of a diverse community of highly qualified scientists.”

“Only recently I had the pleasure to meet Prof. Murenzi and appreciate his vision, dedication and enthusiasm in the constant effort to elevate the role of TWAS in the scientific community during his time as Director,” said Minister Plenipotentiary Giuseppe Pastorelli, director for integrated promotion and innovation at the Directorate General for Country Promotion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy.

TWAS joins MAECI’s #TogetherfortheSDGs campaign

The Italian city of Trieste hosts an international scientific hub that contributes vital progress toward achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To celebrate this contribution, the event ‘Trieste: Science for the 2030 Agenda’ was held on 15 November 2023 in Trieste as part of the #InsiemepergliSDGs (#TogetherfortheSDGs) campaign.

The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) launched the campaign in 2020. MAECI’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Edmondo Cirielli was the major Italian representative at the event.

“Trieste is a city of science and scientific cooperation that, also thanks to the presence of the International Scientific Pole, provides research and training to support the most vulnerable countries, starting from Africa, where Italy is committed with initiatives to ensure growth, stability and development in the perspective of the Mattei Plan,” said Edmondo Cirielli, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy.

New opportunities for researchers from LDCs in the State of São Paulo

Up to 175 researchers from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) will have the opportunity to carry out research in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. These fellowships emerge from a new collaboration between UNESCO-TWAS and the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).

FAPESP is a public foundation whose mission is to support research projects in higher education and research institutions, as well as large research programmes in areas such as biodiversity, bioenergy, and climate change.

On 5 October 2023, TWAS Executive Director Romain Murenzi and FAPESP President Marco Antonio Zago signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will provide researchers from LDCs with up to 35 fellowships per year, tenable in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Of these, up to 20 will be for postdoctoral research and 15 for PhDs. The postdoctoral fellowships call is currently open with a deadline of 29 March 2024. 

Research grants for developing countries:
all you need to know

A guide to a vital source of funding for developing world scientists, including research grants provided by TWAS and Sida, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

Women-led teams receive unique catalyst grants for climate action

The TWAS-Elsevier Foundation Project Grants for Gender Equity and Climate Action are designed to strengthen gender equity, address the climate-related needs of local communities, and apply scientific knowledge to real-life scenarios. 

Generating stars, near and far

Itziar Aretxaga of Mexico, elected a TWAS Fellow in 2022 and inducted in 2023, has been a leader in major discoveries about young, distant galaxies. But as the leader of an international education programme for young astronomers, she has helped provide critical knowledge to students in countries where astronomy mentorship is difficult to find.

Low-cost energy for Senegal

Senegalese materials scientist Diouma Kobor is committed to helping his country devise new strategies to reduce fossil fuel emissions. Through a Sida-backed TWAS Research Grant covering 2022–2024, he is testing new materials to build inexpensive solar cells and boost a cost-effective technology that converts sunlight into electricity.

Mapping mosquito distribution in Mali

A new tool to fight viral diseases spread by mosquito bites, which are a health concern in many African countries, is the focus of Malian TWAS grantee Fatalmoudou Tandina's research. She is working to find effective strategies to reduce the insects' impact on the population, and contribute to mosquito-control strategies.

Tailoring the needs of African farmers

Tanzanian engineer Kadeghe Goodluck Fue is a 2021–2023 SG-NAPI grant awardee who has developed a smartphone application that assists farmers, advising when it's time to water their crops or add fertilizer. The app will help farmers ensure that they do the right interventions when needed, saving time and money.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

IN MEMORIAM

Support TWAS

A donation contributes to the advancement of science,
engineering, and technology in developing nations.

The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries (TWAS) works to support sustainable prosperity through research, education, policy and diplomacy.

TWAS was founded in 1983 by a distinguished group of scientists from the global South and global North, under the leadership of Abdus Salam, the Pakistani physicist and Nobel laureate. As of January 2024, TWAS will have 1,416 elected Fellows representing over 110 countries; 13 of them are Nobel laureates. It is based in Trieste, Italy, on the campus of the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP).

Through almost four decades, the Academy’s mission has remained consistent, namely to:

• Recognize, support and promote excellence in scientific research in the developing world
• Respond to the needs of young scientists in countries that are lagging in science and technology
• Promote South-South and South-North cooperation in science, technology and innovation, and
• Encourage scientific and engineering research and sharing of experiences in solving major problems facing developing countries.

With its partners, it has graduated over 1,000 PhDs and offered hundreds of postdoctoral fellowships to developing world scientists. The Academy also hosts prestigious scientific awards in the global South, has offered numerous research grants, and supports exchange visits for scientists.

TWAS hosts and works in association with two organizations, also hosted on the ICTP campus: the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) and the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP).

At its founding in 1989, OWSD was the first international forum uniting women scientists from the developing and developed worlds. Today, the organization has more than 8,200 members. Their objective is to strengthen the role of women in the development process and promote their representation in scientific and technological leadership.

IAP represents more than 140 national and regional science and medical academies worldwide. It provides high-quality analysis and advice on science, health and development to national and international policymakers and the public; supports programmes on scientific capacity-building, education and communication; leads efforts to expand international science cooperation; and promotes the involvement of women and young scientists in all its activities.

TWAS, a programme unit of UNESCO, receives its core funding from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

TWAS NEWSLETTER
Produced quarterly by The World Academy of Sciences
for the advancement of science in developing countries (TWAS)

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