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Year 2024 – Vol. 36 – N.1

TWAS Research Grants in the spotlight

EDITORIAL

Changing the world, one grant at a time

Atish Dabholkar, ICTP Director and TWAS Executive Director a.i.

In his speech at the Nobel Banquet in 1979, Abdus Salam, the founding director of ICTP and TWAS, captured succinctly the essence of the mission of both these institutions: “Let us strive to provide equal opportunities to all so that they can engage in the creation of Physics and science for the benefit of all mankind.“

Across the developing world, many researchers still lack the opportunities enjoyed by their colleagues in wealthier regions. This is where research grants take centre stage: they provide essential support to those striving for research excellence in the global South.

Research grants award financial support to those who apply for it through a competitive process. They allow scientists to purchase equipment, tools, supplies, and research journals as well as cover publishing and conference fees, and support staff.

TWAS RESEARCH GRANTS

Increasing soil productivity with help from earthworms

In countries where the soil is not fertile enough and the harvest is poor, unexpected help may come from unexpected sources like earthworms. Agricultural microbiologist Ezekiel Mugendi Njeru of Kenya and soil biotechnologist Rondro Baohanta of Madagascar live in countries where food scarcity is a challenge. They delved into the ground for a solution — and indeed, they found one.

By combining their skills, they devised a joint project to produce high quality, low-cost mixture to increase soil fertility. They mix earthworms and beneficial soil bacteria to turn organic waste into a nutrient-rich mash. Farmers who cannot afford to buy manufactured fertilizers could capitalize on this low-cost technique to boost plant growth. The procedure will also help reduce the amount of chemicals released into the environment.

TWAS-Sida grants: fostering biochemistry research in Sri Lanka 

Recent grantee Meran Keshawa Ediriweera discusses how TWAS support facilitated both research and new avenues for collaboration.

Subjects such as fatty acids and epigenetics are a consistently important field within biochemistry, offering a strong foundation for researchers striving to establish a solid career. And thanks to a research grant from TWAS, I’m launching long-term research on the epigenetic effects of fatty acids, a fascinating basic sciences research topic in Biochemistry, at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Fuelling research with distilled water

When Midimahu Vahid Aïssi’s water distiller broke at the end of 2022, the department at the National Agriculture University in Sakete, Benin, where he works, faced a serious setback. However, the fact that Aïssi received the distiller from a TWAS grant supported by Sida made all the difference.

The Beninese biochemist and food technologist applied for a maintenance grant and received financial support to fix the broken equipment. Now, not only his team, but more than 300 students and researchers at his university, can continue research that requires distilled water.

Seeking more nutritious maize for Bangladesh

Early in her scientific career, food chemist Ashrafi Hossain of Bangladesh developed an interest in the nutritional properties of food, specializing in techniques to spot, extract and characterize healthy components.

After receiving a TWAS grant for individual scientists, supported by Sida, she is expanding her studies to investigate the nutritional properties of local maize. She wants to identify compounds called anti-nutrients, substances that interfere with the absorption of other essential minerals when eaten. Another goal is also to eliminate those disturbing components from Bangladeshi maize varieties, and obtain better food for her people.

Collaborating for insecticide-free tomatoes

Plant pathologist Lizzy Mwamburi of Kenya and molecular biologist Azizul Haque of Bangladesh want to promote sustainable agriculture in their countries. And, through a TWAS collaborative research grant supported by Sida, they received their chance.

They are now combining their skills to develop a farming method based on the use of soil bacteria and fungi to shield tomatoes from parasites. Their objective is to grow insecticide-free tomatoes, to reduce the unintentional health hazards for the populations that eat vegetables contaminated with pesticide residues.

Women in science: time to take the front seat

For the ninth year in a row, 11 February marked the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The UN celebration aims to bring attention to the gender gap that still exists, and to the notion that 'science is for everyone'.

According to UNESCO Science Report 2021, women have achieved parity (45–55%) at the bachelor’s and master’s levels of study and are close to parity at PhD level (44%). Unfortunately, on average, the gender gap tends to widen the further they pursue their career.

Storing energy through waste derivatives

Ghanaian computational chemist Caroline Kwawu and Senegalese nanomaterials physicist Balla Diop Ngom may be from different countries, but they share the same research interest: better energy-storing devices. Now, thanks to a TWAS grant, they can work together to find innovative solutions.

Through a TWAS collaborative research grant supported by Sida, they are working to turn plant waste, or ‘biomass’, into nanocellulose, a plant-derived fibre that can be used to build electrodes for energy-storage devices. The new electrodes would offer greater, longer-lasting storage over those manufactured in a factory.

TWAS HIGHLIGHTS

A new look for TWAS Plus

With a new eye-catching appearance, the Academy's bimonthly bulletin offers easier-to-navigate sections for news.

TWAS Plus, the bimonthly electronic bulletin launched in 2015 that TWAS delivers to almost 44,000 subscribers worldwide, has changed its look. After nine years of dissemination in its first design, the Academy's publication—which features news on research grants, opportunities, awards and career-building events—is now more user-friendly.

TWAS Young Affiliates: scientists on the rise

The Academy provides a special distinction to some of the best young scientific minds in the global South, raising their profiles and opening up further opportunities.

Every year, each of the five TWAS Regional Partners selects up to five brilliant early-career scientists to become Young Affiliates. These young scientists join a growing network of some of the developing world’s most promising talents, and bring valuable energy and generational perspective to the Academy.

They also receive further opportunities to interact and learn from TWAS Fellows, some of the most accomplished scientific minds in the global South.

TWAS LinkedIn page reaches 10,000 followers

Following the Academy's page on the professional social media platform is an excellent way to receive updates on TWAS's opportunities and activities.

In its fifth year of strong growth, the TWAS LinkedIn Page has achieved a 10,000-follower benchmark.

LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network with more than 900 million members in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

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)

Strada Costiera 11, 34151, Trieste, Italy
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TWAS Executive Director a.i.: Atish Dabholkar
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