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Year 2026 – Vol. 38 – N.1

From knowledge to impact

EDITORIAL

Working together for a future of hope and shared purpose

Quarraisha Abdool Karim, TWAS President 

As we navigate a period of widening inequities and overlapping crises, one constant remains: science offers clarity and a way forward. It anchors our shared aspirations and helps us work toward a more equitable future. Throughout these challenging times, TWAS has maintained its commitment to strengthening scientific excellence in the global South. This work is supported through our partnership with UNESCO, our collaboration with IAP, OWSD, ICTP and others, and the generosity of our supporters.

Science as a tool for common well-being

Many developing countries have benefited from prioritizing their dedication to scientific advancement, and at the 17th TWAS General Conference many of these benefits were visible. But Guatemala’s quest for scientific growth was particularly on display thanks to a keynote address from the nation’s vice-president Karin Herrera. In her speech, Herrera advocated for science as a pillar of sustainable development, listing the accomplishments of science in Guatemala.

Carrying a legacy forward: Abdus Salam’s grandson on the mission of TWAS

The grandson of TWAS founder Abdus Salam, Moazzum Bajwa—associate professor of family medicine at the University of California Riverside, United States of America—attended the 17th TWAS General Conference in Rio de Janeiro, representing the Salam and Bajwa families. He offered a rare blend of personal reflection and generational perspective on how TWAS continues to embody his grandfather’s mission four decades after its founding.

MAECI Minister Moruzzi visits TWAS, IAP and OWSD

On 29 January 2026, TWAS, IAP, and OWSD welcomed Minister Plenipotentiary Lamberto Moruzzi, director for Scientific, Space, and Sports Diplomacy within the Directorate-General for Economic Cooperation at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The meeting offered a chance to exchange ideas on how to better support researchers in developing countries and strengthen science diplomacy efforts.

Knobel: Enhancing scientific dialogue for peace

TWAS Executive Director Marcelo Knobel appeared on The Bibliotheca Alexandrina Podcast to discuss topics relevant to science in the developing world, from climate change to education and public engagement in science.

TWAS in action

TWAS Fellow Virgílio Almeida kicks off the TWAS Distinguished Speaker Webinar Series on AI and Data Science

To explore the opportunities, challenges, and growing impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science worldwide, particularly in the global South, TWAS is launching a monthly Distinguished Speaker Webinar Series. The first webinar will feature Virgílio Almeida, a TWAS Fellow and professor emeritus at Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil. 

Through Southern Lenses announces winner of inaugural edition

Musuk Nolte, from Peru, wins the first international photography prize launched by the Conrado Wessel Foundation (FCW) in partnership with TWAS, with the essay “Planting Water”. The winning work stood out among submissions from photographers representing all corners of the global South.

TWAS joins over 300 women scientists at SheSCIENCE 2026 Forum in Uzbekistan

On 11 February 2026, over 300 women scientists from across Central Asia convened in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, for SheSCIENCE 2026, a regional forum held celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. TWAS Executive Director Marcelo Knobel and Vice President Sabah AlMomin presented on the Academy and its programmes.

TYAN and TWAS bring global South scientists specializing in neuroscience to Trieste

Scientists from Brazil, Chile, Ghana, and Kyrgyzstan gathered in Trieste for the TWAS Young Affiliates Network (TYAN) workshop on Emerging Themes in Neurobiology. Held 17–19 March at the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), the event explored cutting-edge advances in brain science.

TYAN online seminar series

Three webinars organized by the TWAS Young Affiliates Network to highlight the growing role of collaboration, innovation, and the global South in shaping scientific agendas will offer fresh perspectives on how knowledge is produced, shared, and applied worldwide. Participation via Zoom is free.

Strengthening ties with farmers through hands-on field visits

By meeting farmers where they work, TWAS Alumna Nudrat Aisha Akram is shaping laboratory research around their real challenges and needs. She also collaborates closely with farmers to better understand the challenges they face in the fields.

Women remain underrepresented in scientific organizations

A new report released by IAP, ISC and SCGES shows that in leadership roles, governing bodies, and senior positions and awards women presence is still modest. Data were collected in 2025 from more than 130 among academies and international scientific unions, along with responses from nearly 600 scientists worldwide.

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Vietnamese TWAS Fellow is the first-ever female president of Vietnam National University

On 15 December 2025, Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, a 2025 TWAS Fellow from Viet Nam, has been appointed president of Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCMC), stepping down as its vice-president in charge of international cooperation and scientific research. 

Paulo Artaxo receives the 2026 Alliance of World Scientists Planet Earth Award

A TWAS Fellow since 2009, Brazilian physicist and climatologist Paulo Artaxo has been awarded the 2026 Alliance of World Scientists (AWS) Planet Earth Award. The Brazilian TWAS Fellow is recognized for studying the processes that link the Amazon rainforest to the regional and global climates.

Nigerian TWAS Fellow Babalola elected to the American Academy of Microbiology

Microbiologist Olubukola O. Babalola, a TWAS Fellow since 2021 who serves on the TWAS Council as vice-president for Africa, has been elected to the American Academy of Microbiology (AAM). She is one of the 63 new fellows of the 2026 Class, chosen from 145 nominations.

The European Academy of Sciences bestows the Blaise Pascal Medal upon TWAS Fellow Laurencin

Sir Cato T. Laurencin, a 2006 TWAS Fellow and a professor of chemical engineering, materials science and engineering, and biomedical engineering at the University of Connecticut (UConn) has been awarded the Blaise Pascal Medal in Materials Science from the European Academy of Sciences (EAS). He is honoured for his exceptional contributions to science and technology.

Luisa Maria Diele-Viegas receives the 2026 Alliance of World Scientists Planet Earth Award

Brazilian ecologist Luisa Maria Diele-Viegas, a 2025 TWAS Young Affiliate and a permanent professor in the graduate programme in ecology at the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil, has received the 2026 Alliance of World Scientists Planet Earth Award. She is recognized for her work bridging climate science, biodiversity conservation, and social justice.

IN MEMORIAM

Keto Mshigeni

Acclaimed Tanzanian botanist Keto Mshigeni, elected to TWAS in 1987, passed away on 22 March 2026. He made significant contributions to research on Africa's bioresources, focusing on documenting indigenous knowledge of edible and medicinal plants to promote sustainability and well-being.

Antonino Zichichi

Antonino Zichichi, an emeritus professor of advanced physics at the University of Bologna, and a TWAS Fellow since 1986, passed away on 9 February 2026, at the age of 96. Zichichi was a leading Italian figure in high energy physics. He carried out part of his early scientific work at Fermilab in Chicago and at CERN in Geneva.

Roseanne Denise Diab

Prof. Diab was a distinguished South African researcher and global science leader whose career left an enduring impact on atmospheric science, science policy, and global efforts to advance gender equity in science, innovation, technology and engineering. She passed away on 10 January 2026. 

Carlos Santiago Andreo

Carlos Santiago Andreo, a biochemistry professor in the department of biochemical and pharmaceutical sciences at the National University of Rosario (NUR), Argentina, and a 2005 TWAS Fellow, passed away on 17 January 2026. His research in plant physiology and molecular biology has been recognized by some of the world’s most prestigious institutions.

Dan Stein

Internationally renowned psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dan Stein, elected to TWAS in 2016, passed away on 6 December 2025 at the age of 63. He made substantial contributions to psychiatric research in South Africa and internationally.

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 2025, TWAS had 1,468 elected Fellows representing 112 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 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, TWAS has graduated over 1,300 PhDs and awarded more than 2,300 postdoctoral fellowships to developing world scientists. The Academy also bestowed over 1,300 prizes, awarded over 2,870 research grants, trained over 850 individuals in science diplomacy, and supported over 1,400 exchange visits.

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 12,000 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 150 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.

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