TWAS Plus - Vol. 11 No. 2 - April 2025

Speakers and participants in the Senegal workshop (Photo: G. Ortolani/TWAS).

TOP STORY

TWAS Research Grants: Powering research institutions in Senegal

TWAS Research Grants programme, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), is providing unique opportunities to early career researchers and their work at the University Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), the Pasteur Institute of Dakar (IPD), and the Thiès Polytechnic School. These grants demonstrate how targeted scientific funding can spark solutions to challenges related to energy, health, and sustainable development. More

TWAS OPPORTUNITIES

Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators (SG-NAPI)
Young scientists from African science- and technology-lagging countries identified by TWAS may apply for financial support to develop high-level research projects under the BMBF-supported SG-NAPI programme. Deadline 27 March. More

Sida-supported research grants for groups
Research units in the science- and technology-lagging countries identified by TWAS may receive financial support for high-level research projects in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics through this TWAS-Sida programme. Deadline: 3 April. More

High-level individual projects eligible for support from Sida
Individual scientists from the science- and technology-lagging countries identified by TWAS who work at promising research projects in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics may apply for Sida-supported TWAS grants. Deadline: 3 April. More

Maintenance grants available to past Sida grantees
Past TWAS grantees in one of the science- and technology-lagging countries identified by TWAS who purchased equipment through a Sida-supported grant may apply for a maintenance grant to repair and fix unutilised laboratory equipment. Deadline: 3 April. More

Sida-supported TWAS collaborative grants
Sida and TWAS support collaborative projects jointly carried out by two principal investigators in the science- and technology-lagging countries identified by TWAS. Deadline: 3 April. More

TWAS-Abdool Karim Award in Biological Sciences
Women scientists with impressive results in biology may be nominated for the TWAS-Abdool Karim Award in Biological Sciences. Female scientists must be from an African Least Developed Country and be no older than 45. Deadline: 10 April. More

TWAS-Fayzah M. Al-Kharafi Award
TWAS is seeking nominations to assign the 2024 TWAS-Fayzah M. Al-Kharafi Award in Medical Sciences. Candidates are women scientists from the science- and technology-lagging countries identified by TWAS. Deadline: 10 April. More

Nominations are open for the 2025 TWAS-Apex Award
The award provides international recognition to outstanding scientific achievements made by scientists living and working in developing countries. This year the award is given in the field of quantum science and technology, and carries a prize of US$100,000 and a medal. Deadline: 15 May. More

Cooperation Visits to Germany for sub-Saharan scientists
German institutes offer three-month visits to postdoctoral researchers from sub-Saharan Africa to build collaborations and long-term links. Women with one or more children enjoy maternity benefits. Deadline 19 May. More

Opportunities at German institutes for scientists of MENA region
Postdoctoral scientists from Middle East and North Africa region may apply for a three-month visits to a German institute under the TWAS-DFG Cooperation Visits Programme. Deadline 19 May 2025. More

Become a TWAS Young Affiliate: calls are open
Every year, TWAS’s Regional Partners select up to 25 scientists younger than 40 as TWAS Young Affiliates. The honour is given to researchers from developing nations who show potential for a high-impact career. Deadline: 15 May.  More

TWAS NEWS

BAS and TWAS announce theme and dates of the 17th TWAS General Conference
The Brazilian Academy of Sciences (BAS) and TWAS have announced the theme of the 17th TWAS General Conference: ‘Building a Sustainable Future: The Role of Science, Technology, and Innovation for Global Development’. The event will take place at the Windsor Barra Convention Hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 29 September to 2 October 2025, and will be organized in partnership by BAS and TWAS. More

Accelerating sustainable development through digital technologies
Digital technologies are critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This is the main message of a call-to-action entitled the ‘Beijing Declaration on Partnership for Accelerating Sustainable Development through Digital Technologies’. More

TWAS participates in dialogues on international science
TWAS joined other members of the International Science Council (ISC) for an event that focused on the future of global science on 26–30 January 2025. The event, called Muscat Global Knowledge Dialogue and Third ISC General Assembly, was hosted by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of Oman. More

TWAS Fellow Sandra Díaz named co-winner of top environmental achievement award
Argentine ecologist Sandra Díaz has been awarded the 2025 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement for her extraordinary work linking biodiversity to humankind. The Tyler Prize is widely regarded to be the ‘Nobel Prize for Environment'. More

A grant for growth: Preserving the Kosso tree in Togo
Togolese plant physiologist Benziwa Johnson needed specialized equipment to study the African Kosso tree. A grant from TWAS backed by Sida, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, provided the support she needed to advance her work in reforestation and biodiversity conservation. More

TWAS YOUNG AFFILIATES NETWORK (TYAN) NEWS

2025 TYAN Collaborative Grant Award available
TYAN, in collaboration with the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, offers a special TYAN Collaborative Grant Award (TCGA) to support short-term research stays, facilitate international scientific collaborations and enhance the research capacity of TYAN members worldwide. Deadlines: 30 April and 31 July. More

Halima Sumayya Twabi is a 2025 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation awardee
TWAS Young Affiliate Halima Sumayya Twabi of Malawi is among the recipients of the 2025 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation awardees in inclusive health. She is honoured for her research and contribution to advancing UN Sustainable Development Goal 3. More

ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS

IAP

Explaining the IPCC calls for authors nominations
Join IAP and the IPCC focal point for Italy on 1 April, and register for a webinar on increasing the global South’s representation in IPCC processes. The webinar is part of a new climate-science policy series. Deadline: 1 April. More

Building trust in science through science education
On 11 March, IAP and the Smithsonian Science Education Center held a webinar on how inquiry-based science education fosters STEM literacy and trust in science. TWAS Fellow Bruce Alberts was among the speakers. More

IAP policy brief 2024
IAP's latest Policy Brief offers a succinct summary of the organization's actions throughout 2024, highlighting the outcomes and contributions resulting from its collaborative efforts. More  

Early-career women from the global South receive Elsevier award
Five women researchers have been awarded the 2025 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World for their contributions to research in inclusive health, advancing UN Sustainable Development Goal 3. More

Seeking for Dirac Medal nominees
ICTP is now accepting nominations for its premier physics prize, the Dirac Medal, for scientists who have made significant contributions to theoretical physics. Deadline: 28 March. More

Italian laboratories offer training to physicists from developing countries
ICTP's Training and Research in Italian Laboratories Programme places scientists in an Italian laboratory for research in the physical sciences. Deadline: the programme is accepting applications continuously. More

TWAS REGIONAL PARTNERS NEWS

TWAS Arab Regional Partner (TWAS-AREP)
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Award honours individuals or institutions that have enriched cultural and intellectual life in Egypt and globally. This year's theme is 'Green Technology Applications to Achieve Well-Being and Happiness for Humanity.' Deadline: 30 April. More

TWAS Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Partner (TWAS-SAREP)
The TWAS Regional Partner for Sub-Saharan Africa is hosting a webinar on 'Science Advice and Policy Advocacy', on 27 March at 10:00 Rome Time. More

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Developing talents for the future
VinUniversity—a private, not-for-profit university established by the Vietnamese Vingroup Company—is seeking outstanding candidates to take part in three programmes:
• Leaders 10: Senior scholars with strong research portfolios and leadership qualities;
• Faculty 200: Research-focused faculty at all levels (assistant, associate, and full professors);
• Researchers 200: Early-career researchers eager to contribute to impactful research projects.
Deadline 31 March. More

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Screenshot of Stephen Moore, awardee of the Sida-supported TWAS Research Grants Programme.

Left to right: Roula Abdel-Massih, co-chair of TYAN Executive Committee; Hamdan Al Alawi, Director of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Development Program, National Center for Space, Advanced Technology and Artificial Intelligence, Ministry of Transportation, Communication and IT, Oman; and Quarraisha Abdool Karim, TWAS President. (Photo: G. Ortolani/TWAS)

"By reinforcing global scientific cooperation and exchanging knowledge, we can drive scientific breakthroughs in the developing world."

TYAN Co-chair Roula Abdel-Massih

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