TWAS Plus - Vol. 12 No. 3 - June 2026

Awarding ceremony. (Photo: G. Ortolani/TWAS)

TOP STORY

Documentary and artistic photographer Musuku Nolte is the winner of the inaugural edition of the photo essay award Through Southern Lenses: Science in Focus. Through his work, he focuses on cultural, social, and environmental issues, highlighting how tradition and science can come together to improve people’s lives. The exhibition featuring his work is on display until 19 June 2026 at Palazzo Pamphilj’s Galleria Candido Portinari, at the Embassy of Brazil in Rome. More

TWAS OPPORTUNITIES

TWAS is expanding its storytelling on Instagram. Visit our page and follow us to discover the people and the science behind TWAS's mission. More

Rethinking Research: The Role of Humans in Scientific Discovery in the Age of LLMs
What are the opportunities, challenges, and growing impact of AI and Data Science? Join the online TWAS Distinguished Speaker Webinar Series on 22 June 2026 at 16:30 CEST to hear Professor Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi CBE FRS FREng deliver a lecture titled Rethinking Research: The Role of Humans in Scientific Discovery in the Age of LLMs. Free registration here.

TWAS-CSIR Postgraduate Fellowship Programme
Do you wish to pursue doctoral research in emerging areas of science and technology? The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research of India and UNESCO-TWAS offer fellowships for foreign scholars from developing countries, with facilities available at CSIR laboratories and institutes. Extended deadline: 3 June. More

TWAS-CUI Postgraduate Fellowship Programme
If you are a young scientist from a developing country other than Pakistan, and would like to pursue a PhD in natural, social or economic sciences, consider applying for the TWAS-COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) Fellowship Programme. The fellowship supports doctoral studies for up to three years. Deadline: 15 June. More

TWAS-CUI Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme 
The TWAS-CUI Fellowship Programme for Postdoctoral Research provides young scientists from developing countries, excluding Pakistan, with the opportunity to undertake postdoctoral research in the natural and applied sciences, as well as social and economic sciences, at COMSATS University Islamabad. Fellowships are awarded for a period of up to six months. Deadline: 15 June. More

MENA Grants for Transformative and Collaborative Research 
With support from the German BMFTR, TWAS makes grants available for promising and competitive research projects in key areas relevant to the High-Tech Agenda Germany, supporting young scientists in selected MENA countries to strengthen research capacity across the region. Extended deadline: 18 June. More

2026 TWAS–Abdool Karim Award in Biological Sciences
Sponsored by TWAS President Quarraisha Abdool Karim, this annual award recognizes outstanding achievements in the biological sciences by women scientists living and working in one of the UN-identified Least Developed Countries of Africa. Eligible candidates must be female scientists under the age of 45. Following an evaluation process, Abdool Karim will select the winner, who will receive a cash prize of USD5,000. Deadline: 30 June. More

2026 TWAS–Fayzah M. Al-Kharafi Award
TWAS is inviting nominations for this annual award, sponsored by TWAS Fellow Fayzah M. Al-Kharafi, which recognizes outstanding women scientists from TWAS-identified Scientifically and Technologically Lagging Countries. This year’s award honours achievements in agricultural sciences and biology, offering a cash prize of USD4,000. There is no age limit for nominees. Deadline: 30 June. More

2026 TWAS–Samira Omar Innovation for Sustainability Award
This annual award, sponsored by TWAS Fellow Samira Omar, celebrates scientists from the UN-identified Least Developed Countries whose work has made outstanding contributions to environmental protection and biodiversity conservation. It includes a cash prize of USD4,000, recognizing research in sustainability, with no age limit for nominees. Deadline: 30 June. More

2026 TWAS–Mohammad A. Hamdan Award
Established in 2020, this biennial award is supported by a donation from late TWAS Vice-President for the Arab Region Professor Mohammad A. Hamdan. It honours distinguished mathematicians working and living in Africa or the Arab region. Achievements in pure and applied mathematics, probability, and statistics are equally considered. There is no age limit for nominees. The award carries a cash prize of USD5,000 and a certificate. Deadline: 30 June. More

2026 TWAS–CAS Young Scientists Award for Frontier Science
Established in 2020 thanks to former CAS and TWAS President Bai Chunli, this annual recognition is currently sponsored by the China Sciences Group (Holding) Co. Ltd. It honours outstanding achievements by young scientists living and working in developing countries. The 2026 edition will recognize exceptional contributions in astronomy and cosmology. Eligible candidates must be nationals of a developing country in the South, under the age of 45. The award carries a cash prize of USD10,000. Deadline: 30 June. More

2026 TWAS–Atta-ur-Rahman Award in Chemistry
The annual award, named after TWAS Fellow and former Vice-President Atta-ur-Rahman, is sponsored by Searle Company Ltd and acknowledges chemists under the age of 45 who are nationals of a TWAS-identified Science-and-Technology Lagging Country. Candidates must have lived and worked in an eligible country for at least two years immediately before their nomination. The award carries a cash prize of USD5,000. Deadline: 30 June. More

Rethinking Research: The Role of Humans in Scientific Discovery in the Age of LLMs
What are the opportunities, challenges, and growing impact of AI and Data Science? Join the online TWAS Distinguished Speaker Webinar Series on 22 June 2026 at 16:30 CEST to hear Professor Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi CBE FRS FREng deliver a lecture titled Rethinking Research: The Role of Humans in Scientific Discovery in the Age of LLMs. Free registration here.

TWAS NEWS

TWAS brought 37 global South climate scientists to Trieste for IPCC‑focused training workshop
TWAS has welcomed early- and mid‑career climate scientists from across the global South to Trieste, Italy, for a three‑day Climate Training Workshop that took place 5–7 May 2026. Early- to mid-career researchers from developing countries met leading experts for an intensive climate workshop. More

Kailash Chander Bansal receives the Lifetime Achievement Award
Indian biotechnologist Kailash Chander Bansal, elected to TWAS in 2025, is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, which he received at the International Conference on 'Biotech Innovations 2026: From Discovery to Translation', held in Jaipur from 26–28 March 2026. This recognition honours Bansal’s influence and impact in the field of plant biotechnology. More

TWAS Fellow Islam named dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies at GAU, Bangladesh
Molecular plant geneticist Tofazzal Islam, elected a TWAS Fellow in 2022 and the founding director of the Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering at Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU), Bangladesh, has been appointed dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies at GAU for 2026–27. He is internationally recognized for pioneering research in frontier sciences, including tissue culture, molecular biology, genomics, and genome editing. More

TWAS Fellow Desiraju receives the 14th Ewald Prize in crystallography
Indian chemist Gautam Desiraju, elected a TWAS Fellow in 2002, is the recipient of the 14th Ewald Prize of the International Union of Crystallography. The award is presented every three years and was announced in April 2026. He is a pioneer in the field of crystal engineering, having demonstrated the importance of weak hydrogen and halogen bonds in molecular crystals and biology. More

TWAS Fellow Zahurul Karim awarded Bangladeshi top civilian honour
Zahurul Karim, a TWAS Fellow since 1998 and former secretary to the government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, has received the 2026 Independence Award of Bangladesh in the field of science and technology. This recognition honours his unwavering dedication, leadership, and invaluable contributions to agricultural research and national development. More

TWAS YOUNG AFFILIATES NETWORK (TYAN) NEWS

Fostering innovation and regional impact together
The TWAS-SAPREP (TWAS East and South-East Asia and the Pacific Regional Partner) regional workshop on ‘Science and Technology for Sustainable Development’ took place in Beijing on 28–29 May 2026. With more than 100 participants from 18 countries, the event convened TWAS Fellows, TWAS Young Affiliates, and researchers for academic exchanges and discussions on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals through science, technology, and innovation (STI). More

ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS

IAP

2026 Young Physician Leaders Programme
Nominations are open for the 2026 Young Physician Leaders Programme in Berlin alongside the World Health Summit. IAP and WHS Academic Alliance members may nominate up to two candidates. Deadline: 11 June. More

IAP webinar on wildfire risk
An IAP webinar explored how wildfire modelling and international collaboration can strengthen preparedness for wildland-urban interface fires. Read more and watch the recording. More

OWSD brought global experts to Rome to address gender and displacement in science
The international conference Sustaining Knowledge During Crises: Gender and Displacement in Science brough together 50 researchers, practitioners, and representatives of scientific institutions and embassies from around the world, including participants from Myanmar, the Sudan, State of Palestine, and Ukraine, among others. More

ICTP Global Science Portal membership for TWAS fellows
ICTP has launched its online community platform, the ICTP Global Science Portal to help members of the global scientific community with a connection to the institute find collaborators, opportunities and events, and promote their work. All TWAS fellows are warmly invited to register with the Portal and connect with scientists across the world. More

Career development workshop for women in physics: applications open
Looking for a space for women in physics to share experiences, build international networks, and master the soft skills needed to bridge the gender gap and thrive in their global scientific careers? This is your opportunity to connect. Deadline: 15 June. More

TWAS REGIONAL PARTNERS NEWS

TWAS Regional Partners’ key role
The TWAS Regional Partners are a vital part of the Academy’s global network. They nominate candidates for TWAS awards, select TWAS Young Affiliates, and help raise awareness of TWAS and its programmes, especially among scientists in their respective regions. More

Calls for 2026 TWAS Young Affiliates are open
Every year, TWAS’s Regional Partners select up to 25 scientists younger than 40 as Young Affiliates. The honour is given to researchers from developing nations who show potential for a high-impact career who will, during their six-year tenures, build networks with other affiliates and with elected TWAS Fellows, and attend international conferences such as the TWAS General Meeting. Deadlines: 7 to 30 June. More

Young Scientist Meeting on advanced materials and sustainability
TWAS-CASAREP will organize a hybrid Young Scientist Meeting on advanced materials and sustainable development (20–21 August), bringing together eminent scientists and early-career researchers from Central and South Asia, to explore emerging advances and foster collaborative opportunities in sustainable materials research. Registration and programme information will be available on CASAREP website in the first week of June. More

Accelerating sustainable agricultural innovation in Uzbekistan
Ibrokhim Y. Abdurakhmonov, ministry of agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan and a TWAS Fellow since 2014, led a landmark national cotton transformation documented in Scientific Reports (Nature Portfolio), demonstrating a 40.4% increase in cotton yield between 2021 and 2025 despite a 15.1% reduction in cultivated area. More

Honours for a Pakistani leader in bioorganic chemistry
Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, TWAS Vice President for Central and South Asia from Pakistan, has been appointed honorary professor at the University of Jordan and adjunct professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Airlangga, Indonesia, for his outstanding contributions to bioorganic and natural product chemistry, and his role in advancing international scientific collaboration and higher education. More

New leadership role for TWAS Fellow G.D. Yadav
Ganapati D. Yadav, TWAS Fellow from India, has taken office as Vice‑President (Resource Generation and Management) of the Indian National Science Academy, proving his leadership in strengthening India’s scientific and technological landscape. More

European Geoscience Union honours TWAS Fellow Dimri
Indian senior scientist Vijay Prasad Dimri, elected to TWAS in 2008, has received the 2026 Christiaan Huygens Medal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) for his outstanding contributions to geophysics. On 5 May at EGU, he also delivered the 2026 Christiaan Huygens Medal Lecture, titled The Fractal Nature of Earth: Redefining Geophysical Interpretation. More

Major chemistry honours for TWAS Fellow Arash Simchi
In addition to receiving the COMSTECH Lifelong Achievement in Chemistry Award, Iranian scientist Arash Simchi, a TWAS Fellow since 2024, has received the Obada Prize, in recognition of his influential impact on the scientific community and his contributions to chemistry and materials science. More

Lifetime achievement honour for TWAS Fellow Atta‑ur‑Rahman
Atta‑ur‑Rahman, a 1985 TWAS Fellow from Pakistan, has received the 4 th IETI China Lifetime Achievement Award 2026 for his global contributions to chemical sciences, higher education reform, and scientific innovation. He has also published three new volumes of Studies in Natural Product Chemistry with Elsevier, further advancing research in natural products. More

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards 
There is still time to apply for the International Awards in physical Sciences, Mathematics and Computer science – 2027, which recognize five outstanding women scientists working in physics, mathematics, computer and information sciences, chemistry, and earth and environmental sciences across Africa and the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America. Deadline: 30 June. More

16th Anjani Mashelkar Prize waiting for applications 
There is time until 31 July to apply for India’s most prestigious health-tech award. The Prize supports innovators creating high‑quality and affordable technologies in health, medicine, and inclusive development for India’s most underserved communities. Deadline: 31 July. More

Call for papers from global South and indigenous researchers
The Royal Society journal Open Biology invites researchers in molecular and cellular biology from the global South and indigenous communities to propose papers for the special feature Beyond Boundaries: Celebrating Global South and Indigenous Contributions to Molecular and Cellular Biology. The initiative will highlight innovative research, diverse biological perspectives, and community led approaches from regions and groups underrepresented in mainstream publishing. Deadline: 31 December 2026. More

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Priscilla Mante during the TYAN workshop. (Photo: G.Ortolani/TWAS)

Hajara Kandeh, PhD Student at African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Research and Innovation Center, who was among the participants at the TWAS Climate Training Workshop. (Photo: G.Ortolani/TWAS)

"There are not many opportunities for documentary photographers to collaborate with scientists, and find a midpoint where our work can serve the discoveries of the work that scientists do in the field." 

Musuku Nolte, winner of the inaugural edition of the 
Through Southern Lenses: Science in Focus award.

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