Projects Funded in 2017

The IAP Executive Committee, at its September 2016 meeting in Beijing, China, allocated financial support, thanks to the generosity of IAP's principal donor, the Government of Italy, to the IAP affiliated regional networks, in addition to selected projects submitted by individual IAP member academies. Here are summaries of activities planned for 2017:

Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA)

The project has the main goal to strengthen the IAP outreach at the regional level in Asia through furthering AASSA activities.

  • To develop cooperation in the domain of science and technology and create a network of interdisciplinary and international contacts among academies in Asia and Australasia.
  • To provide advice on the role of science and technology in the national innovation systems of member countries;
  • To help initiate and conduct studies and research on scientific and technological issues, and their economic and social implications relevant to national development agenda of member countries;
  • To facilitate exchange of scientists and information among the AASSA countries in cooperation with international scientific organizations;
  • In general, to organize projects and workshops, produce reports and resolutions which will be distributed to member academies and related organizations for sharing information.

Specific topics to be covered will include:

  • ‘Science Advice’ is the IAP’s responsibility as a global network, and AASSA will strive to follow the lead as a regional network;
  • ‘Science Literacy’, which is of great importance in the region;
  • Encouraging and supporting women and young scientists of member academies to participate in AASSA activities is always a priority area. These activities will be further strengthened.

Workshop on “Role of Science for Inclusive Society”

Workshop on “Public Communication and Protection of Seismic Hazard”

Workshop on “Best Practices in Translational Research for Social Development”

Workshop on “Space Technology for Disaster Mitigation: Towards Science Based Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Developing Countries”

For more information visit http://aassa.asia/

European Academies' Science Advisory Council (EASAC)

As in previous years, the main focus of EASAC’s activities will be on the production of science-based advice on policy-relevant issues by the European academies, with the aim of informing policy-makers in the institutions of the European Union and governments and other stakeholders on a national level in Europe. In the process of producing and communicating the messages of these reports and statements, EASAC is aiming at further building the capacity of its member academies, partly by suggesting and facilitating different means of their engagement with policy-makers and society. Furthermore, EASAC will organise a small number of strategically important communication events to highlight the role of the academies, notably a “Science-Into-Policy” Summit in Berlin in summer 2017. In 2017, EASAC will continue to organize initiatives on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture, Gene editing, Homeopathy, Climate Change and Health, Pesticides and Health and initiate a new project on ”Soils at Risk” .

For more information visit http://www.easac.eu/

InterAmerican Network of Academies of Sciences (IANAS)

The six activities within the IANAS region are:

  • To increase the provision of high-quality, independent and evidence-based advice on critical issues of global significance to governments and society by IAP member academies working both individually and together;
  • To develop a programme for scientific advisory capacity building, and for the contribution of academies to science education, science communication and other science-related issues of global or regional significance;
  • To lead efforts to forge closer collaboration among science academies and other scientific institutions;
  • Promote accurate and effective science communication in public media by involving science journalists in the IANAS programmes for Women for Science, Water and Energy;
  • Profile young women scientists who have established businesses based on their research findings, on IANAS website;
  • Support activities within the IANAS projects on the Science Education, Water and Energy programmes, and Food and Nutrition Security and Agriculture.

For more information visit http://www.ianas.org

Network of African Science Academies (NASAC)

NASAC’s 2017 activities will revolve around:

  • An awareness-raising workshop or consultative forum on the value of science academies for various Africa countries;
  • Strengthening academies’ operational capacity (competitive award of 3 grants) to NASAC member academies;
  • A Women for Science Working group (WfS WG) meeting to finalize the publication on ‘Inspiring Stories of African Women Scientists’ and applying the gender lens to NASAC activities;
  • Promoting a scientific culture through collaboration and networking within NASAC.

For more information on NASAC, visit: http://www.nasaconline.org 

Science Education Programme (SEP)

- Led by the Academy of Science Malaysia.

  • Coordinate travel for IAP SEP Global Council members and SEP Coordinators from selected member academies to a meeting in Khartoum, February 2017;
  • Coordinate IAP SEP “Fusion of Civilisations’ Workshop in Karamay, Xinjiang, China, July 2017;
  • IAP SEP IBSE Workshops in 2 ECOSF countries in 2017;
  • Continued engagement of IAP SEP with IAP for Health and Global Young Academy in 2017 on curriculum design on Zika and health risk communication on mosquito borne diseases.

For more information click here.

Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Italy

Building on the successful implementation of the IBSE-method within the science education field, as shown by IAP activities, the proposed project aims at developing an IBSE-based health science education programme targeted to primary schools. The project, which builds on an ongoing pilot study, includes a feasibility assessment study conducted by a multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholders group, and will allow for developing a teacher’s tool-kit designed in modules, to be used for implementing health science education in primary schools.

For more information visit www.iamp-online.org

Global Young Academy

The Global Young Academy is provided with funding for its Annual General Meeting to be held on 15-19 May 2017 in Aviemore, Scotland. The GYA’s network of 200 members and its growing number of alumni are invited. The meeting consists of three parts: first - dealings with the internal structures of the GYA, especially elections and amendments to the constitution; second - sessions of the GYA working groups covering the areas Research Environment, Science and Society, and Science Education and Outreach; and third - the scientific part where this year the GYA will focus on the theme of social justice. Helping the GYA to hold its Annual General Meeting is an action in line with item 3.III of IAP’s Strategic Plan.

IAP funds will be used to support travel for GYA members from developing countries.

For more information visit http://www.globalyoungacademy.net/

Young Scientists

The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) in collaboration with the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS) and the Global Young Academy (GYA) will host the 3rd World Meeting of Young Academies in Gauteng, South Africa, in August 2017. The meeting seeks to reduce the science gap between developed and developing countries by connecting young scientists from different countries and encouraging both North-South and inter-disciplinary collaborations. The theme of the workshop is ‘Health in the context of an urbanising planet and implications for science policy’.

Young Health Professionals of Nepal

The proposed project aims to provide intensive hands-on research training to young health professionals of Nepal such as future doctors, nurses, paramedics, public health officers, and allied health sciences students.  Two-day seminars will be held in three different locations of Nepal thus covering all interested candidates from different regions of the country. The trainers will be accomplished scientists currently working in the research field who have a great depth of knowledge on scientific research as well as a track record of publications in scientific journals. Additionally, the project aims to select top 5 research proposals for research grants of up to $500. The trainees will prepare their proposals after they receive training.

For more information visit http://www.iamp-online.org/content/research-training-young-health-professionals-nepal

CARISCIENCE

'Science, Technology and Innovation in the Caribbean - Strengthening Cooperation' conference to be organized by CARISCIENCE with the support of IAP on 2-4 May 2017 in Trinidad. Documents of the event: the rapporteur's report and the press release.

IAP for Research: transition To InterAcademy Partnership website

This project will provide support for hosting, maintenance, technical support, re-design and transition costs for the InterAcademy Partnership’s set of websites. A robust and effective web presence is essential to achieving IAP’s mission of bringing together “the world’s academies of science, medicine and engineering/technology to act on issues of global importance and promote the use of scientific advice across the world, helping to create an environment that will better harness science to improve the lives of people everywhere.” A single, consolidated website will be launched by the end of 2017.