News

News in April 2008

- Robert Markus, a researcher at the Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, has won the "Seeing Science" photography contest sponsored by The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. More than 300 entries from 30 countries were received. The title of his winning photograph is Fruit fly larva in a drop of water. See: www.knaw.nl/cfdata/news/pressrelease_detail.cfm?nieuws__id=567

- The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) organized an international symposium in Stockholm, 12 November 2007, to explore the prospects for energy generated by moving water. Participants examined not only the impact of traditional hydropower facilities but also energy derived from waves, tides and ocean currents. For more information, see: www.kva.se/KVA_Root/swe/events/detail.asp?eventid=628.

- Cameroon Academy of Sciences has published a report on the 2nd Annual International Conference of the African Science Academy Development Initiative: 'Prioritizing Food Security Policies for Health and Development in Africa: Science Academy–Policymaker Interaction for Evidence-Based Decision Making'. For a copy of the text, contact: casciences@yahoo.com

- The Royal Society, UK, has recently issued a report on Sustainable biofuels: prospects and challenges. The report concludes that biofuels have a potentially useful role in tackling the issues of climate change and energy supply. However, important opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from biofuels, and to ensure wider environmental benefits may be missed with existing policy frameworks and targets. Biofuel development must be supported by appropriate policies and economic instruments. For more information on the study and a copy of the report, see: are available at: http://royalsociety.org/document.asp?tip=1&id=7366