Head: Marcelo Viana
TWAS-ROLAC started its activities in June 2004, following an agreement signed between TWAS - Academy of Sciences for the Developing Word and ABC (Brazilian Academy of Sciences).
Under this agreement, TWAS-ROLAC is based at the Brazilian Academy of Sciences headquarters in Rio the Janeiro.
The annual budget is about US$ 60,000, which is provided by TWAS. Several activities are also generously supported by the ABC.
HistoryHistory
During 2004-2008 the Regional Office was chaired by Carlos Alberto Aragão, a Brazilian physicist.
Since 2009, the Regional Office is chaired byMarcelo Viana, a Brazilian mathematician.
The members of the Executive Council are: Francisco Barrantes (Argentina) – Biological SciencesCarlos Di Prisco (Venezuela) – Mathematical SciencesManuel Limonta (Cuba) – Medical SciencesHarold Ramkinsoon (Trinidad Tobago) – Mathematical Sciences Ranulfo Romo (Mexico) – NeurosciencesRafael Vicuña (Chile) – Biological Sciences
OrganizationOrganization
The Regional Office seeks:
- To enhance the communication between TWAS and its members in Latin America and the Caribbean
- To coordinate the activities of the Academy and its National Chapters in the region
- To support the launching of new activities for the promotion of Science in the region.
Mission and WorkplanMission and Workplan
Geographic Distribution of Membership - 2008
TWAS in the WorldTWAS in the World
Africa & Arab Region
144
Asia & Pacific
427
Latin America & Caribbean
197
Other Parts of the World
133
Members elected in 2008
TWAS in the WorldTWAS in the World
Africa & Arab Region
7
Asia & Pacific
20
Latin America & Caribbean
12
Other Parts of the World
6
Membership by subject in the region - 2008TWAS in LA & CaribbeanTWAS in LA & Caribbean
Astronomy and Space Sciences
9
Physical Sciences33
Systems Biology13
Neurosciences15
Medical and Health Sciences
20Chemical Sciences9
Engineering Sciences
10
Mathematical Sciences
28
Structural, Cell and Molecular
Biology34
Earth Sciences12
Social and Economic Sciences
3Agricultural
Sciences11
The Regional Office has been developing a wide range of activities:
• Conferences for Young Scientists
• Awarding Scientific Prizes Young Scientist Prize
TWAS-ROLAC Prize • Election of Affiliated Members
• TWAS-CNPq Fellowship programmes
ActivitiesActivities
Young Scientist Conference Young Scientist Conference
Each YSC focuses on certain designated subjects and includes presentations (oral & posters) by some 20 young scientists from various countries, together with senior researchers.
Applications are reviewed by a committee of TWAS Fellows from the region and the selection is made on the basis of merit.
Participants are provided with accommodation and meals during the Conference. They are encouraged to seek travel support from their home institutions. However, the organizers try to secure a number of partial travel grants to help those in need.
Young Scientist Conference Young Scientist Conference (Cont.)(Cont.)
The 1st YSC was held in Angra dos Reis, Brazil in 2006, jointly with the10th TWAS General Conference and the 17th TWAS General Meeting.
More recently, the YSC has been held twice a year: May and December.
The May Conference is organized jointly with the welcome conference for new members of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences. It includes the Award Ceremony for the Young Scientist Prize.
The December Conference coincides with the meeting of the Executive Council.
PrizesPrizesTWAS-ROLAC Prizes have been acquiring increasing visibility in the region, reflected by a steady increase of candidate nominations.
Awarded every year to up to four young researchers (40 years old or less) working in the region, who have made important contributions to Science.It covers all subject areas of TWAS (four areas are designated every year).
TWAS-ROLAC Young Scientist Prize (US$2,000)
TWAS-ROLAC Prize (US$ 3,000)
Awarded every year, on a rotational basis, to one of three major aspects of dissemination of Science:• Public Understanding and Popularization of Science• Development of Educational Material and School Science Curricula• Institution Building and the Support of Science
TWAS-ROLAC Young Scientist Prize TWAS-ROLAC Young Scientist Prize 20092009
MAURICIO CALDERON NETTLE (Chile) EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCES
RODRIGO CAPAZ (Brazil) PHYSICS
ERNESTO LUPERCIO (Mexico) MATHEMATICS
PIERRE MOTHE ESTEVES (Brazil) CHEMISTRY
Twelve nominations were received. Awards were delivered during the 5th Young Scientist Conference, in May 2009.
In 2008, the YSP was awarded in the areas of Engineering, Biology, Medical Sciences and Agricultural Sciences.
TWAS-ROLAC PrizeTWAS-ROLAC Prize
2007 - Public Understanding and Popularization of Science16 candidates, from 5 countriesAwarded to Roberto Lent (Brazil)
2008 - Development of Educational Material and School Science Curricula 10 candidates, from 6 countries Awarded to Carlos Bosch (Mexico)
2009 - Institution Building and the Support of Science 11 candidates, from 5 countries Winner to be announced during the meeting in South Africa
Every year, starting from 2007, five young scientists (40 years or less) from the region are elected as Affiliated Members of TWAS, for a non-renewable five year term.
Affiliated Members must have attained high international standard and have made significant contributions to the advancement of Science.
The election takes place upon nomination by a TWAS Fellow.A Selection Committee is appointed by the Executive Council to choose the best candidates, keeping in mind subject area and geographic balance.
Affiliated MembersAffiliated Members
Ana Maria Camargo Aranha (Brazil) – Biological SciencesMarcelo Knoebel (Brazil) – PhysicsErnesto Lupercio Lara (Mexico) – MathematicsJuan Larrain (Chile) – Biological SciencesGabriel A. Rabinovich (Argentina) – Biological Sciences
Affiliated MembersAffiliated MembersTerm 2007 - 2012
Term 2008 - 2013Fernanda de Felice (Brazil) – NeurosciencesJorge Lauret (Argentina) – MathematicsLaurent Raymond Loinard (Mexico) – Earth and Space SciencesCarlos Gustavo Moreira (Brazil) – MathematicsSantiago Ron (Ecuador) – Biological Sciences
Term 2009 - 2014Irasema Alcântara-Ayala (Mexico) – Earth SciencesJose Luiz Badano (Uruguay) – Medical and Health Sciences Alexis Kalergis (Chile) – Structural, Cell & Molecular Sciences Stevens Rehen (Brazil) – Neurosciences Stephen Walborn (Brazil) – Physics
TWAS Fellowship ProgrammesTWAS Fellowship Programmes
The TWAS Fellowship programmes offers over 280 fellowships per year in natural sciences for postgraduate, postdoctoral, advanced research and visiting scholars.
The fellowships are tenable in Brazil, China, India, Malaysia, Mexico and Pakistan at specific institutions in these countries and each programme has its specific age requirement and eligibility criteria.
Applicants cannot apply for fellowships tenable in their home country.
TWAS Fellowship ProgrammesTWAS Fellowship Programmes
TWAS-CNPq Fellowships for Postgraduate Research in Brazil to obtain a PhD Up to 4 years Deadline applic: 31 August each year Age limit: 30
TWAS-CONACYT Fellowships for Postgraduate Research in Mexico to obtain a PhD (new).Up to 4 years Deadline: 1 July each year Age limit: 30
TWAS-CNPq Fellowships for Postdoctoral Research in Brazil6-12 months Deadline: 31 August each year Age limit: 40
TWAS-CONACYT Fellowships for Postdoctoral Research in Mexico (new)6-12 months Deadline: 1 July each year Age limit: 40
40 4536 43
59
223
1730 23 23
45
138
0
50
100
150
200
250
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 TOTALS 2004to 2007
NR. OF APPLICATIONS
NR. OF AWARDEES
TWAS Fellowships programmes Nr. of applications x Nr. of awardees per year - 2004 to 2007
TWAS Fellowships programmes - CNPq
Nr. of applications&awardees
2004-2008
PhD: 2/3Postdoc: 1/3
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Pakistan
India
Nigeria
Egypt
Cameroon
Cuba
Iran, Isl. Rep.
Bangladesh
Colombia
Iraq
Kenya
China
Ethiopia
Benin
Venezuela
Mexico
Sudan
Malaysia
Niger
Nepal
Zimbabwe
Burkina Faso
Argentina
Eritrea
Chile
Peru
Togo
Sri Lanka
Nr. OF AWARDEES
Nr. OF APPLICATIONS
TWAS Fellowships programmes - CNPqNr. of applications&awardees by country
2004-2008
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Chemica
l Scie
nces
Cellular
& M
olecular
Biology
Agricu
ltural Sc
ience
s
Mathem
atical S
cienc
es
Physics
Syste
ms Biology
Medical
& Health
Science
s
Earth
Scien
ces
Engin
eering
Scien
ces
Astron
omy & Sp
ace S
cience
Applications
Awardees
TWAS Fellowships programmes - CNPqNr. of applications&awardees by scientific field
TWAS Fellowships programmes Nr. of applications x countries - 2004 to 2007
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Nigeria
India
Pakist
anEg
ypt
Bangla
desh
Camero
on
Mongolia
Iran, Is
l. Rep
.
Korea, DPR
Sudan
Colombia
Ethiopia
Cuba
Tanz
ania Ira
qNepa
l
Kenya
Uzbekis
tan
Benin, C
hina,
Mex
ico, U
ganda
Algeria
, Arge
ntina, Ecu
ador, E
ritre
a, M
alaysi
a, Nige
r, Sene..
.
Afghan
istan
, Boliv
ia, Chile
, Gha
na, Ja
maica, W
.I., Ky
rgyzst
...
Nr. OF APPLICATIONS
TWAS Fellowships programmesNr. of awardees x country - 2004 to 2007
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Nigeria
India
Pakistan
Egypt
Cameroon
Bangladesh
Mongolia
Cuba
Ethiopia
Iran, Isl. Rep.
Korea, DPR
Sudan, Iraq
Colombia,Tanzania, Kenya, Uzbekistan
Benin, China
Algeria, Malaysia, Niger, Thailand,Venezuela,
Nepal, Mexico, Uganda, Ecuador, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan,Bolivia, Jamaica, W.I., Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho
Argentina, Eritrea, Chile, Ghana, Mali, Peru, Togo, Sri Lanka
Nr. OF AWARDEES
Work plan for TWAS-ROLAC during 2009Work plan for TWAS-ROLAC during 2009
- To organize the 5th (May) and 6th (December) Conferences for Young Scientists, both in Rio de Janeiro.
- TWAS-ROLAC Young Scientist Prize (4th time). Selected subject areas: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Earth and Space Sciences.
- 1st TWAS-ROLAC Prize on “Institution Building and the Support of Science” in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Selection of five new Affiliate Members for the term 2009-2014.
- Support and promotion of the TWAS/CNPq Fellowship Programme (up to 30 PhDs and 30 postdocs).
Work plan for 2009 (cont.)Work plan for 2009 (cont.)
- Support the activities of National Chapters of TWAS in the region.
- Keep the TWAS Fellows in the Latin America and the Caribbean updated on the activities, awards and fellowships of TWAS and TWAS-ROLAC.
- Facilitate links between TWAS members in the region and the TWAS headquarters in Trieste.
- Update and expande the website of TWAS-ROLAC.
The TWAS-ROLAC website contains information describing the history, organizational structure and activities of the Regional Office. It also provides useful links.
Visit our websiteVisit our websitewww.twas-rolac.org
and contact us atand contact us [email protected]@twas-rolac.org
CollaboratorsCollaboratorsTWAS ROLAC SecretariatTWAS ROLAC Secretariat
Kenya Carvalho
([email protected])Kley Maya
TWAS BrazilTWAS Brazil Gabriella Mello