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 atcontact@twas-rolac.orgcontact@twas-rolac.org

CollaboratorsCollaboratorsTWAS ROLAC SecretariatTWAS ROLAC Secretariat

Kenya Carvalho

(kenya@abc.org.br)Kley Maya

(kley@abc.org.br)

TWAS BrazilTWAS Brazil Gabriella Mello

(gfmello@abc.org.br)