WORKSHOP SERIES: CAPACITY BUILDING OF YOUNG SCIENTISTS
IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Science offers practical solutions to many different problems that the world faces. Creating adapted solutions requires a combination of an up to date knowledge of what is feasible and a sound understanding of corresponding constraints and opportunities. Knowledge is now evolving so quickly that a crucial component of the training of young scientists is to learn how to access, filter and control information. Information technologies are in fact a powerful tool to promote training and capacity building.

In addition, the career development of young scientists has been significantly neglected, and this needs to be supported in a manner that is sensitive to local opportunities and constraints.

In response to these needs, the World Academy of Young Scientists is partnering with The Scholar Ship Research Institute to set up a workshop cycle aiming at developing a scientifically literate and empowered world community of young scientists. Scientific workshops will be organized to promote the capacity building of young scientists to conduct research and to commercialise the results of that research for the public good, particularly in developing and transitional economies.

The first such workshop will be held in Cape Town in March 2008. The model used to develop and hold this workshop will be replicated and scaled up in the future to offer additional regional workshops across the world in a manner which emphasises local involvement, invites local ownership and meets specific local needs.

REGISTRATION

Profile of participants (Deadline for selection 17 Dec 2007):
1. Young scientists from Sub-Saharan African countries.*
2. Currently doing her/his
a. PhD, or recently completed within 3 years. (Tracks 1&3)
b. Masters degree, or recently completed within 3 years. (Track 2)
3. Women are particularly encouraged to apply.

Interested young scientists should send their cv and letter of support from their respective institutions to the following persons: Dr Archana Bhaw-Luximon - a.luximon (at) uom.ac.mu, Mr Kenneth Arinaitwe - karinaitwe (at) chemistry.mak.ac.ug.

* Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe