UK seeks views on 'science for development' strategy David Dickson 29 June 2005 Source: SciDev.Net The British government has launched an online consultation to seek guidance on how it should support science and innovation as part of its international aid programme. The consultation was launched this week by Gordon Conway, the former president of the Rockefeller Foundation, who was appointed chief scientist at the Department for International Development (DFID) earlier this year and is currently drawing up a science and innovation strategy for the department. According to Conway, developing the new strategy is one of his "highest priorities". It is intended not only to describe the current activities of the UK government in this area, but also provide a "scientific lens" for DFID thinking, and for its future policy development (see Six components for science in poor nations). "I am keen to seek views on the strategy, and learn from the wealth of knowledge, experience and new and exciting thinking that exists, not only in the international community — and in DFID itself — but particularly among our partners in developing countries," Conway said in a statement issued on Tuesday (28 June). The Science and Innovation Strategy is expected to be published by the end of 2005. In addition to influencing DFID's own thinking, it will also contribute to the delivery of the UK's ten-year investment framework for science and development, launched by finance minister Gordon Brown last year. Earlier this year, DFID was criticised by a UK parliamentary committee for not making a greater contribution to the initial design of this ten-year framework, which lays out a plan for significantly increasing government support for science and technology in Britain — but has relatively little to say about how much of this should be aimed at helping developing countries. DFID officials say that the consultation is intended to pose a range of questions about how the department engages with science and innovation, whether internally, as part of the international community, or in developing countries. "By 'science' we refer to the full spectrum of natural and social sciences, engineering and technology. 'Innovation' refers to the successful application of new ideas, from cutting edge research to the application of established technologies to meet the challenges faced by the very poorest," says a statement issued by the department. Officials say that the online consultation is intended to help the department increase its effectiveness, and to establish future priorities for supporting science and innovation for development. However, they add that although the strategy will be used "to inform and influence resource allocation processes", the consultation "is not an opportunity to bid directly for DFID funds". Contributions should be submitted no later than 19 September 2005. To contribute, please visit the consultation website at http://www.dfid.gov.uk/consultations/. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- India to revitalise science research in universities T. V. Padma 1 July 2005 Source: SciDev.Net [NEW DELHI] The Indian government has announced it will create 1,000 new positions for researchers at its universities and set up centres in them to promote collaborative research. The moves are among recommendations made by a committee set up in March to suggest ways of improving research in basic sciences in India. The government said on 15 June that it would implement all the committee's recommendations, whose projected cost is six billion rupees (US$138 million) per year. Two 'networking centres' each, housed in Indian universities, will be set up for physics, chemistry, biology, material sciences and mathematics. The centres will promote collaborative research, and provide both training and access to advanced research facilities. The government has agreed to support the centres on a long-term basis to help them become internationally competitive. The committee also stressed the need for India to fill the large number of faculty positions that have been vacant in its universities for many years, and to create 1,000 additional research posts including lecturers and professors. Although there are no official figures for the number of vacancies in science faculties, Arun Nigavekar, chair of the University Grants Commission told SciDev.Net that across all disciplines, an average of 25 per cent of faculty positions in India are lying vacant. The government plans to phase in the new positions over the next five years, but, according to Nigavekar, has yet to decide whether the posts — new as well as existing vacant ones — would be filled on a permanent or on a tenure basis. The committee also set a target of increasing five-fold the number of science doctorates awarded in India by 2015. In the 2001-2002 academic year, just over 4,000 PhDs in science subjects were awarded, according to the latest figures from the University Grants Commission. The committee suggested the minimum qualification for a lecturer in the university science departments should be a PhD, except for departments in engineering and medicine where a lecturer could initially be appointed with an M.Tech/MD or MSc, but must acquire a PhD within seven years of appointment. Another key recommendation included promoting formal links between universities and national science institutes through joint research projects and training programmes, as well as encouraging collaboration with industries and user organisations for technologies. Women scientists should be encouraged to take up careers in basic science by removing age barriers — currently 28 years for a junior research fellowship — and introducing flexible time management at work to help them balance their personal and professional responsibilities. The government's latest move comes in the wake of concern voiced repeatedly by senior scientists, science policymakers and even Indian prime ministers, on the decline of science education and research in basic sciences in Indian universities. "Pure sciences are definitely some of the disciplines we need to pay attention to urgently," says Nigavekar. To address some of these issues, the University Grants Commission has initiated steps to increase funds to upgrade science laboratories, improve Internet connectivity to universities and colleges and improve the quality of teaching and distance education. Prof.N.LAXMAN RAO, Dept.of Library & Information Science, Osmania University, HYDERABAD- 500 007 (INDIA) President, Indian Association of Teachers in Library and Information Science (IATLIS). Ph:+91-40-27171565 (res): +91-40- 27682290 (off) 9246547599 (Mobile) e:mail-- naglaxman@yahoo.com OR naglaxman@indiatimes.com --------------------------------- Yahoo! Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PCcalling worldwide with voicemail UK seeks views on 'science for development' strategy   David Dickson 29 June 2005 Source: SciDev.Net The British government has launched an online consultation to seek guidance on how it should support science and innovation as part of its international aid programme. The consultation was launched this week by Gordon Conway, the former president of the Rockefeller Foundation, who was appointed chief scientist at the Department for International Development (DFID) earlier this year and is currently drawing up a science and innovation strategy for the department. According to Conway , developing the new strategy is one of his "highest priorities". It is intended not only to describe the current activities of the UK government in this area, but also provide a "scientific lens" for DFID thinking, and for its future policy development (see http://www.scidev.net/content/news/eng/six-components-for-science-in-poor-na... Six components for science in poor nations ). "I am keen to seek views on the strategy, and learn from the wealth of knowledge, experience and new and exciting thinking that exists, not only in the international community — and in DFID itself — but particularly among our partners in developing countries," Conway said in a statement issued on Tuesday (28 June). The Science and Innovation Strategy is expected to be published by the end of 2005. In addition to influencing DFID's own thinking, it will also contribute to the delivery of the UK 's ten-year investment framework for science and development, launched by finance minister Gordon Brown last year. Earlier this year, DFID was criticised by a UK parliamentary committee for not making a greater contribution to the initial design of this ten-year framework, which lays out a plan for significantly increasing government support for science and technology in Britain — but has relatively little to say about how much of this should be aimed at helping developing countries. DFID officials say that the consultation is intended to pose a range of questions about how the department engages with science and innovation, whether internally, as part of the international community, or in developing countries. "By 'science' we refer to the full spectrum of natural and social sciences, engineering and technology. 'Innovation' refers to the successful application of new ideas, from cutting edge research to the application of established technologies to meet the challenges faced by the very poorest," says a statement issued by the department. Officials say that the online consultation is intended to help the department increase its effectiveness, and to establish future priorities for supporting science and innovation for development. However, they add that although the strategy will be used "to inform and influence resource allocation processes", the consultation "is not an opportunity to bid directly for DFID funds". Contributions should be submitted no later than 19 September 2005 . To contribute, please visit the consultation website at http://www.dfid.gov.uk/consultations/ http://www.dfid.gov.uk/consultations/ .    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------     India to revitalise science research in universities   T. V. Padma 1 July 2005 Source: SciDev.Net [ NEW DELHI ] The Indian government has announced it will create 1,000 new positions for researchers at its univ! ersities and set up centres in them to promote collaborative research. The moves are among recommendations made by a committee set up in March to suggest ways of improving research in basic sciences in India . The government said on 15 June that it would implement all the committee's recommendations, whose projected cost is six billion rupees (US$138 million) per year. Two 'networking centres' each, housed in Indian universities, will be set up for physics, chemistry, biology, material sciences and mathematics. The centres will promote collaborative research, and provide both training and access to advanced research facilities. The government has agreed to support the centres on a long-term basis to help them become internationally competitive. The committee also stressed the need for India to fill the large number of faculty positions that have been vacant in its universities for many years, and to create 1,000 additional research posts including lecturers and professors. Although there are no official figures for the number of vacancies in science faculties, Arun Nigavekar, chair of the University Grants Commission told SciDev.Net that across all disciplines, an average of 25 per cent of faculty positions in India are lying vacant. The government plans to phase in the new positions over the next five years, but, according to Nigavekar, has yet to decide whether the posts — new as well as existing vacant ones — would be filled on a permanent or on a tenure basis. The committee also set a target of increasing five-fold the number of science doctorates awarded in India by 2015. In the 2001-2002 academic year, just over 4,000 PhDs in science subjects were awarded, according to the latest figures from the University Grants Commission. The committee suggested the minimum qualification for a lecturer in the university science departments should be a PhD, except for departments in engineering and medicine where a lecturer could initially be appointed with an M.Tech/MD or MSc, but must acquire a PhD within seven years of appointment. Another key recommendation included promoting formal links between universities and national science institutes through joint research projects and training programmes, as well as encouraging collaboration with industries and user organisations for technologies. Women scientists should be encouraged to take up careers in basic science by removing age barriers — currently 28 years for a junior research fellowship — and introducing flexible time management at work to help them balance their personal and professional responsibilities. The government's latest move comes in the wake of concern voiced repeatedly by senior scientists, science policymakers and even Indian prime ministers, on the decline of science education and research in basic sciences in Indian universities. "Pure sciences are definitely some of the disciplines we need to pay attention to urgently," says Nigavekar.  To address some of these issues, the University Grants Commission has initiated steps to increase funds to upgrade science laboratories, improve Internet connectivity to universities and colleges and improve the quality of teaching and distance education.       Prof.N.LAXMAN RAO, Dept.of Library & Information Science, Osmania University, HYDERABAD- 500 007 (INDIA) President, Indian Association of Teachers in Library and Information Science (IATLIS). Ph:+91-40-27171565 (res): +91-40- 27682290 (off) 9246547599 (Mobile) e:mail-- naglaxman@yahoo.com OR naglaxman@indiatimes.com http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail/uk/taglines/default/messenger/*http://uk.messeng... Yahoo! Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PC http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail/uk/taglines/default/messenger/*http://uk.beta.me... calling worldwide with voicemail