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> Capacity-building in the biological sciences and biotechnologies
- Updated: 01-11-2004 5:33 pm
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Mid-2002 up-date on UNESCO's Life Science programmes
In order to strenghthen capacity building in cell and molecular biology, a letter of understanding has been signed the 10 December 2001 between UNESCO SC/BES and the International Union for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB) on common actions to be taken, with emphasis on creation of fellowships funds for students from developing countries and countries in transition to take part in conferences, workshops and courses organized by IUBMB in various regions.
Similar agreements have been reached with the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) and with the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO). The latter is planning to start its so called “international programme”, aimed at involving students and researchers from third world countries in EMBO activities. UNESCO will be engaged as a collaborating agency in the implementation of this programme. The Global Molecular and Cell Biology Network (MCBN), a former UNESCO programme recently re-structured into an independent NGO (under the same name), has also signed a letter of understanding with SC/BES to secure continuation and further development of mutual actions.
The International Cell Research Organisation (ICRO), realizing its mandate and its traditional cooperation with UNESCO, organized training courses on mass spectrometry and proteomics (Havana, Cuba), on principles and protocols on molecular biology (Abuja, Nigeria), on new concepts of reproduction (Woods Hole, USA), on molecular breeding of cereals (Martonvasar, Hungary), on molecular motors and cytoskeleton (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and on virus elimination and detection (Pretoria, South Africa). Next courses are in preparation.
With a view to improving and better focusing training and research activities in the biotechnologies, a Directors Council meeting of the UNESCO-Microbial Resources Centres (MIRCEN) was organized in order to report on ongoing and future scientific work of this UNESCO network, conduct scientific symposia on topical issues of interest in microbiology and its application and discuss technical and scientific advances globally, and provide recommendations for future focus of the Network’s activities in training and inter-regional exchange, held in Washington, USA. This saw the participation of at least 21 MIRCEN Directors representing 19 countries from all regions and was organized in collaboration with the International Committee of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).
The objectives of strengthening national scientific capacity and infrastructure and in keeping with one of UNESCO’s priorities of Africa, were addressed through the provision of chemicals, reagents and small scale equipment to at least 8 biochemistry laboratories in 6 African countries. Further in keeping with the objectives to build up capacities and strengthen intra-regional exchange in the Arab region, support was provided to the organization of 5th Ecole Doctorale de Biochimie et de Biologie Moleculaire, held at the Laboratoires de Biochimie et de Phytopathologie de l’Ecole Superieure d’Horticulture in Sousse, Tunisia (March 2002) and also towards the organization of a Regional Symposium on Plant Biotechnology, to be held in Tunisia as well.
Cooperative activities were explored between the UNESCO Havana office and the Cuban Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB). In particular, attention was devoted to developing mechanisms for triangular co-operation taking into consideration the excellence of CIGB in this field.
The UNESCO Beijing office has arranged for a visit by a senior scientist from Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences to several scientific research institutions in DPR Korea with the purpose of providing expert advise in the field of biocontrol and developing potential co-operation.
For more information please contact: : m.nalecz@unesco.org and/or l.hoareau@unesco.org
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