• Professor Ahmed Zewail: Memorable Scientific Icon
• African Networks
• IAP Call for Proposals 2016
• TWAS Research and Advanced Training Fellowship: 2016 Call for Applications
• TWAS Visiting Expert Programme
• The Twelfth International Dryland Development Conference
• Regional Action on Climate Change and Future Earth (RACC–FE) Experts Meeting

It is with great sorrow that we mourn the loss of the father of femtochemistry, Egyptian Nobel Laureate Ahmed Zewail (26 February 1946-2 August 2016). Professor Zewail is survived by his tremendous work inside and outside of Egypt. 

The BA was honored to have Professor Zewail on the Organizing Committee of the international BioVisionAlexandria (BVA) Conference. With our warmest condolences, the CSSP would like to carry Professor Zewail’s memory into the future by sharing his seminar video titled “A Journey to the Future”: http://webcast.bibalex.org/Cast/Details.aspx?ID=baJOBuFcF3qFua6PZljcvA== 

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina aspires to establish strong knowledge networks that would connect Africa with the world. The BA represents the hub where several substantial academic and research networks meet, bringing together generations of professors, young academia, and researchers throughout Africa and the world who would share knowledge and experience in the fields of science and technology. The African Networks cover five main research areas: Agriculture, Environment, ICT, Public Health, and Research Methods and includes articles from highly ranked international scientific journals.

Detailed information on the Africa Network is available on the following link: http://afn.bibalex.org/.

Deadline for Application: 30 September 2016

The InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) invites its member academies, regional networks and observers to submit proposals that will address its strategic goals. Other organizations such as international organisations, national young academies and private sector entities are also welcome to contribute as partners.

Funds of up to a maximum of US$30,000 will be provided to a number of projects that aim to produce material and/or recommendations that address the Partnership's  strategic priorities and will be useful to the scientific and policy communities and the general public (e.g., statements, policy reports, toolkits).

Deadline for application is 30 September 2016.

Application forms and further information available in the links: http://www.iamp-online.org/2016-call-proposals and http://www.interacademies.net/2952/30535.aspx

Deadline for Application: 1 October 2016

TWAS, the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, www.twas.org, is now accepting applications for the TWAS Research and Advanced Training Fellowship programme.

The fellowships are offered to scientists from developing countries and are tenable at centres of excellence in various developing countries.

Eligible fields include one or more of the following: agricultural and biological sciences, medical and health sciences, chemistry, engineering, astronomy, space and earth sciences, mathematics and physics.

Please see http://www.twas.org/opportunity/twas-fellowships-research-and-advanced-training  for the latest information regarding the above programme, including eligibility criteria, guidelines, etc.

Women scientists are especially encouraged to apply.

For more information, please visit: https://www.bibalex.org/cssp/opportunities/opportunities.aspx#1

Deadline for Application: 1 October 2016

The TWAS Visiting Expert Programme supports visits of internationally renowned scientists to institutions located in developing countries, especially those located in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

The objective of the programme is to provide institutions and research groups in developing countries, especially those with limited outside contacts, with the opportunity to establish long-term links with world leaders in science and so help develop capacity-building in their country. Under the programme, prospective host institutions can invite internationally renowned experts in areas of science other than mathematics and physics to collaborate in research and training.

The visit should have a minimum stay of two weeks at the host institution. TWAS will cover the cost of the air ticket and will provide an honorarium of USD200, while the host institution is expected to cover local expenses.

For more information, please visit: https://www.bibalex.org/cssp/opportunities/opportunities.aspx#1    

 The Twelfth International Dryland Development Conference
“Sustainable Development of Drylands in the Post 2015 World”
21-24 August 2016

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, (BA), hosted the Twelfth International Dryland Development Conference organized by the International Dryland Development Commission (IDDC)  under the theme “Sustainable Development of Drylands in the Post 2015 World”, from August 21 to 24, 2016.

The Post-2015 Development Agenda emphasized the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for sustainably enhancing food security, increasing productivity of smallholder farmers, reducing poverty and hunger, and tackling the problems associated with increasing water scarcity, biodiversity loss and desertification.

The Conference included a series of plenary presentations by eminent speakers, panel discussion, and some selected thematic voluntary oral and poster presentations in concurrent sessions.

For more information about the conference, please visit: http://www.drylanddevelop.org/uploads/6/1/7/8/61785389/12th_icdd__second_announcement.pdf.

Regional Action on Climate Change and Future Earth (RACC–FE) Experts Meeting
25-26 August 2016

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) organized the Regional Action on Climate Change and Future Earth (RACC-FE) Experts Meeting from 25 to 26 August 2016, at Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Center. 

The BA invited equally stand experts from the Future Earth (FE) African and Middle East programs, and the Regional Action for Climate Change (RACC) communities and others distinguished experts to share/exchange and deeply discuss their knowledge and expertise on how to meet the challenges from climate change and population growth to the newly established Sustainable Development Goals and come up with recommendation for policy makers in Africa and the Middle East part of the developing world.

The program discussed the following themes:

• Understanding the Sendai Framework
• On Disaster Risk Management for Egypt
• Longer Term, Slow-onset Disasters
• Vulnerable Deltas