BioVisionAlexandria 2008
conference closes

Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria, started his talk by extending his deep thanks to the Conference sponsors, organizers, staff members, speakers, and participants. Dr. Serageldin especially thanked Philippe Desmarescaux, Chairman, the World Life Sciences Forum, BioVision (France) for deciding to waive the registration fees for participants from the third world in BioVision Lyon 2009. He also spoke about scientists' commitment towards the entire human family and the need to address the individual human being at a time of inhumanity and promises which are not really translated into practices. He called on scientists to recognize the need for action to bring the blessings of peace and the blanket of security. On the energy/food problem, Dr. Serageldin spoke about the rising prices that are really threatening our societies. He also addressed the threats of climate change and the need for all stakeholders, on all levels, to pile the promises for tomorrow into real practices for today.

Dr. Serageldin turned to youth, who created the New Library of Alexandria, and who attended BioVisionAlexandria 2008, and promised to extend his hand along with other scientists to push back global threats. He stressed the need to fight dogma and irrationality; to change priorities into policies; and to fight inaction. He stressed that, in a world of 80 million hungry people, we need to develop a sense of moral outrage. He called on youth to harness their skills and determination for a better future.

On the 2 days preceding BioVisionAlexandria 2008, the CSSP organized an interactive event for young researchers from developing countries entitled “TWAS/BVA.NXT” . With 99 young participants from 27 developing countries, the event tackled the problems of the scarcity of funding in the developing world. Each young researcher was also given the chance to present his/her work in a poster session that was running throughout BioVisionAlexandria 2008 main conference.

The 59th sitting of the Committee of Plenipotentiary Representatives of ICSTI member state

15 May 2008 - 16 May 2008

The 59th sitting of the Committee of Plenipotentiary Representatives (CPR) of ICSTI member states was held at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

The International Centre for Scientific and Technical Information (ICSTI) is an international organization, set up in 1969 under the provisions of an Intergovernmental Agreement on the Establishment of the International Centre for Scientific and Technical Information.

The CPR meeting was preceded by an international seminar on issues of multilateral co-operation in innovations and technology transfer, which took place on the 15th of May.

The ICSTI comprises 20 member states, as of 2006.

German Egyptian Scientific Projects (GESP)

With a view to intensifying interaction and scientific cooperation between Egyptian and German Scientists / Institutions, the Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research in Egypt (MEHSR) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Germany jointly extend support for exchange of scientific visits through the jointly funded program German Egyptian Scientific Projects (GESP). The main goal of this program is to encourage partnerships between both sides and enhance collaboration and technology transfer. The program should be open for Egyptian and publicly funded German universities and research institutions.

Aim of the program
GESP is aiming at supporting bilateral mobility between Egyptian and German scientific teams with special emphasis on young scientists (Master and PhD students) and within the framework of a jointly submitted research project of a period up to three years. Participation of young scientists in this program is considered absolutely necessary.

Faculty members, Scientists and Academics belonging to Universities, and Research Institutes should form a project team headed by a Project Leader.Those having permanent positions in the above mentioned institutions can apply as Project Leaders. Each team should not exceed five persons.

Prerequisites
A precise project proposal for academic / scientific co-operation must be submitted by the Egyptian Project Leader to the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research, and by the German Project Leader to DAAD Bonn, in a prescribed format. The application will contain the objectives, technical details, methodology, the likely outputs and achievable goals of the project, the bio-data of the Project Leader, a list of his/her relevant publications during the last 5 years and a list of other projects, national and international, implemented by him/her etc.

Funding
Grants will be offered only towards travel and living costs within the framework of a well-defined and approved research project. The sending side will bear the travel cost (including overseas medical insurance) between the place of work of the scientists/students in their own country and the place of work in the host country. Living and accommodation expenses of the participants will be provided also by the sending side, in accordance with a predefined scale that is approved by the steering committee of the GESP program.

Hence, project-related incidental costs (for example, bench fees, staff or running costs, costs for computer time, materials purchases, documentation, photocopying, printing, internal travel, consumables or other expenses) shall not be covered under this program, as is the case for costs related to purchase of equipment, infrastructure, workspaces and office machine etc. Grants will not be provided for study purposes or for attending conferences, workshops, meetings etc.

Application Procedure
Proposals in a prescribed format are to be submitted simultaneously by the Egyptian Project Leader to the Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (please refer to www.mohe-casm.edu.eg) and by the German Project Leader to the DAAD, Bonn (please see DAAD announcement at www.daad.de). Applications received by both Project Leaders with all necessary documents shall only be considered. Applications will be evaluated by an independent bi-national selection committee on the basis of scientific merit, need for co-operation and the composition of project teams. Final decision will be approved by the bi-national Steering Committee of the GESP program.

The call for application has been postponed. Application date will be notified later.