ICSU-TWAS-UNESCO-UNU/IAS Visiting Scientist Programme

for areas of natural sciences other than mathematics and physics

Based on the outcome of an external review carried out in 2001, the"Joint Lectureship and Professorship Programmes" cosponsored by ICSU,TWAS and UNESCO have been merged into a single programme called"Visiting Scientist Programme." The new programme supports visits toinstitutions located in developing countries, especially those locatedin the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).The United Nations University's Institute for Advanced Studies(UNU/IAS) joined the scheme as cosponsoring organization in 2004.

The programme is conducted within the framework offollow-up to the World Conference on Science held in Budapest, Hungaryin 1999, organized jointly by UNESCO and the International Council forScience (ICSU), in collaboration with TWAS, at which the importance ofstrengthening science capacities in developing countries wasunderscored.

The objective of the programme is to provide institutions and researchgroups in the South, especially those with limited outside contacts,with the opportunity to establish long-term links with world leaders inscience and so help develop capacity-building in their country.

1. Under the programme, prospective hostinstitutions can invite internationally renowned experts in areas ofscience other than mathematics and physics to lecture. (Proposals formathematics and physics can be submitted to the "Visiting Scholar/Consultant Programme" of the Office of External Activities, Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP),Trieste, Italy). The visiting scientist will be expected to interactclosely with faculty and students of the host institution with the aimof strengthening its existing activities and/or assisting in theestablishment of new lines of research. The visiting scientist couldalso deliver lectures and seminars to research students, supervisestudents, conduct research and discuss future collaborativepartnerships.
2. The visit should have a minimum stay of onemonth at the host institution. Applications to renew successful visitswill be considered in the following year(s). An economy round-trip fareand additional travel expenses of the visiting scientist, plus anhonorarium of US$500 is provided by the sponsoring organizations, whilethe host institution is expected to cover local expenses.
3. Oncompletion of the visit, the visiting scientist and the hostinstitution should provide comprehensive reports outlining the impactthe visit has had on the educational and research programmes of thehost institution.

Institutions wishing to be considered for this programme should fill in the request form.As the programme is striving towards providing equal opportunities,nominations of women will be particularly welcomed. Only persons whohave attained international recognition in their fields of science willbe considered for support under this programme.

• Part A of the application form should be completed by thehead of host institution in a developing country and sent to the TWASSecretariat.
• Part B of the application form should beforwarded to the nominated visiting scientist for him/her to complete,along with a copy of Part A for his/her information. The filled-outPart B, together a full curriculum vitae, should then be sent directlyto the TWAS Secretariat by the nominated visiting scientist.
• Part A and Part B should reach the TWAS Secretariat by 1 October of each year at the following address:

  Ms. Helen Grant
  TWAS, c/o ICTP, Strada Costiera 11, 34014 Trieste, Italy.
  Phone: +39 040 2240-387 - Fax: +39 040 224559
  E-Mail: info@twas.org

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