|
|
|
AU-TWAS Young Scientists National Award
Purpose and Nature
- The African Union Assembly of Heads of State and
Government, in January 2007, “declared 2007 as the
launching year for building constituencies and champions
for science, technology and innovation in Africa” and
called for international scientific cooperation. Further to
the recommendations of the AMCOST Bureau in June
2007 on the Scientific Awards Programme, the AU
Commission is collaborating with TWAS, the academy of
sciences for developing world on the “AU-TWAS Young
Scientist National Award” with a view to promote science
in Africa.
- A major objective of TWAS is to recognize and support
individual scientists in developing countries who have
made excellent contributions to the advancement of
science.
- In many African countries a system of recognizing and
awarding achievements of young talented scientists living
and working in Africa is not fully implemented
- Against this background, the African Union (AU) and
TWAS have joined efforts to provide financial assistance
to African National Academies of Sciences and/or
Research Councils and other National Scientific
Organizations under the supervision of the Ministries of
Science and Technology in Africa to enable them to
institute a scheme of TWAS awards for young scientists
in their respective countries.
- The AU-TWAS Young Scientist National Award which is
open to both male and female young researchers is
designed to recognize the scientific achievements of
young researchers working and living in Africa and to
encourage them to continue to strive for excellence in
their scientific careers.
- In each African country the AU-TWAS award will be given
annually in the following 2 fields of science:
• Life and Earth Sciences;
• Sciences, Technology and Innovation.
- For each award, AU and TWAS shall make available a
yearly amount of up to US$5,000 as prize money.In addition to the cash award, the winners will also
receive a certificate.
- This new initiative, to be implemented from 2010, has
been developed from the existing TWAS award for your
scientists from developed countries. In African countries,
the AU-TWAS Young Scientists National Award will
replace any previous agreement of collaboration signed
with TWAS within the framework of the prizes to young
scientists from developing countries.
Procedure
-
African National Academies of Sciences and/or Research
Councils intending to award the AU-TWAS Young
Scientists National Award, under the supervision of
Ministries of Science and Technology, in their respective
countries will be requested to sign an agreement of
collaboration with the Ministry, AU and TWAS outlining
the rules and regulations governing the scheme.
- Candidates eligible for the prizes should be no older than
forty years of age on 31 December of the year of the
award, be nationals of that country, have lived and
worked there for at least the previous 3 years, hold at
least a Master's degree and have a good record of
research publications.
- The participating organizations will set up a committee of
eminent scientists in the country for selecting the prize
winners, including, where applicable, TWAS members.
- Names of committee members should be sent to TWAS
for information.
- he deadline to receive applications for this Award is 30
June of each year (Africa Scientific Renaissance day).
- Once the winners have been selected, a “Profile of Award
Winner” form is to be filled out for each winner by the
awarding national scientific organization with details on
the scientific achievements of the winner and justification
for selection and submitted to the AU Commission and
TWAS by 31 July of the year of the award for
endorsement before the winners are announced.
- The awarding national scientific organization will be
responsible for organizing a prize ceremony where the
winners will receive their award and certificate. The award
ceremony should be hosted by the Ministry of Science
and Technology in their respective Member States on
African Union Day, 9 September of each year
- AU/TWAS support will be limited to developing
agreements with participating countries; checking and
approving the selected candidates; disbursing the prize
payments.
- For more information prospective candidates may contact
the awarding national scientific organization in their
countries.
Click here to download registration form
|
|
