Research initiatives/academic groups
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ASM advises the Malaysian government on issues of science and technology to upgrade the capabilities of the nation. The academy prepares relevant policy reports and publishes the ASM Journal for the dissemination of significant research. The site acts as a forum, linking the scientific community with policy makers.
The ACTS is an international, intergovernmental think-tank based in Nairobi that publishes and disseminates new information on science, technology and environmental policy. It runs research and capacity-building programmes in biodiversity and environmental governance, science and technology literacy, energy and water security, agriculture and food security, technological advances and health policy. It is also involved in national, regional and international outreach activities, working with universities and governments in Africa and beyond.
AMANET promotes capacity building in African research and training institutes that specialise in malaria studies. Its objectives include promoting collaboration among stakeholders, creating international awareness about the malaria problem in Africa, identifying test sites, developing infrastructure and support for field and clinical trials, and increasing good management practices in malaria research. AMANET produces a biannual online newsletter to disseminate research findings and grant and workshop calls. It also hosts a discussion forum for registered members.
The Alliance for Microbicide Development brings together pharmaceutical companies, non-profit research institutions and advocacy groups dedicated to the development of topical microbicides. A major highlight of its website is the new
Microbicides Research and Development Database. This contains detailed information on the status of individual microbicide products, principle investigators and trial locations. (Free registration is needed for access, and some information is restricted). There is also an excellent weekly digest of news relating to microbicides reserach and development, and the
Microbicide Quarterly, which has meeting reports, interviews and expert-authored articles on all areas from basic research to clinical and regulatory issues.
The Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) is an inter-governmental network whose primary purposes are to foster global environmental change research in the Asia-Pacific region, increase developing country participation in that research, and to strengthen links between the science community and policy makers. It promotes, encourages and supports research activities on long-term global changes in climate, ocean and terrestrial systems, and on related physical, chemical, biological and socio-economic processes.
The AAU, based in Accra, promotes consultation, exchange of information and cooperation among higher education institutes in Africa. It provides fellowships and small grants for postgraduate studies and staff exchanges. It also runs programmes to study higher education management and assure the quality of its member institutions. The website gives summaries of all these activities and links to AAU newsletters and publications. It also offers a list of online resources relevant to higher education in Africa.
The e-Africa Commission is part of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), charged with managing the development of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in Africa. It is responsible for developing and overseeing policies and strategies for the ICT sector. It also runs both the NEPAD e-schools initiative to teach ICT to Africans in primary and secondary education, and the NEPAD ICT infrastructure programme, aiming to connect all African countries to a broadband network.
This organisation provides the US government with independent scientific analysis and advice on health issues through expert panels, including one on tropical diseases such as malaria. Recent major activities include the launch of a new African Science Academies Development Initiative, with the assistance of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
IASO is an umbrella organisation for 52 national obesity associations across 56 countries. Its mission statement is to "improve global health by promoting the understanding of obesity and weight-related diseases through scientific research and dialogue, whilst encouraging the development of effective policies for their prevention and management."
The organisation is strongly advocacy-based and publishes frequent statements aimed at policymakers on how to tackle obesity. The website also contains detailed data on the global prevalence of obesity. Since obese people are often at high risk for other diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, the website also outlines these risks, offering links to other relevant associations.
The IGCI is an independent unit within the University of Waikato, New Zealand with a focus on the human dimensions of global environmental change. The website provides information on IGCI's collaborative research with developing countries, consultancy, professional training and education, and a range of computer models for integrated assessment of climate change issues issues. IGCI has been involved in assisting various developing countries implement the Climate Change convention, projects for adaptation and vulnerability assessment etc. A useful site for policy researchers, scientists, as well as general readers.
The IAS was established in 1986 on the recommendation of the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH). IAS's stated mission is to "provide an institutional set up for the utilisation of Science and Technology for the development of Islamic countries and humanity at large".
Headquartered in Amman, Jordan, the IAS attempts to serve as a consultative organisation of OIC member countries on matters relating to science and technology; initiate cooperative scientific and technological programmes and activities in science and technology; encourage and promote research on major problems facing OIC member countries; formulate standards of scientific performance and attainment, and to award prizes and honours for outstanding scientific achievements to centres of excellence in all science and technology disciplines.
KAM, run by the Knowledge for Development group at the World Bank, is an interactive benchmarking tool that allows countries to measure their success in creating a knowledge-based economy. KAM uses 81 structural and qualitative variables to describe 132 countries' performance on four key aspects of a knowledge economy: incentive and institutional regimes, education, innovation, and information and communications technologies. These variables help show how well an economy is using knowledge to fuel its socio-economic development.
Policymakers and science and development analysts will find KAM useful for creating interactive scorecards, generating indices, monitoring national performances over time and making inter-country comparisons.
NAST was founded in 1982 as an autonomous academic body set up to promote research in science and technology by organising conferences and seminars, provide financial help, and recognise nationally outstanding scientists. NAST advises on national science and technology policy with a focus on promoting indigenous knowledge and aiding the uptake of appropriate technology. The site gives information about a wide range of grants offered by NAST. The academy is associated with over two hundred publications and publishes a regular newsletter distributed to national and international science and technology institutes.
SPRU was set up in 1966 as one of the first research institutions in the field of science, technology and innovation policy. SPRU undertakes research, consultancy and postgraduate training in this area and is the largest research initiative in this field in the world.
SPRU's mission is to enhance further understanding of the role of science, technology and innovation in the global economy. Besides research and postgraduate training, SPRU also advises policy-makers and other stakeholders concerned with the formulation and implementation of science and technology policy.
A lead programme of the South Africa, Medical Research Council, SAAVI is committed to the research, development and testing of HIV/AIDS vaccines, working with national and international partners. Its website contains full descriptions of the scientific, clinical and ethical approaches being taken for the development of HIV vaccines tailored to local strains of HIV, including contact details of the researchers involved, funding and updates on progress.
The principal aim of TWAS is to promote scientific capacity and sustainable development in the South through research as well as South–South and North–South collaborations. It was founded in 1983 by a group of Southern scientists, under the leadership of Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam, as an autonomous international organisation. Fellows are citizens of the South; associate fellows are citizens of the North who were born in the South or have made significant contributions to science in the South.
The influential WRI is an environmental research and policy organisation based in Washington DC, United States. It aims to "go beyond research to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people's lives". To fulfil this aim the WRI has a comprehensive programme of work in more than 100 countries in all aspects of environment policy research and action. Its extensive and regularly updated website includes
EarthTrends - a set of article and data portals on key environmental topics - as well as online versions of the organisation’s flagship publication, its World Resources reports.
