Profiles of Institutions for Scientific Exchange and Training in the South
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Profiles of Institutions for Scientific Exchange and Training in the South 4th Edition 2007 Published by TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world in collaboration with COMSATS, Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South Profiles of Institutions for Scientific Exchange and Training in the South 4th Edition 2007 Published by TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world in collaboration with COMSATS, Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South Foreword TWAS, the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, in Trieste, Italy, and COMSATS, the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South, in Islamabad, Pakistan, are delighted to present the fourth edition of Profiles of Institutions for Scientific Exchange and Training in the South. The three previous editions – detailing the accomplishments and capabilities of leading research centres, institutes and universities in the developing world – have proven to be valuable sources of information, especially in efforts to promote South-South and South-North cooperation in science. We trust that this volume will be equally useful. In addition to the profiles, we have included several tables and indexes that group the institutions. The tables and indexes are intended to help users quickly access aggregate statistical information related to specific fields, regions and institutions in Least Developed Countries (LDCs). This fourth edition of Profiles of Institutions for Scientific Exchange and Training in the South contains a total of 485 institutions in 65 countries, including 28 countries categorized as scientifically lagging according to an index developed by TWAS. About 85 percent of the institutions in the current issue were also included in volume three. Information about these institutions has been updated. Fifteen percent of the institutions are new entries. All of the information has been assembled with the help of administrators, researchers and staff at the institutions. We strongly believe that volumes like Profiles of Institutions for Scientific Exchange and Training in the South not only help to showcase the growing capacity of scientific institutions in the developing country, but also help to promote it. In fact, the information presented in those volumes has and can be used to encourage the creation of scientific networks and joint research projects, which are often the keys to successful research in the today's world of science. TWAS will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2008. COMSATS will celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2009. Much progress has been made in building scientific capacity in the developing world over the past few decades. It is now reasonable to conclude that many of the leading scientific institutions in the South pursue research agendas that are comparable in quality and impact to the research agendas pursued by their counterparts in the North. Yet, it is also reasonable to conclude that scientific institutions of superior excellence in the iii developing world remain small in number and are often confined to just a few developing countries that are emerging as scientific powers. Such trends, which are encouraging and disappointing at the same time, raise new challenges for those seeking to promote scientific capacity building in the developing world: Most importantly, what measures should be taken to close the growing gap in scientific capacity within the South? Indeed nearly 30 percent of institutions listed in this volume are located in Brazil, China and India. This simple breakdown of information strongly suggests that a South-South divide in scientific excellence may be continuing to unfold even as the North-South seems to be narrowing. The growing gap in scientific capabilities in the developing world, which has become a topic of intense discussion in scientific meetings and books in both the South and North, should not be viewed solely with trepidation. This trend also promises hope. But such hope can only be fulfilled if the developing world's best universities and pre-eminent centres of scientific excellence open their doors to others and welcome greater South-South cooperation in science. Only then will the growing gap in scientific capacity within the South turn into asset that can reap enormous benefits across the developing world in the future. We believe that the information contained in Profiles of Institutions for Scientific Exchange and Training in the South can help advance the cause of South- South cooperation (and South-North cooperation in science as well). Previous volumes have been consulted to help build the scientific network for the TWAS- UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Associateship programme). This programme allows talented scientists from the developing world to visit centres of excellence in the South for extended periods to enhance research activities and forge valuable partnerships with colleagues who share similar interest. The centres of excellence serving as the cornerstones of this initiative were first identified in previous editions of Profiles of Institutions for Scientific Exchange and Training in the South. Under a project funded by the United Nations Development Programme's Special Unit for South-South Cooperation (UNDP-SSC), TWAS has also turned to the Profiles of Institutions for Scientific Exchange and Training in the South to bring together scientific institutions throughout the developing world to share experiences in the application of science and technology to address critical societal problems. Over the past three years, workshops have been held on risk management in small island nations, knowledge sharing for sustainable development, and applications of science and technology to address urban challenges in the developing world. The examples cited above indicate how earlier volumes of Profiles of Institutions for Scientific Exchange and Training in the South have helped to iv facilitate science-and technology-based projects by providing information to help forge institutional links. It is our fond hope that this volume will serve a similar purpose. TWAS and COMSATS are most grateful to all those who have contributed to the realization of this latest edition of Profiles of Institutions for Scientific Exchange and Training in the South. Collecting the information has been a challenging, time-consuming task, requiring continuous follow-up emails and phone calls to ensure that the information was as current and complete as possible. We extend a special thanks to the many researchers and staff at scientific institutions throughout the developing world who spent countless hours collecting the information that has made this volume possible. A careful review process, led by TWAS's secretary general, Dorairajan Balasubramanian, was instituted to guarantee that only institutions demonstrating scientific excellence were selected. We would like to express our gratitude to him for his efforts. We would also like to extend a special thanks to Ms. Sheila Khawaja, TWAS, and Mr. Tajammul Hussain, Mr. Irfan Hayee, Mr. Imran Chaudhry and Ms. Sadia Nawaz, COMSATS, for the administrative and publishing assistance they provided in bringing this volume to fruition. We sincerely hope that the fourth edition of Profiles of Institutions for Scientific Exchange and Training in the South proves worthy of our efforts. Our ultimate satisfaction will be derived from knowing that policy makers and staff, institutional presidents and directors, and individual scientists and researchers all find the volume to be a valuable resource both in advancing their own research agendas and in providing valuable knowledge for science-based sustainable development in the South. Prof. Jacob Palis Dr. Hameed Ahmed Khan President Executive Director TWAS, the academy of sciences COMSATS, Commission on Science for the developing world and Technology for Sustainable Trieste, Italy Development in the South Islamabad, Pakistan v Contents Reference Index of Centres with Research Fields…………………………….ix Aggregate Statistics…………………………………………...………………..….lv Geographic distribution of research fields among centres profiles – Distribution density of centres – Proportion of centres in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) – Regional distribution of centres by research fields Profiles of Centres...…………………………………………...…………………….1 Argentina..................................... 1 Malawi……………………………. 282 Bangladesh…………………........ 35 Malaysia………………………...... 283 Bolivia…………………………….. 44 Mauritius………………………..... 296 Botswana………………………… 47 Mexico…………………………..... 298 Brazil…………………………....... 48 Mongolia………………………..... 315 Burkina Faso……………............. 87 Morocco………………………….. 323 Cameroon………………………... 94 Namibia…………………………... 327 Chile……………………………… 96 Nepal……………………………… 328 China…………………………....... 103 Niger……………………………… 332 Colombia……………………........ 138 Nigeria………………………….... 334 Costa Rica……………………….. 142 Oman, Sultanate Of…………….. 344 Cote D'Ivoire…………………...... 145 Pakistan………………………….. 347 Cuba……………………………… 150 Panama………………………….. 365 Ecuador………………………...... 156 Paraguay……………………….... 367 Egypt……………………………… 159 Peru………………………………. 368 Ethiopia…………………………… 167 Philippines……………………….. 370 Ghana……………………………. 170 Qatar…………………………….... 376 India………………………………. 178 Rwanda…………………………... 377 Indonesia………………………… 244 Saudi Arabia…………………….. 378 Iran, Islamic Rep………………… 249 Senegal…………………………... 379 Jamaica, W.I…………………...... 260 Singapore………………………... 381 Jordan…………………………….