Application to attend Workshop Two or Three
Scientific collaboration offers significant opportunities to advance biological science, address national priorities, and discuss shared principles and standards of practice. The AAAS Center for Science, Technology, and Security Policy (CSTSP) initiated a series of meetings in the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA, which includes Afghanistan and Pakistan) to better understand critical issues underlying international collaboration in the biological sciences.
The first meeting, held in collaboration with the Jordan University of Science and Technology Princess Haya Biotechnology Center in October 2010, focused on the state of the scientific and human capacity in BMENA countries and responsible stewardship (bioethics, biosafety, and biosecurity).
The second meeting, hosted in collaboration with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) in March 2011, examined national priorities to which existing biological research and biotechnology can contribute, scientific capacity needed to address national priorities, and mechanisms (via development or through collaboration) by which countries can gain needed capacities. These meetings brought together scientists from fourteen BMENA countries (Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Tunisia, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen), the United Kingdom and the United States.
For the third and fourth meetings, AAAS, in collaboration with the Institut Pasteur Tunis, the Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, and the Cairo University, proposes to conduct a workshop geared at early career scientists to promote international collaboration on infectious diseases and genomics (including genetic and epigenetic influences on phenotype) respectively. The meetings will address sessions on current research, global scientific and biosecurity networks, development of shared scientific methods and normative (bioethics, biosafety, and biosecurity) concepts, and legal and operational issues impacting the collaboration. We hope to include examples of successful collaboration and challenges faced in initiating and maintaining scientific collaboration.
By bringing together graduate students, post-graduate scientists, and/or junior faculty along with experts from the BMENA region and the United States, we hope to expand and build a network of young scientists from the BMENA countries and the United States and previous workshop participants (from the Jordan and Kuwait meetings) to address important scientific and societal issues, develop a program on responsible research conduct at the institutional level, and provide opportunities for career development and peer mentorship. (two per country per meeting) participants will have the opportunity to be part of an international scientific network, meet with infectious diseases, genomics (including genetic and epigenetic influences on phenotype) and legal and operational experts, share and discuss societal issues and responsible research conduct, and meet with funding agencies.
Eligibility Factors
- Between the ages of 25 and 35 or current graduate students, post-doctoral equivalents, and junior faculty.
- Fluent in English.
- Currently enrolled at an accredited University or employed at a research and/or educational institution in the U.S. or one of the following BMENA countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Tunisia, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. While citizenship of the country of residence is not required, you must be a citizen of one of these countries or a US citizen.
- Currently engaged in research on infectious diseases or in genomics (including genetics and epigenetics).
- Demonstrate leadership skills among peers and associates.
Submission
In order to successfully submit your application, please use the following template. Send your completed application as a single file to Ms. Gwen Coat at
gcoat@aaas.org by
July 07, 2011.
To download the application, please click here:
download application