TWAS/TWNSO
Conference

NEW DELHI
OCT. 2002

The Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and the Third World Network of Scientific Organizations (TWNSO) meet every two years in a developing country to review the status and future of science and technology in various regions of the South and to promote South-South and South-North cooperation. The 8th General Conference of TWAS and 7th General Meeting of TWNSO was held in New Delhi, India during 19- 23 October 2002. The meetings were convened by TWAS and TWNSO in collaboration with the Indian National Science Academy (INSA). It was hosted by INSA in collaboration with various scientific organizations and agencies of the Indian Government.

The meetings of TWAS and TWNSO were followed by Asian Regional IAP Seminar on Science Education from 24 – 25 October 2002. The venue and hosts were the same. This was also organized by INSA.

The invitation for participation in the meetings of TWAS and TWNSO was extended by the Executive Director and the President of TWAS. More than 300 delegates from all over the world participated in these meetings.

The participation in these meetings proved highly rewarding especially in view of networking with a large number of professionals from around the globe.

The next general conference and assembly of TWAS and TWNSO will take place in Beijing, China, from 16-19 October 2003. This will mark TWAS's 20th anniversary.

The Conference program included lectures by the recipients of TWAS and TWNSO awards, the opening ceremony, TWAS and TWNSO medal lectures as well as invited lectures by distinguished scientists, sessions on science in India, a ministerial session on science and technology policy and management, and a session on global issues relevant to developing countries.

Mr. Murli Manohar Joshi, India's Minister for Human Resource Development and Science & Technology highlighted in the opening session that "humankind possesses all the knowledge it needs to create an enduring socioeconomic system on a global scale but we will only reach that goal when scientific knowledge and technical know- how are more widely dispersed than they are today". Moreover, he emphasized to create a new equilibrium that meets the needs of today's population without jeopardizing the well being of future generations thus having similarities with the mission and vision of LEAD-Program.

The other key speakers included W.R. Erdelen, assistant director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and C.N.R. Rao, president of the Third World Academy of Sciences. In addition to the presentations, Mohamed Hassan, Executive Director of TWAS, formally announced the winners of the TWAS and TWNSO 2000 and 2001 awards and prizes. Moreover, for the first time, TWNSO issued a certificate of honour to ministers of science and technology. Recipients included Joshi, R.M. Sardenberg, Minister of Science and Technology in Brazil, and T. Isoun, Minister of Science and Technology in Nigeria.

In its business meetings on 19 and 20 October 2002, TWAS honored more than forty scientists by electing them as the new members

On 23 October 2002, the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) 8th General Conference and 13th General Meeting, and the Third World Network of Scientific Organizations (TWNSO) 7th General Assembly ended with a declaration called as "Delhi Declaration". This declaration emphasized on TWAS and TWNSO to continue to support programs that help build scientific capacity in the South for the purposes of addressing "social equity, poverty alleviation, and other societal needs."

The Delhi Declaration marked the conclusion of a three-day conference. Following were the specific points of the Delhi Declaration:

• Creation of special programs for least developed countries (LDCs). Such programs would include South-South fellowships and training initiatives similar to the fellowships in biotechnology that the Indian minister of science and technology announced his government would begin awarding next year through a program administered by TWAS.
• Establishment of centres of leadership and centres of excellence directed by scientists working in LDCs as part of a larger strategy to build a critical mass of well-trained scientists throughout the South.
• Publication of independent, authoritative and action-oriented studies on critical issues facing the South similar to the study that TWAS recently published on safe drinking water. Future topics would include renewable energy, biotechnology and coastal management in developing countries.
• Strengthening of linkages with local communities and NGOs as part of a broader effort to recognize and tap into the developing world's deeply rooted indigenous knowledge systems.
• Provision of scientific information to diplomats in the developing world to help them make informed decisions on trade and environmental issues in which science and technology play a central role.
• Development of training programs and seminars to provide scientists with the expertise they need to deal with the complex issues related to intellectual property rights.

The declaration noted that "as TWAS approaches its 20th anniversary, the Academy has gained widespread credibility as a leading voice for science in the South. This credibility, which is based on the scientific expertise of its membership, is enabling the Academy to reach new levels of influence. TWAS and TWNSO should do everything in their power not to miss this opportunity to put science to work to build a more equitable and peaceful world."