International Programs

Introduction
Adherence To ICSU
Inter Academy Collaboration & Exchange Programme
Inter-Academy Statement on Transgenic Plants and World Agriculture

Status Report on Pharmacological Research in India, 1994-1998

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INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMES - Introduction

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International relations in science are important not only for exchange of scientific information through scientific conferences and publications, but also for promoting international understanding among scientists of different nations through participation in scientific programmes and collaboration in special fields through exchange of personnel. To make these objectives functional, the Academy has launched the programme of international activities since past three decades. The activities may be classified under two broad categories, namely, adherence to the International Council for Science (ICSU) and Bilateral Exchange/Collaboration of Scientists Programme with other overseas Academies/Organisations.

 I. ADHERENCE TO THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE

International Council for Science (ICSU) is a non-governmental organisation formed during 1931 to promote international scientific activities in different branches of science and their applications for the benefit of humanity. This is being achieved through facilitating international co-operation in scientific work and promoting the formation of International Unions in different branches of science. The Indian National Science Academy is the adhering body in India to the International Council for Science and its various affiliated Unions/Committees/Commissions, etc. The Academy acts through the various National Committees constituted to deal with the ICSU activities in India. The adhering body sponsors Indian scientists to the meetings of the International Council for Science and its affiliated International Unions/Committees/Commissions, etc. In the year 1997, the Academy reconstituted the National Committees for a period of three years (1997-2000) corresponding to each International Union/Committee/Commission to which the Academy is adhering at present. There are 26 such National Committees formulated to maintain contact with the bureau of each Union/Committee/Commission with the object of facilitating international co-operation in the concerned branch of science (the membership of these committees are given under COMMITTEES in this publication). The National Committees recommend through the adhering organisation (INSA), its views regarding organisational changes of statutes, proposals for scientific action or matters for discussions, preparation of country status reports which may be desirable for bringing before the General Assembly of the respective Union. In addition, National Committees recommend scientists to represent the adhering organisation at the General Assembly of the respective Union and other International Congresses sponsored by them. The National Committees also give recommendations regarding holding of International Conferences/Congresses/General Assemblies in India under the auspices of the International Unions. Suitable names of Indian scientists are also recommended by the National Committees for the various Executive positions in the various ICSU bodies. The list of scientists occupying important positions in different ICSU bodies is given in the following pages.

                                 A committee comprising the Chairmen of the National Committees in different branches of science and corresponding to the International ICSU bodies, forms the ICSU National Committee. This committee has also been reconstituted for a period of three years (1997-2000). The President and the Foreign-Secretary, INSA are the Ex-Officio Chairman and Member-Secretary respectively of this committee.

 Following are the aims and objectives of the ICSU National Committee

–      to realise the objectives of the International Council for Science, i.e. to facilitate and coordinate the activities of the International Scientific Unions in the field of the exact and natural sciences;

–      to act as the coordinating centre for the national organisations adhering to the Council;

–      to encourage international scientific activities;

–      to enter through the intermediary of the national adhering organisations into relations with Government of their respective countries in order to promote scientific research in these countries;

–      to maintain relations with specialised and related agencies of the United Nations; and

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INDIAN SCIENTISTS HOLDING IMPORTANT POSITIONS IN ICSU AND ITS AFFILIATED BODIES

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II. SUPPORT FOR PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

In addition to providing support to the scientists for participation in General Assemblies/Congresses/Conferences sponsored by ICSU bodies, FASAS, TCDC Programmes, INSA also provides partial financial assistance to Indian scientists for attending international scientific conferences abroad which are not sponsored by the ICSU bodies. The support provided by the Academy covers expenses on travel, perdiem and registration fee to a maximum of Rs 25,000/-. Scientists below the age of 35 are also given travel support under the Travel Fellowship scheme launched jointly by INSA-COSTED-CSIR. Under this programme, selected scientists are given partial travel support up to Rs 10,000/- for participation in international conferences/meetings and short-term training programmes (less than three months). The application proforma for this programme is available from the Scientific Secretary, COSTED, 24 Gandhi Mandap Road, Chennai 600 025.

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INTER ACADEMY COLLABORATION AND

EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

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Click Here to view regulation and Download Form of Exchange Programme with Foriegn Academies and Organisations

SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION WITH THE ACADEMIES/ ORGANISATIONS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES

Since 1968, the Academy has been successfully collaborating with scientific academies/organisations abroad by exchanging  research experience and scientific information. Such a relationship is achieved usually through bilateral cooperation i.e. exchange of scientist‘s visits, cooperative research projects, organisation of symposia and other scientific activities. The Academy coordinates the exchange programme by facilitating contacts of individuals/scientific institutions in India with those of various foreign collaborating countries.  Currently, the Academy on the basis of Bilateral Agreement/Memorandum of Understanding signed with 19 Academies/Organisations supports the exchange programme with the Academia Brazileira de Ciencias, Brazil; the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing; the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague; the French Academy of Sciences, Paris; the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Germany;  the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Tokyo; the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrghyz Republic; the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF),Seoul; the Royal Nepal Academy of Science & Technology(RONAST),Kathmandu; the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts & Sciences, Amsterdam; the National Academy of Science and Technology of the Philippines (NAST), Manila; the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava; The Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Slovenia and the Slovenian Science Foundation, Slovenia; the Royal Society (RS), London; The Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Kiev; the Russian Academy of Sciences, (RAS), Moscow; the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS), Warsaw; the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS), Budapest. With the last three named academies, collaborative Programme on identified areas have also been taken up.

        Besides this, the Academy has also signed the Agreements/Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 13 other Academies/organisations for the exchange of scientific information, participation of scientists in conferences/symposia, etc. These are: the Academia Nacional De Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas Y Naturales, Argentina; the Australian Academy of Sciences, Canberra; the Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Minsk; Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Berlin;  the Royal Society of Canada;Academia De Ciencias De Cuba; the Israel Academy of Sciences & Humanities; the Korean Academy of Science and Technology, Seoul; the State Academy of the DPR Korea, Pyongyang; the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences; The Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, Tashkent; the US National Academy of Sciences, Washington; the National Centre for the Scientific Research, Vietnam. Under International Collaboration and Exchange Programme, the visit of the scientists are exchanged under two categories- short term visits for 2-8 weeks and Long term/Fellowship visits upto 6 months.  Generally, the senior scientists undertake visits abroad for short duration for discussion and interaction with  Scientists in different Institutions and the young scientists normally engage themselves for longer duration for collaborative research/training preferably in one institute/laboratory. 

        The Academy is also a member organisation in India for the International Foundation for Science (IFS), Sweden.  Under this programme, the IFS provides research grants to young scientists from developing countries to enhance their capabilities to carry out research in the field of Agricultural and Biological sciences as well as Chemistry of Natural resources.     

        The Academy is a Founder Member Organisation of the Federation of Asian Scientific Academies and Societies (FASAS), in India and has been sponsoring its activities  for the promotion of Science and Technology in the Asian Regions. The Federation includes 14 scientific Academies/Societies of the Asian region namely from Afghanistan, Australia, Pakistan, Nepal, New Zealand, Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Korea, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand as its national members.  The Federation stimulates regional cooperation and promotes  national and regional self-reliance with a view to learning from each other’s  experience in the field of science and technology and for more beneficial use of science for  service to the society.  Within the FASAS and TWAS Programme, the Academy has been providing local hospitality to young scientists from Asian countries for their training in Indian Institutions for 6 months or more in relevant fields. The international travel is provided by the TWAS/member organisation in the sponsoring country and the living expenses are borne by the Academy (INSA) through TCDC programme.

        The Indian National Science Academy and The Royal Society, London jointly organise the Blackett Memorial Lecture and the Sir J.C. Bose Memorial Lecture every two years alternately in India and the United Kingdom.  The British scientists deliver the Blackett Memorial Lecture in India, whereas the Indian Scientists deliver the Sir J.C. Bose lecture in U.K.

        In 1989, the Academy instituted the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary visiting Fellowship to commemorate Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru’s  commitment and sustained support for science.  This Fellowship enables the Academy to project the achievements of Indian Science & Technology abroad.  One Fellowship is awarded annually to a  distinguished Indian Scientist  for delivering  the series of Lectures abroad not restricted to countries with which the Academy has Exchange Programme.

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