International Council of Scientific Unions Newsletter No.67 April 1998

{B}INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC UNIONS - ICSU{/B}{P} {B}{P} Science International Newsletter No. 67 pril 1998{P} {/B} ISSN 1011-6257{P} April 1998{P} {B} Code Number:NL98001 {BR} Sizes of Files: {BR} Text: 55k {BR} No associated graphics files {/B}{P} {B} ABOUT ICSU{/B}{P} {B}Members of the ICSU General Committee for the period 1996-1999:{P} {/B} Officers{br} Representatives of International Scientific Union Member (with year appointed){br} Representatives of National Scientific Members (with year elected) {B}{P} EDITORIAL{/B}{P} The role of ICSU in a rapidly changing world{P} As you know from previous issues of {I}Science international, {/I}an assessment of the International Council for Scientific Unions by an international group of distinguished scientists was completed in 1996. The aim of this assessment was to see how ICSU should evolve in a rapidly changing world.{P} {B}TROPICAL CYCLONE DISASTERS{P} {/B} Sir James Lighthill, SC-IDNDR{P} In the Joint ICSU/WAAO project on Tropical Cyclone Disasters it has been well appreciated that ICSU's contribution can most appropriately be concentrated on oceanographic and air-sea-interaction aspects of Tropical Cyclone Disasters, in ways that will complement the in-depth expertise of WMO in meteorological and hydrographic aspects and on effective delivery of forecasts and warnings. Accordingly, during the 1997 preparations for the WMO/ICSU 4th International Workshop on Tropical Cyclones (Haiku, China, 21 to 30 April 1998), ICSU representatives readily consented to provide the preliminary discussion document related to air-sea interactions. {P} {B}DEVELOPING AN INTEGRATED GLOBAL OBSERVING STRATEGY{P} {/B} Sophie Boyer-King{p} Over the past few months, major steps have been made towards the development of an Integrated Observing Strategy (IGOS).{P} {B} NEWS ON DIVERSITAS ACTIVITIES{P} {/B} OECD Megascience Forum on Global Scale Issues{P} Strengthening the Interaction Between Science and Policy Making{P} Diversitas was invited to participate in a Workshop on Global-Scale issues, sponsored by the {I}OECD, {/I}which brought together scientists and policymakers to critically examine the role of the scientific community in providing analysis and advice on global scale issues to government officials and other decision-makers. {P} {B}CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY{P} Articles meeting{P} {/B}{P} The Convention on Biodiversity's (CBD) scientific and technical and technological advisory body (SBSTTA) periodically reviews selected issues following instructions from the Conference of Parties to the Convention. DIVERSITAS, through a Memorandum of Cooperation, offers its expertise to the Convention, and this meeting to assess the Articles of the CBD is a part of the collaborative process.{P} {B}Convenors meeting{P} Biodiversity Dynamics: Challenges for the Future{P} {/B} The purpose of this meeting which immediately follows the Convention on Biological Diversity Articles meeting, is to bring together the convenors and the Scientific Steering Committee members of DIVERSITAS, to discuss the overall programme and to give update statements on each of the Programme Elements.{P} {B} NEWS FROM REGIONAL SECRETARIATS OF COSTED{P} {/B} Veena Ravichandran, Senior Scientific Officer, COSTED{P} {B}Arab region{P} {/B}The COSTED Regional Secretariat in the Arab region operates under the able stewardship of Professor Wajih M Owais, Dean, Faculty of Science, Yarmouk University in Irbid, Jordan.{P} {B}Information dissemination{br} {/B}The Secretariat is considering the publication of a regional newsletter to circulate information on Science and Technology developments pertinent to the region and to provide greater visibility to COSTED in the region. {P} {B}Operation{br} {/B}The members of the regional Programme Advisory Board assist in the development of regional projects which are then selected for consideration under the COSTED regional programme and submission to other agencies for funding.{P} {B}Western and Central Africa{P} {/B}Professor Marian E. Addy, who heads the Biochemistry Department at the University of Ghana in Legon is the Secretary of this Regional COSTED Secretariat covering the Western and Central African region.{P} {B}Networking Natural Products Research{br} {/B}Although not quite finalised yet, this secretariat has initiated activities towards the formation of a network of natural products research scientists in the Western African sub-region. {P} {b}Central secretariat{P} COSTED-USIU Course on "Technology Management"{/b}{br} In response to the direction from the Executive Committee encouraging COSTED to undertake appropriate activities in Technology Management, the Central Secretariat conceived a four week intensive course on Technology Management in co-operation with the United States International University in San Diego, USA. {P} {B}COSTED Occasional Paper Series{br} {/B}COSTED is charged with the responsibility of influencing public policy in science and technology. Towards this end a new activity has been initiated by the Central Secretariat which involves the publication of a monograph series called the "COSTED Occasional Papers", aimed at influencing public policy for science and addressing emerging and enduring issues in science and technology which have a particular importance for developing countries. {P} {B}COSTED REGIONAL SECRETARIES MEET AT CHENNAI{P} {/B} Regional Secretaries of COSTED met at Chennai during Feb. 1617, 1998 at a meeting, the first of its kind. The meeting was convened by the Scientific Secretary with the primary purpose of formulating major Pan-COSTED programmes.{P} {B}CONFERENCE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY REGIME: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ARAB REGION{P} {/B}February 25-26 1998, Cairo, Egypt{P} The above conference was organised with the primary objective of enhancing the awareness and preparedness of the Arab countries in coping with the challenges posed by the new Intellectual Property Regime and taking advantage of the opportunities presented therein.{P} {B}COSTED PUBLICATIONS{P} {/B} Concepts in Biotechnology.{br} Regional Land Cover Changes, Sustainable Agriculture and their Interactions with Global Change.{P} {B} JOURNAL PUBLISHING IN LATIN AMERICA{P} {/B} Ana Maria Cetto, ICSU Press{P} A Second International Workshop on Scientific Publications in Latin America was held in Guadalaiara in November ]997, as a follow-up to the First Workshop held three years earlier (see Science International No. 59, March 1995). {P} {b}THE PHILOSOPHICAL ROOM{P} K. Evers, Executive Secretary, SCRES{P} {/b}This is a Swedish Radio 40-minute programme in which a panel of three scientists and/or philosophers discuss a chosen topic. Kathinka Evers, Executive Secretary of ICSU Standing Committee on Responsibility and Ethics in Science (SCRES) participated in two such programmes, endeavouring to make ICSU/SCRES more publicly known.{P} {B}EU DATABASE DIRECTIVE RAISES HACKLES{P} {/B}Controversial European Legislation aimed at protecting the rights of database owners went into effect last week, and scientists around the world are worried that publishers will use it to make access to data too expensive for cash-strapped academics. {B}{P} IUPAC PLANS LONG-RANGE STRATEGY AND PROPOSES OPERATIONAL CHANGE{/B}{P} Edwin D. Backer, Secretary General, IUPAC{P} With the major changes that have occurred worldwide in chemistry and the chemical industry, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry has found it essential examine its activities and delineate its role as the organization principally responsible for promotion of the chemical sciences internationally. Following a series of meetings to obtain input from leaders in chemistry on four continents, IUPAC has redefined its mission and established goals and strategies to guide its approach to the shaping of the chemical sciences and the service of chemistry in a rapidly changing world.{P} {B}NEW ACTING GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (IUBMB){P} {/B} IUBMB is happy to announce the appointment of the new Acting General Secretary of IUBMB. Dr. Francis Vella. A native of Malta, he was educated at St. Joseph Convent, Sliema, Malta Lyceuin, and Royal University of Malta. Graduated B.Sc. (1949)and MD (1952). He distinguished himself as a medical student.{P} {B}28TH BIENNIAL CONGRESS OF IAHR{P} {/B} In 1999, the 18th Biennial Congress of the International Association for Hydraulic Research (IAHR) will take place in Graz, Austria.{P} {B} INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MATHEMATICAL GEOLOGY CONFERENCE{P} {/B} The Annual Conference of the International Association for Mathematical Geology will be held from 5-9 October 1998 in Naples, Italy.{P} {B}NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND FRONTIERS IN DRUG RESEARCH{br} Cyprus, 4-8 May 1998{P} {/B} This conference addresses emerging technologies in drug discovery with special attention to their impact on the chemical and biochemical sciences. The sessions structure have been designed to present both background and futures in each topic addressed and to provide optimal opportunity for discussion.{P} {B}CALENDAR{/B}{P} APRIL 1998{P} 23-25 ICSU Vienna (Austria) ICSU General Committee and Extraordinary General Assembly Board Meeting{P} 27 INASP Oxford (U.K.) Board Meeting{P} MAY 1998{P} 14-15 CSFS Paris (France), Committee Meeting{P} 20-21 ICSU Paris (France), Standing Finance Committee{P} 21-25 ICSTI Loch Lomond (Scotland, UK), General Assembly{P} 14-20 SCOPE Piscataway, NJ (USA), Xth General Assembly{P} 15-26 COSTED San Diego (USA), COSTED-USIU Training Course on Technology Management (Part II){P} {/body} {/html