Theo van Hintum Takes Up Position as Interim GCP Director
Theo van Hintum has taken over from Bob Zeigler as interim director for the GCP while we conduct a search for a new director. Since earning his Ph.D. from the Agricultural University of Uppsala, Sweden, Theo has worked at the Centre for Genetic Resources (CGN) in the Netherlands on documentation and methodology of managing genetic resources. At CGN, he has coordinated a number of large projects to improve the efficiency of European gene banks. Theo will also continue his duties as the Subprogram Leader for the GCP Bioinformatics Subprogram (SP4) while serving as interim director. He can be reached via email at theo.vanhintum@wur.nl.

Job Announcement for GCP Director
The job announcement for the director position of the Generation Challenge Program can be found here: Program_Director_job_announcement.pdf. Applications are due to Jenny Nelson (j.nelson@cgiar.org), GCP communications coordinator, by 15 April, 2005.

Contracts for 2005 Commissioned Research Sent to GCP Consortium Members
The contracts for the GCP 2005 commissioned research projects (see the GCP Annual Report -- YR2Workplan.pdf -- for a full list of projects) have been sent out to the consortium members (save for a few - contact Jenny for details). Please enquire at the office of your director general on the status of those contracts. Funds will be disbursed upon our receipt of the signed contracts. Please email Jenny Nelson (j.nelson@cgiar.org) with questions.

2005 GCP Workshops - Annual Research Meeting and Others
Mark your calendars!: the 2005 GCP Annual Research Meeting will be held (tentatively) 30 September-3 October in Rome, Italy, following the Interdrought II conference (http://www.plantstress.com/id2/). Please click here: http://www.generationcp.org/calendar.php for a list of all of the GCP-related workshops to be held in 2005. Where contact people are not listed, please contact Jenny Nelson (j.nelson@cgiar.org) for more information.

GCP Public Awareness Materials Available
With the recent publication of the GCP's 2004 Annual Report and Year 2 Workplan (http://www.generationcp.org/YR2Workplan.pdf), we have launched a mini-campaign to distribute hard copies of the report, as well as the GCP brochure, folder, pens, stickers, and posters. Please click here for links to each of the materials: http://www.generationcp.org/brochure.php

We made shipments to each of the GCP consortium members of these materials in the last few days, so check with your DG's office, or email Ibti Vincent (i.vincent@cgiar.org) with your mailing address, if you'd like hard copies of any of these materials. __________________________________________________________________________ NEW SECTION: Capacity Building News and Views!
We are introducing a new section of the e-newsletter with exclusive information about capacity building - opportunities within the GCP and outside.

Generation Fellowships - CALL FOR APPLICATIONS RE-OPENED
Fellowship opportunity for scientists from developing countries to conduct research outside their home countries for 3 mos.-1 yr. There are a total of four fellowships available in Subprogrammes 2, 3, and 4 (we have already filled the fellowships for Subprogramme 1). For more information, see the guidelines and application on the GCP website: http://www.generationcp.org/latestnews.php?i=204.

GCP Travel Grants for Non-GCP Member NARS - CALL OPEN
16 travel grants available for up to US $5,000 for non-GCP NARS scientists. Awards must be used to travel to a GCP (or related) workshop, or to visit a GCP member institute. Application criteria can be found here: http://www.generationcp.org/sccv10/sccv10_upload/Announcement_GCP_TRAVEL_GRANTS_2005_travel.pdf. Contact Ibti Vincent, GCP communications assistant (i.vincent@cgiar.org), for more information.

Pioneer-Generation Fellowship for PhD Study in the U.S.
Supported by gifts from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. to the Generation Challenge Program, this fellowship aims to attract high quality students whose careers will continue to advance the science of plant improvement, with an emphasis on international agriculture. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 1 MAY 2005. The fellowship announcement can be found here: 2005_Pioneer_Generation_Fellowship.pdf. For more information, please contact Carmen de Vicente (c.devicente@cgiar.org), GCP capacity building coordinator.

GCP Training Program: Diversity/Breeding Course - 22 May-1 June 2005 in South Africa
The GCP will inaugurate its Training Program with the first of its courses in Analysis of Diversity and Molecular Breeding for NARS scientists in Pretoria, South Africa. Course announcement application can be found here: http://www.generationcp.org/latestnews.php?i=205. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 16 APRIL 2005. Please contact Theresa Fulton (tf12@cornell.edu) for more information.

Project Proposal Development Training Workshops - Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
The Generation Challenge Program will host 3 project proposal development training workshops this year - one each in Benin, Malaysia, and Latin America (location TBD) - for 25 participants from each region. These workshops will impart the basics of scientific project proposal writing, with a focus on how to develop proposals that mesh with the GCP research agenda. NARS scientists and GCP members located in the region are welcome to apply. The Benin workshop (22-27 May) and the Malaysia workshop (19-24 June) are already full and no more applications can be accepted. A call for applications for the Latin America workshop will go out in a few months. Please contact Karine Malgrand (k.malgrand@cgiar.org), workshops organizer, for more information.

GCP Capacity Building Workshop Organizing Guidelines, Application Form, and Evaluation Form
Planning a capacity building activity or a workshop with NARS involvement in 2005? Check out these guidelines to help in your activity planning and quality assurance: http://www.generationcp.org/latestnews.php?i=156. Contact Carmen de Vicente (c.devicente@cgiar.org), GCP Capacity Building Coordinator, with questions or for more information.

The GCP website has a "Latest News" feature where we can post announcements about events, publications, etc., of interest to GCP members and the global genomics community. The website gets over 2000 hits per month, so here's a way to get some publicity for your news! If you have an announcement you would like posted, please send it to Ibti Vincent (i.vincent@cgiar.org) for posting to www.generationcp.org.