The 'Online Access to Research in the Environment' (OARE) initiative is an online library managed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Yale University and will provide access to global scientific research to more than 1000 public and non-profit environmental institutions in more than 100 least-developed nations of Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe.

Click here to learn more about this useful online tool.

The Generation Challenge Programme's Capacity Building Support Grant Programme is now soliciting proposals from research programs at developing country institutions who will benefit significantly from short-term, personalized training and support. For each team selected to participate in this program, a customized plan will be developed comprised of training events in the form of formal training at academic institutions or at events organized by the GCP, mini-grants for small equipment, hands-on research opportunities in advanced research institutions, and the in-situ assistance of technical experts.

Proposals must be received by the GCP by 30 April 2007.

To view the full call for proposals and proposal information, visit the Capacity Building Support Grant Programme web page at www.generationcp.org/capcorner.php?da=0761435.

Contact Carlos Tovar (c.a.tovar@cgiar.org), GCP-SP5 Assistant, with any questions.

The Generation Challenge Programme is offering an online course on plant genetic resource policy from April 9th - May 14th, 2007. The course is offered to researchers, in particular principal investigators or project managers, in GCP Consortium Institutions and other NARS and ARIs who are involved in GCP joint projects and who are likely to be involved in downstream work.

To view the course announcement and application, visit the GCP Training Courses web page.

Please contact Carlos Tovar with any questions.

The background document for the FAO e-mail conference entitled "Coping with water scarcity in developing countries: What role for agricultural biotechnologies?" is now available. The 16-page document gives an overview of the current status and future perspectives regarding water availability and use on Earth as well as a discussion of some major strategies that can be employed to deal with water scarcity. It then looks at the issue of water use in agriculture in more detail as well as some of the potential ways in which biotechnology could contribute to this area (e.g. increasing the efficiency of water use in agriculture; application of mycorrhizal fungi; or improving wastewater treatment). See http://www.fao.org/biotech/C14doc.htm or contact biotech-admin@fao.org to request a copy.

The moderated e-mail conference runs from 5 March to 1 April 2007 and is organised by the FAO Biotechnology Forum, in collaboration with colleagues in FAO's water programme, to coincide with the World Water Day which is celebrated each year on 22 March. To join the Forum (and also register for the conference), send an e-mail to mailserv@mailserv.fao.org leaving the subject blank and entering only the following text on two separate lines: subscribe BIOTECH-L subscribe biotech-room2. Forum members wishing to register for the conference should leave out the first line of the above message. For more information, contact biotech-mod2@fao.org.

Source: FAO-BiotechNews

The 10th Triennial Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Cops - Africa Branch (ISTRC-AB) will take place from 8 - 12 October 2007 in Maputo, Mozambique. The theme will be ?Root and Tuber Crops for Poverty Alleviation through Science and Technology for Sustainable Development."

Pre-registration is avilable until 30 April 2007, abstracts are due on 1 May 2007, and full papers must be submitted by 31 July 2007.

Download the announcement and application here.

The Generation Challenge Programme's Capacity Building Support Grant Programme is now soliciting proposals from research programs at developing country institutions who will benefit significantly from short-term, personalized training and support. For each team selected to participate in this program, a customized plan will be developed comprised of training events in the form of formal training at academic institutions or at events organized by the GCP, mini-grants for small equipment, hands-on research opportunities in advanced research institutions, and the in-situ assistance of technical experts.

Proposals must be received by the GCP by 30 April 2007.

To view the full call for proposals and proposal information, visit the Capacity Building Support Grant Programme web page at www.generationcp.org/capcorner.php?da=0761435.

Contact Carlos Tovar (c.a.tovar@cgiar.org), GCP-SP5 Assistant, with any questions.

The following are some new and also soon closing fellowship opportunities that were added to CIMMYT training web and intranet:

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

1) IFAR's Professional Development Grants
In support of its mission, IFAR annually provides small grants to professionals from national agricultural research systems in developing countries (NARS). The award made to the youngest woman grantee each year will be designated the Ravi Tadvalkar Memorial Scholarship, in recognition of the many contributions to the organization by IFAR's first Treasurer and Secretary, his commitment to capacity building in developing countries, and his concern about diversity and gender issues.

Due date for applications: March 2, 2007

http://www.ifar4dev.org/fellowships/index.html

2) The Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program (LEAP)
The Borlaug LEAP is a fellowship program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to enhance the quality of thesis research of graduate students from developing countries who show strong promise as leaders in the field of agriculture and related disciplines as defined by Title XII. LEAP is part of the overall Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows Program sponsored by the USDA. The LEAP program will support engaging a mentor at a Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) system center to support and enhance the thesis research and mentoring experience.

Deadline: March 15, 2007

http://leap.ucdavis.edu/

3) H. J. Heinz Company Foundation Fellowship Program
Eligibility: The Heinz Fellowship competition is open to men and women from developing countries who are early in their careers and whose record of accomplishment indicates strong potential for leadership and achievement in business, government, public service, or other relevant professions upon return to their home country.

Application deadline: March 15, 2007

http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/heinzfellowship/about.html

4) Human Frontier Science Program
Type of Scientists Funded: Senior Scientist/Faculty

The HFSP research grant program aims to stimulate novel, daring ideas by supporting collaborative research involving biologists together with scientists from other disciplines such as chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science and engineering. Recent developments in the biological and physical sciences and emerging disciplines such as computational biology and nanoscience open up new approaches to understanding the complex mechanisms underlying biological functions in living organisms.

Deadlines: 22 March 2007, Applicants for research grants must first submit a letter of intent online. You must pre-register for a password by March 22nd 2007 and submit the letter of intent by April 3rd 2007.

http://www.grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=3649

5) Research Fellow Partnership Programm (RFPP)
Eligibility: RFPP is a grant scheme providing PhD and post-doctoral fellowships. PhD-fellowships are funded for three years, post-doctoral fellowships for two years. Project proposals can be submitted twice a year, at the end of March and end of September.

The next dates for submission are 31 March 2007 and 30 September 2007.

http://www.rfpp.ethz.ch/eligibility/index

6) Commonwealth Scholarship & Fellowship Plan (CSFP), Professional Fellowships
Further awards will be offered during 2006-07. The awards provide opportunities for individuals working in key occupations in developing Commonwealth countries to spend a short period of professional updating in the United Kingdom. The Commission would like to invite applications from UK organisations wishing to nominate candidates from developing Commonwealth countries for Professional Fellowships in the UK during 2007/08. Please see the 'Notes for Guidance 07' and the 'Application Form 07'' for further information and to make an application.

The closing date for applications to reach us is 30 April 2007.

http://www.csfp-online.org/cgi-bin/schemes.pl?display=scheme&id=17

7) The Hans-Eiselen-Stiftung Ulm, Germany
Title: The 9th Hans H. Ruthenberg-Graduierten Award for Graduates
Eligibility: Excellent diploma or master thesis related to improving food supply and security and reducing the impact of hunger.
Contact: Vater und Sohn, Eiselen-Foundation. Deadline: April 30, 2007
Email: info@eiselen-stiftung.de
Website: http://www.eiselen-stiftung.de/

8) Danida Travel grants for Master's Students
Danida has allocated an annual budget of DKK 620,000 from 2005-2008 in support of travel grants for thesis field work of Master's students enrolled at a Danish University (includes OSVAL II studies for medical students). The decision on grant allocation is taken by the five research networks:

• Danish Network for Agricultural Research for Development (NETARD) - www.netard.dk
• Danish Network for International Health Research - www.enrecahealth.ku.dk
• Research Network for Environment and Development (ReNED) - www.rened.dk
• DWF-research - www.danishwaterforum.dk or www.fiva.dk
• Governance, Economic Policy and Public Administration (GEPPA) - www.geppa.dk

The deadline for application is: 2 May 2007

9) The Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation
Each year, The Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation solicits applications for Lindbergh Grants from the U.S. and abroad through a wide mailing of its application form to all degree-granting institutions in the U.S., as well as the Lindbergh Foundation's mailing list of those in the U.S. and other countries who maintain a current interest in the Foundation's programs. This list includes publications, government agencies, media, universities, and other non-profit organizations. Approximately 200 formal grant applications are received each year.

The deadline for grant applications: June 14, 2007

http://www.lindberghfoundation.org/grants/?CFID=907049&CFTOKEN=65182491/

10) Association for Evolutionary Economics (AFEE) and the European Association for Evolutionary Political Economy (EAEPE)
Title: Veblen 150 Prize Competition. Eligibility: Anyone who submits a written work will be considered a candidate for the prize. Topics should be related to the nature of institutions, the theory of institutional evolution, the philosophical foundations of institutional and evolutionary economics, or the application of institutional or evolutionary theory to economic policy. Unpublished or published (no earlier than 2005) books, articles or PhD theses may be considered. Submissions should be in English.

Deadline: June 30, 2007

http://eaepe.org/eaepe.php?q=node/view/189

11) The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Short-Term Fellowships.
Short term fellowships are intended for visits of up to 3 months duration and aimed at collaborative research between two EMBC member states. (For non-European applicants the short term fellowships are for a fixed duration of 90 days).

Deadlines: Not fixed but ideally 3 months before the proposed start date.

http://www.embo.org/fellowships/short_term.html

12) The University of Nottingham, United Kingdom - Scholarships
There are many scholarships available to international students applying for degree programmes at the University of Nottingham. The links in the left hand menu provide further information about some of these scholarships and provide answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs). The links on the right give access to the scholarship search engines for new students starting at Nottingham in September 2007.

Deadline: different dates

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/international/scholarships_and_finance/scholarships/

13) Asian Development Bank, Philippines and the Government of Japan
Japan Scholarship Program. Eligibility: Applicants must be a national of an ADB borrowing member country and must have gained admission to an approved postgraduate course (economics, management, science and technology, or another development related field) at a participating academic institution. Applicants must also have a minimum of 2 years work experience.

Deadline: Applications must be received at least 6 months prior to commencement of studies.

http://www.adb.org/JSP/

14) Australian Government, Scholarships for study at Australian universities - Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarships
The Endeavour IPRS programme provides approximately 330 new scholarships each year and enables international students to undertake a postgraduate research qualification in Australia and gain experience with leading Australian researchers. Scholarships are open to international students of all countries (except New Zealand) and are available for a period of two years for a Masters by research degree or three years for a Doctorate by research degree.

http://www.endeavour.dest.gov.au/individual_awards/iprs.htm ; http://www.endeavour.dest.gov.au/for_north_latin_american_applicants/

CONFERENCES

1) Africa Agricultural Science Week and the 4th FARA General Assembly, Promoting the productivity and competitiveness of African agriculture in a global economy

June 10 ? 16, 2007, Sandton Convention Centre Sandton city, Johannesburg, South Africa

The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Affairs of South Africa will co-host the fourth (4th) General Assembly of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and FARA. http://www.fara-africa.org/

The Generation Challenge Programme is offering an online course on plant genetic resource policy from April 9th - May 14th, 2007. The course is offered to researchers, in particular principal investigators or project managers, in GCP Consortium Institutions and other NARS and ARIs who are involved in GCP joint projects and who are likely to be involved in downstream work.

To view the course announcement and application, visit the GCP Training Courses web page.

Please contact Carlos Tovar with any questions.

View this announcement in a PDF

Education: Bachelor?s degree as a minimum
Location: Texcoco, Mexico
Job Category: Communications, Editing & Writing
Language(s): Excellent English
Type: Full time
Type of contract: Consultant
Duration: One year contract with option to renew
Last day to apply: March 19, 2007

The Generation Challenge Programme is a global network of research institutions whose goal is to alleviate hunger and poverty in developing countries through scientific research in molecular breeding and genomics. The GCP is located at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), about 45 km from Mexico City.

Description
The Communications Assistant will be responsible for a variety of day-to-day tasks in communication and administration in the Department of Communications and will report to the Communications Manager. Skills and Qualifications The job requires good interpersonal skills, the ability to work in a team, and the capacity to coordinate multiple tasks. Minimum requirements are an excellent mastery of English and a Bachelors degree (preferably with a communications and/or science background), as well as proficiency in Microsoft applications. Knowledge of HTML is a plus.

The candidate must have excellent written and verbal skills, a desire and ability to work in a multicultural setting, the ability to manage and prioritize a complex workload, efficient time management, and a high level of personal energy and commitment. International travel will be required 1-2 times per year.

Duties and Responsibilities
? Prepare and post content for the GCP web site.
? Work with web programmer to develop new site features.
? Manage contacts database.
? Respond to routine inquiries from site visitors.
? Help write, edit, and manage production of internationally-distributed documents and reports.
? Write and distribute media releases.
? Track media coverage of the GCP.
? Any other duties in support of GCP activities.

Salary and Benefits
A monthly stipend will be provided, as well as excellent benefits including rent and health insurance.

How to Apply
Send resume, cover letter, and one recent writing sample by email to Ms. Griselda Marquez, Executive Assistant, GCP (g.marquez@cgiar.org), with ?Communications Assistant? in the subject line.

The Genome Alberta and Genome Canada organization is sponsoring the Bioinformatics Platform Applied Computational Genomics Course (ACGC) during two different weeks in 2007 -- April 13-19 at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec AND July 25-31 at the University of Alberta in Edmonton Alberta.

The Bioinformatics Platform designed the ACGC to empower bioinformatics/biology researchers and students by teaching a hands-on course, that outlines tried-and-proven approaches as well as new developments.

This week-long course will assist researchers and students to increase their efficiency in problem solving by introducing them to the tools and services of the Bioinformatics Platform.

After the course, attendees of the ACGC will have FREE internet access to all the Bioinformatics Platform tools and databases used in this course.

For more information visit the website: http://www.gcbioinformatics.ca/training OR email training@gcbioinformatics.ca (Subject: ACGC Inquiry).

The conference "New approaches to plant breeding of orphan crops in Africa" will take place September 19-21, 2007 in Bern, Switzerland. The event is being organized by the University of Bern. The conference website says that orphan crops are crops of high economic value in developing countries, particularly in Africa. These include cereal crops (such as millet and tef), legumes (cow pea, grass pea, and bambara groundnut), and root crops (cassava and sweet potato). The Swiss conference will bring together scientists from both developed and developing countries to discuss techniques that could be implemented in a scheme of orphan crop improvement. In addition, the future prospects and feasibility of modern biotechnology in African agriculture will be discussed. The conference website can be viewed at the link below.

http://www.botany.unibe.ch/deve/orphancrops/index.htm

Source: Food Security and Ag-Biotech News

The European Patent Office's esp@cenet Information Day is designed to support preparation for the Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration (FP7) by addressing the key question of patents.

The esp@cenet Information Day will present a number of case studies which will demonstrate how to use the patent information available in the esp@cenet service to prepare a EU research proposal.

esp@cenet is a public collection of over 50 million patent documents, available over the Internet, which provides free access to patent searches and applications.

Patent applications are usually the first publication of a new idea, appearing before journal articles are published or new products reach the market. It includes all European Patent Office (EPO) and Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) member state patent documents as well as the Japanese patent abstracts which are published in English.

esp@cenet was developed by the EPO together with the member states of the European Patent Organisation. Every member state has an esp@cenet service in its national language, and access to the EPO's worldwide database, most of which is in English.

Online free registration and detailed programme of the esp@cenet Information Day can be found at: http://www.iscintelligence.com/espacenet.php

For more information on esp@cenet please visit: http://www.espacenet.com/

The call for GCP Travel Grants is open from 1 February to 28 February 2007. Please view the Travel Grants page for more information on application guidelines and procedures: http://www.generationcp.org/capcorner.php?da=0532008

From the Economist.com: ?As soon as the four-month-long Arctic night ends on the island of Spitsbergen, off the northern coast of Norway, construction will begin on a seed bank dubbed 'the doomsday vault.' The Norwegian government, which is paying for the construction, unveiled architectural plans on February 9th.

The repository lies deep within a mountain beneath thick layers of permafrost and rock. It should be capable of safeguarding the world?s agricultural heritage against any threat short of a direct hit from a nuclear bomb. It is far enough north and high enough above sea level to remain cold and dry for a few hundred years despite global warming.? Read more here: http://www.economist.com/daily/columns/greenview/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8691818.

For a complete list of coverage, see: http://www.croptrust.org/main/articles.php.

BioAsia 2007 Thailand, an international trade exhibition, will take place in Bangkok from 7-9 November 2007. The exhibition will feature the following two important conference events:

The 6th Asian Crop Science Association Conference
The purpose of this 6th Asian Crop Science Association Conference is to bring together agricultural scientists in Asia to share research experiences. This year's theme is Technology for self-sufficient agriculture in Asia. The focus of the conference is to emphasize on addressing science and community aspects assuring the long-term survival of local, healthy, secure, sustainable food and energy in Asia. The conference also highlights the benefits of biotechnology in sustainable agriculture and hopefully captures the essence of the sustainable agriculture movement for the future.

The 2nd International Conference on Rice for the Future
Since the first International Conference on Rice for the Future took first stage in Bangkok during the celebration of the International Year of Rice 2004, the second conference will mark a significant turn for rice as the most important food crop. The 2007 conference will emphasize rice as a designer crop for healthier products. The conference will cover a wide-range of researches from breeding, genomics to human nutrition and health. The latest development in breeding new rice varieties against biotic and abiotic stresses will also be highlighted in this meeting.

For more conference and registration information, visit http://www.biotec.or.th/BioAsia2007/home/conference.asp

The next International Conference on Legume Genomics and Genetics IV will take place from 7-12 December 2008 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. For conference and registration information, please visit http://www.ccg.unam.mx/iclgg4/.

The background document for the FAO e-mail conference entitled "Coping with water scarcity in developing countries: What role for agricultural biotechnologies?" is now available. The 16-page document gives an overview of the current status and future perspectives regarding water availability and use on Earth as well as a discussion of some major strategies that can be employed to deal with water scarcity. It then looks at the issue of water use in agriculture in more detail as well as some of the potential ways in which biotechnology could contribute to this area (e.g. increasing the efficiency of water use in agriculture; application of mycorrhizal fungi; or improving wastewater treatment). See http://www.fao.org/biotech/C14doc.htm or contact biotech-admin@fao.org to request a copy of the document.

The moderated e-mail conference runs from 5 March to 1 April 2007 and is being organised by the FAO Biotechnology Forum in collaboration with colleagues in FAO's water programme to coincide with the World Water Day, which is celebrated each year on 22 March.

FAO Research and Technology Paper 11, entitled "Results from the FAO Biotechnology Forum: Background and dialogue on selected issues", by J. Ruane and A. Sonnino, has now been published. The 152-page book presents the background and summary documents from a series of six moderated e-mail conferences hosted by the FAO Biotechnology Forum from 2002 to 2005, relating to agricultural biotechnology for the crop, forestry, animal, fisheries and agro-industry sectors in developing countries. Three of the six conferences focused on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), dealing with gene flow from GM to non-GM populations; regulation of GMOs; and participation of the rural people in decision-making regarding GMOs. Two conferences covered the entire range of biotechnology tools (including GMOs), dealing with the role and focus of biotechnology in the agricultural research agenda and, secondly, applications of biotechnology in food processing. The remaining conference dealt with molecular marker-assisted selection. See ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/009/a0744e/a0744e00.pdf (917 KB) or contact biotech-admin@fao.org for more information.

Eight European and African organizations have agreed to work together under the Agricultural Innovation in Dryland Africa (AIDA) project to achieve a clearer understanding of the conditions for sustainable agricultural development in African dryland areas. The AIDA project is funded by the EU and coordinated by the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development. The press release states that while the numbers of malnourished people has fallen in India and China, the numbers are continuing to grow in Africa, particularly in dryland zones. The AIDA project aims to pinpoint the determining factors in past failures and current successes. Very few studies are currently available on this issue, and a database of this type, backed up by recommendations, "could serve to support policy decision-making and fairer distribution of resources in favour of subsistence farming," the press release says. According to the press release, poverty, trade inequalities, and the difficulty of agricultural development are at the "top the list of causes" of persistent famine in dryland Africa, and for CIRAD and its African partners, traditional farming systems have been "overlooked." The press release can be viewed online at the link below.

http://www.cirad.fr/en/actualite/communique.php?id=613

Source: Food Security and Ag-Biotech News

The three pilot Challenge Programs of the CGIAR will be externally reviewed this year, the CGIAR announced in its February story of the month on the CGIAR website. ?We expect that the insights and recommendations gleaned from the reviews will prove useful not just to the current Programs but to the new ones? ? for which concept notes were due February 5 ? ?as they decide how best to organize their research efforts, governance and collaborative arrangements,? says Manuel Lantin, scientific advisor in the CGIAR Secretariat. The Secretariat is jointly organizing with the CGIAR Science Council both the review of current Challenge Programs as well as the process for development of Cycle 2 Programs. Read more at: http://www.cgiar.org/monthlystory/february2007.html.

Source: CGIAR website

Below are some new and some soon-closing fellowship opportunities that have been added to the CIMMYT training web and intranet.

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

1) Center for International Development, Harvard University
2007 Norberg-Bohm Fellowship for Kennedy School of Government Doctoral PhD Candidates
The Science Technology and Public Policy Program and the Environment and Natural Resources Program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government are accepting applications for the Vicki Norberg-Bohm Fellowship for 2007-2008. The purpose of the fellowship is to support Kennedy School of Government PhD candidates conducting early exploratory research on energy or environmental issues. The fellowship is designed to enable doctoral students to expose themselves to a wide range of researchers and research approaches early on in their training before they make their ultimate choice of a dissertation topic.
Due date for applications: February 15, 2007
http://www.cid.harvard.edu/sustsci/grants/fellows/

2) EMBO Short-Term Fellowships. Short term fellowships are intended for visits of up to 3 months duration and aimed at collaborative research between two EMBC member states. (For non-European applicants the short term fellowships are for a fixed duration of 90 days).
Deadlines: Not fixed but ideally 3 months before the proposed start date.
EMBO Long-Term Fellowships are awarded for prolonged visits (12 to 24 months) and are intended for advanced training through research.
The fellowships provide the travel costs and a stipend for the fellow and his/her family. If the applicant is already at the receiving institute at the time of application, travel is not paid. The stipend rates depend on the country being visited, marital status etc. In the event of early termination of the fellowship, any payments made after the date of termination will have to be repaid as will the return portion of the travel money. When the fellowship is accepted for a very brief period, the entire travel allowance will have to be returned.
Deadlines for receipt of applications : 15 February and 15 August

3) IFAR's Professional Development Grants:
In support of its mission, IFAR annually provides small grants to professionals from national agricultural research systems in developing countries (NARS). The award made to the youngest woman grantee each year will be designated the Ravi Tadvalkar Memorial Scholarship, in recognition of the many contributions to the organization by IFAR's first Treasurer and Secretary, his commitment to capacity building in developing countries, and his concern about diversity and gender issues.
IFAR also manages the IFAR Wilfried Thalwitz Scholarship established in his memory by the family and friends of the late CGIAR Chair for research linked with CGIAR Centers.
Due date for applications: March 2, 2007
http://www.ifar4dev.org/fellowships/index.html

4) The Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program (LEAP)
The Borlaug LEAP is a fellowship program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to enhance the quality of thesis research of graduate students from developing countries who show strong promise as leaders in the field of agriculture and related disciplines as defined by Title XII. LEAP is part of the overall Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows Program sponsored by the USDA. The LEAP program will support engaging a mentor at a Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) system center to support and enhance the thesis research and mentoring experience. Awards will be made on a competitive basis to students who show strong scientific and leadership potential, have a well coordinated proposal between their home university, a US university mentor, and the CGIAR mentor, and whose research is related to a strong research and support project within the host country.
Deadline: March 15, 2007
http://leap.ucdavis.edu/

5) Republic of South Africa is offering the following funding opportunities The Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa (CEEPA) is mandated to enhance the capacity of African researchers to conduct environmental economics and policy inquiry of relevance to African problems and increase the awareness of environmental and economic managers and policy makers of the role of environmental economics in sustainable development. Under funding from the Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA), CEEPA will be implementing the first phase of a regional program to strengthen capacity building in environmental economics and policy in Africa over the next three years. Under this program, Visiting Fellowships for African scholars working in universities in the eastern and southern African region will be funded annually.
Applications should be received by the end of February 2007 and the application should indicate the exact periods of the proposed fellowship. Successful applicants can start the fellowship as early as April 2007
http://www.ceepa.co.za/EECS_fellow_ships_va.html

6) The Hans-Eiselen-Stiftung Ulm, Germany
Title: The 9th Hans H. Ruthenberg-Graduierten Award for Graduates
Eligibility: Excellent diploma or master thesis related to improving food supply and security and reducing the impact of hunger.
Contact: Vater und Sohn, Eiselen-Foundation
Deadline: April 30, 2007
Email: info@eiselen-stiftung.de Website: http://www.eiselen-stiftung.de/

7) Institute of International Education, Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF) Fellowships
The Scholar Rescue Fund has rescued over 100 scholars from 35 different countries since 2002, enabling them to continue their teaching and research and, essentially, saving their academic work. This effort returns IIE to its work in the 1930s when IIE?s Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Scholars helped more than 330 scholars fleeing persecution in Europe.
Yearly application deadline cycle: January 1, April 1, September 1
http://www.iie.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Programs7/SRF/SRF.htm

8) Danida Travel grants for Master's Students
Danida has allocated an annual budget of DKK 620,000 from 2005-2008 in support of travel grants for thesis field work of Master's students enrolled at a Danish University (includes OSVAL II studies for medical students). The decision on grant allocation is taken by the five research networks:

• Danish Network for Agricultural Research for Development (NETARD) - www.netard.dk
• Danish Network for International Health Research - www.enrecahealth.ku.dka
• Research Network for Environment and Development (ReNED) - www.rened.dka
• DWF-research - www.danishwaterforum.dk or www.fiva.dk
• Governance, Economic Policy and Public Administration (GEPPA) - www.geppa.dk

The deadline for application is: 2 May 2007

9) The University of Nottingham, United Kingdom - Scholarships
There are many scholarships available to international students applying for degree programmes at the University of Nottingham. The links in the left hand menu provide further information about some of these scholarships and provide answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs). The links on the right give access to the scholarship search engines for new students starting at Nottingham in September 2007.
Deadline: different dates
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/international/scholarships_and_finance/scholarships/

10) Asian Development Bank, Philippines and the Government of Japan
Japan Scholarship Program
Eligibility: Applicants must be a national of an ADB borrowing member country and must have gained admission to an approved postgraduate course (economics, management, science and technology, or another development related field) at a participating academic institution. Applicants must also have a minimum of 2 years work experience.
Deadline: Applications must be received at least 6 months prior to commencement of studies.
http://www.adb.org/JSP/

11) Australian Government, Scholarships for study at Australian universities - Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarships
The Endeavour IPRS programme provides approximately 330 new scholarships each year and enables international students to undertake a postgraduate research qualification in Australia and gain experience with leading Australian researchers. Scholarships are open to international students of all countries (except New Zealand) and are available for a period of two years for a Masters by research degree or three years for a Doctorate by research degree. The Scholarship covers tuition fees and health cover costs for Scholarship holders, and health cover costs for their dependants.
http://www.endeavour.dest.gov.au/individual_awards/iprs.htm
http://www.endeavour.dest.gov.au/for_north_latin_american_applicants/

CONFERENCES

1) XXIII Reuni?n de la Asociaci?n Latinoamericana de Rizobiolog?a.
C?rdoba, Argentina del 25 al 28 de Marzo de 2007
En la ciudad de Los Cocos, C?rdoba, Argentina, se realizar? entre los d?as 25 y 28 de marzo de 2007, la XXIII Reuni?n de la Asociaci?n Latinoamericana de Rizobiolog?a (ALAR). Al igual que en otras oportunidades, ser? ?sta una ocasi?n para encontrarnos y tratar los temas que nos son de inter?s com?n en el ?rea tem?tica que nos convoca. Aprovecharemos adem?s la oportunidad para reforzar viejas amistades y establecer nuevos v?nculos entre los asistentes. En esta p?gina usted encontrar? la informaci?n concerniente esta re uni?n bianual que organiza ALAR.
La fecha limite para recepci?n de res?menes es el 10 de febrero del 2007
http://www.relar.com.ar

2) Promoting the productivity and competitiveness of African agriculture in a global economy
June 10 ? 16, 2007, Sandton Convention Centre Sandton city, Johannesburg, South Africa
The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Affairs of South Africa will co-host the fourth (4th) General Assembly of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and FARA. The General Assembly will draw together representatives of FARA's constituents from all African and non-African institutions involved in African agricultural research and development such as the Sub-Regional Organizations (SROs) (ASARECA, CORAF/WECARD, SADC/FANR and Northern Africa - AARINENA), the agricultural research institutions, universities, NGOs and private enterprises that comprise the national agricultural research systems (NARS) , non-African partner research institutions (PRIs), the international agricultural research centers (IARCs), international NGOs, policy makers, private sector, farmers? organizations and Africa's development partners.
http://www.fara-africa.org/

3) 8th African Crop Science Society Conference. Theme: Crop research, technology dissemination and adoption to increase food supply, reducing hunger and poverty in Africa.
Date: 27- 31 October 2007- El-Minia, Egypt
Organizers: African Crop Science Society (ACSS) and Faculty of Agriculture, Minia University
Conference Topics and Symposia: The general topics to be covered at the conference include: agronomy, horticulture, crop improvement and physiology, post harvest handling and food sciences, crop protection, rural socio-economics; and agricultural extension and education, agricultural economics, agricultural microbiology, crop genetics and biotechnology, agricultural chemistry, integration of livestock in crop production, soils and agricultural engineering sciences, water sciences, environmental sciences, biodiversity and natural resources management.
28 February 2007 Deadline for receiving abstracts
30 April 2007 Deadline for receiving complete papers and registration fees
http://www.africancrops.net/News/july06/acss8.htm

The call for GCP Travel Grants is open from 1 February to 28 February 2007. Please view the Travel Grants page for more information on application guidelines and procedures: http://www.generationcp.org/capcorner.php?da=0532008

The 4th Solanacea Genome Workshop 2007 will take place from September 9-13, 2007 in Jeju Island, Korea. The workshop will focus on how to apply genomic tools for understanding secondary metabolisms and improving nutritional value of Solanaceous crops. More information is available at http://www.solanaceae2007.org/.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) will be offering ?Rice Breeding Course: Laying the Foundation for the Second Green Revolution? on August 20-31, 2007. The training course aims to provide the participants with the theoretical knowledge on modern plant breeding methods and techniques, and teach them planning and information management tools and experimental techniques and software for developing an efficient rice breeding program. The course will be coordinated by the Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology Division (PBGB) and facilitated by the Training Center of IRRI.

Readers can access the brochure at http://www.training.irri.org/

The conference ?From Basic Genomics to Systems Biology? will be held on May 2-4, 2007 in Ghent, Belgium. Sessions will focus on: control of plant development, photosynthesis and chloroplast and mitochondrial functions, plant-microbe and plant-virus interactions, plant reproduction, genetic variation & comparative genomics, metabolism and metabolic signaling, RNA processing, gene silencing and recombination.

For more information, visit http://cwp.embo.org/cfs07-07/index.html

Agricultural technologies and knowledge have, until recently, largely been created and disseminated by public institutions. But over the past two decades, biotechnology for agricultural production has developed rapidly, and the world economy has become more globalised and liberalised. This has boosted private investment in agricultural research and technology, exposing agriculture in developing countries to international markets and the influence of multinational corporations. But the public sector still has a role to play, particularly in managing the new knowledge, supporting research to fill any remaining gaps, promoting and regulating private companies, and ensuring their effects on the environment are adequately assessed.

Read the full story here: http://www.scidev.net/dossiers/index.cfm?fuseaction=policybrief&dossier=12&policy=136.

Source: SciDev.net

The International Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology Research (ICABR) is announcing a call for papers for the 11th International Conference on Agricultural Biotechnologies: New Frontiers and Products ? Economics, Policies and Science. The conference will take place from 26-29 July 2007 in Ravello, Italy.

The conference will focus on the following topics:

• Impact of agricultural biotechnology on international trade
• Biomasses and new industrial products
• Ethanol, biodiesel and other renewable energies, varieties and processes
• Bio - Pharmaceuticals
• Industrial organization
• Public acceptance
• Impact of science
• Intellectual property rights
• Biotechnology & developing countries
• Regulation of biotechnology
• Governance issues for the biotechnology sector
• Biotechnology, trade and development
• Ecogenomics and ecoproteomics

Proposals in the form of an abstract (maximum of 500 words) incorporating agbiotech applications to one or more of the topics on the previous list of topics should be sent to:

ICABR
University of Rome " Tor Vergata ",
Via Columbia 2,
00133 - Rome, Italy
icabr@economia.uniroma2.it
by February 20, 2007

The Conference steering committee promises a response by February 27, 2007, with accepted papers due by June 10, 2007.

Authors of accepted papers should register as soon as possible following notification.

For full conference and registration information, visit http://www.economia.uniroma2.it/conferenze/icabr2007/call_for_paper.asp

View this announcement in a PDF

Position and Grade: Crop Scientist/Plant Nutritionist (P-4)
Organizational Unit: Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Section
Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture
Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications
Duty Station: Vienna, Austria
Issue Date: 21 December 2006
Application Deadline: 3 February 2007
Type/Duration of Appointment: Fixed term, 3 years (subject to a probationary period of 1 year)

Organizational Setting

The Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Section of the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture is responsible for supporting the joint FAO/IAEA programme in food and agriculture through the provision of expertise and services in the area of soil and water management and plant nutrition. In particular, it supports research and technical cooperation projects in Member States aimed at the sustainable intensification of crop production systems through the application of isotopic and other nuclear-based techniques. There are three professional staff members in the Section as well as three professional staff members in the Soil Science Unit of the FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratory, Seibersdorf, implementing the subprogramme in soil and water management and crop nutrition.

Assignment

Under the supervision of the Section Head, the incumbent will be responsible for the following assignments:

• Managing coordinated research projects (CRPs) on the identification, development and evaluation of crop germplasm with superior resource use efficiency and adaptation to harsh environments; planning and programming research coordination meetings, acting as the scientific secretary and preparing the ensuing report; evaluating proposals for research contracts and agreements and requests for renewal; ordering isotopes and equipment; coordinating with relevant staff of the Soil Science Unit on research and analytical services supporting the CRPs; preparing the mid-term project review; preparing the final CRP report and collating and processing manuscripts for publication;
• Conducting preparatory work for new CRPs, including the planning and organization of consultants meetings, acting as the scientific secretary and preparing the ensuing report, and formulating the proposal for a new CRP;
• Evaluating requests for technical cooperation projects (TCPs) and reformulating them as required, providing technical support for such projects, evaluating fellowship applications, preparing fellowship training programmes, assisting in the placement of fellows, ordering equipment and supplies, selecting experts and evaluating reports;
• Assisting in upstream planning work for new TCPs, including the preparation of concept papers and participation in pre-project missions, thematic planning exercises and country programme framework missions as required;
• Planning, organizing and conducting consultants meetings, training courses and regional seminars;
• Participating in national and international expert consultations, symposia and workshops, as required;
• Assisting the Section Head in the preparation and review of biennial FAO/IAEA programmes, works plans, budgets, bi-annual newsletters and regular updating of the Section's website, medium term and strategic plans, performance reviews, the Annual Report, the Nuclear Technology Review, and other administrative tasks, as required.

Education and Experience

• PhD specializing in crop science/plant physiology with a first degree in agriculture science.
• At least seven years of relevant experience in the areas of crop adaptation/management under abiotic stress and superior resource use efficiency, of which one should have been at the international level.
• Substantial experience in soil fertility, plant nutrition and integrated soil-plant-water-nutrient management.
• Experience in the management of multidisciplinary projects and participation in international research networks would be an added advantage.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• A sound knowledge of and practical work experience in, supported by refereed publications, the use of isotopic tracers (particularly those based on natural abundance, e.g. C-13, H-2, N-15 and O-18), and other methods for identifying crop germplasm with superior resource use recovery and tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity and micronutrient deficiencies/toxicities.
• A well-developed knowledge of soil-plant-nutrient-water interactions and the influence of soil fertility and water management in food security and environmental sustainability.
• A good working knowledge of both radioactive (e.g., P-32 and S-35) and stable (N-15 and C-13) isotopic tracers in quantifying soil nutrient cycling pools that can be influenced by soil and water management practices.
• Ability to travel and conduct technical and research coordinated meetings and a highly-developed capacity to make effective oral presentations and produce well-written technical reports.
• Ability to work effectively in and interact with a multidisciplinary team, including soil scientists, agronomists, plant breeders, and scientific counterparts from FAO/IAEA Member States.
• Knowledge of farming systems in developing countries.
• Proficiency in English is essential. Working knowledge of Spanish and/or French an advantage.

Remuneration

The Agency offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $59 132 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $35 184*, dependency benefits, rental subsidy, education grant, relocation and repatriation expenses; 6 weeks' annual vacation, home leave, pension plan and health insurance.

How to apply to the IAEA

* Subject to change without notice

________________________________________
Applications from qualified women and candidates from developing countries are encouraged

Applicants should be aware that IAEA staff members are international civil servants and may not accept instructions from any other authority. Staff members may be assigned to any location. The IAEA retains the discretion not to make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade or to make an appointment with a modified job description or for shorter duration than indicated above. Testing may be part of the recruitment process.

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is seeking applications from innovative, self-motivated, scientifically outstanding pathologists and entomologists to support germplasm development efforts and conduct strategic research on pests and pathogens of importance to tropical maize. The position will be based at CIMMYT?s Main Campus located 45 km northeast of Mexico City, Mexico. The position is initially available for three years with an opportunity for an extension, and may lead to a career path position

Primary responsibilities will include:

• Provide biotic stress expertise to CIMMYT maize germplasm enhancement activities
• Develop field and molecular methodologies for resistance breeding for high priority biotic stresses
• Characterize biotic stress traits in maize germplasm to guide deployment and utilization of genetic resources
• Support partners worldwide through consultancies, short courses, and graduate student supervision
• Conduct original research on priority biotic stresses
• Monitor evolving biotic stress threats to maize and recommend research and breeding priorities
• Attract funding for high priority activities of the CGIAR, its partners and stakeholders, which involve expertise in maize
entomology/pathologyPrimary responsibilities will include:
• Provide biotic stress expertise to CIMMYT maize germplasm enhancement activities
• Develop field and molecular methodologies for resistance breeding for high priority biotic stresses
• Characterize biotic stress traits in maize germplasm to guide deployment and utilization of genetic resources
• Support partners worldwide through consultancies, short courses, and graduate student supervision
• Conduct original research on priority biotic stresses
• Monitor evolving biotic stress threats to maize and recommend research and breeding priorities
• Attract funding for high priority activities of the CGIAR, its partners and stakeholders, which involve expertise in maize entomology/pathology

We are seeking candidates with the following qualifications:

• PhD in entomology, plant pathology or closely related field, preferably with emphasis on tropical maize. Preference will be given to candidates with research experience bridging both entomology and pathology disciplines.
• Strong experience in field or laboratory research, with demonstrated interest in both
• Understanding of molecular techniques and their application to germplasm characterization and development
• Demonstrated ability and interest to publish in refereed science journals
• Proficiency in spoken and written English; knowledge of Spanish of advantage
• Interest in international research and development
• Excellent people skills and proven ability to work in a team
• Experience in fund-raising and project management

CIMMYT (www.cimmyt.cgiar.org) is an internationally funded, non-profit research and training organization affiliated with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR, www.cgiar.org) and has an annual budget of nearly US$40 million. CIMMYT?s mission is to help the poor in the developing world by increasing the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of maize- and wheat-based cropping systems while protecting natural resources. The Center is a global leader in scientific research and training related to maize and wheat, and in biotechnology, economics, and natural resource management research. These activities are conducted in partnership with national agricultural research systems, nongovernmental organizations, and advanced research institutions, both public and private, in globally focused projects and programs. CIMMYT employs a staff of around 700 and operates in a decentralized, partnership mode, having staff in 14 countries, projects and partnership networks in many more.

CIMMYT salaries for internationally recruited staff are highly competitive, with a range of benefits including housing allowance, life and health insurance package, education allowance (from KG to Grade 12), annual medical examination, and shipping allowance.

CIMMYT is an equal-opportunity employer and strives for staff diversity in gender and nationality.

Please send via e-mail your letter of application no later than 28 February 2007, CV/Resume (including full contact information), and names and contact information of three references to:
Human Resources Manager, CIMMYT
(Pathology 2007/01)
Email: jobs-cimmyt@cgiar.org

For further information contact Dr. Marianne Banziger, Maize Program Director, m.banziger@cgiar.org

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has granted US$14 million in funding for projects to find improved ways of studying the structure, function, and evolution of the genomes of economically important crop plants. Commenting on the grant funds, James Collins, NSF assistant director for biological sciences, said: "If the Plant Genome Research Program has been making the bricks that build a conceptual framework for the genomes of economically important crop plants, these projects will provide the mortar."

Most of the grant funding will go to U.S. universities. Projects at the Iowa State University and the University of Missouri will study "polyploidy" in cotton and in Brassica species such as canola and Brussels sprouts. Being polyploid means that these plants have multiple genomes; polyploidy can lead to dramatic changes in gene content and genome organization that are only just beginning to be understood. Projects based at the University of California at Davis and Cornell University will catalog genetic variation among pine trees and among maize plants, to improve knowledge of gene function. Other projects at Washington University St. Louis and Michigan State University will compare the genomes of cultivated crops with the genomes of wild relatives that are invasive weeds. It is thought that outcomes from these projects could lead to greater understanding of how plants become weedy and invasive, and yield possible avenues for better selective control of weeds. The article can be viewed online at the link below.

http://www.checkbiotech.org/

Source: Food Security and Ag-Biotech News

The GCP would like to remind potential applicants that the call for applications for the 2007 GCP Fellowships Programme will close on 31 January 2007.

Visit the Fellowships page on our website for more information and application instructions.

Please read all information carefully, as the call has changed slightly this year.

A newly-created blog called BioJobs regularly publishes new job, post-doc, and other research/academic openings from all over the world. Over 300 jobs have been posted so far. The information comes from websites of organizations seeking employees, as well as postings from job portals and forums.

Scientists searching for job opportunities are invited to visit this useful website and pass it on to other colleagues: http://biojobs.blogspot.com

The following training opportunities were recently posted on CIMMYT's training website:

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

1) International Foundation for Science (IFS)
IFS is a research council with international operations and the mission to build the scientific capacity of developing countries in sciences related to the sustainable management of biological and water resources. At IFS, we believe that the interests of both science and development are best served by promoting and nurturing the research efforts of promising young science graduates, who have the potential to become leading scientists in their countries. Since 1974, we have provided support to more than 3500 IFS Grantees in some 100 developing countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Applications for IFS Research Grants are welcome from young scientists in developing countries to do research on the sustainable management, use or conservation of biological or water resources. This broad statement covers natural science and social science research on agriculture, soils, animal production, food science, forestry, agroforestry, aquatic resources, natural products, water resources, etc.

Deadline: December 31, 2006

http://www.ifs.se

2) European Summer School on Earth System Governance
The Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the International Centre for Integrated Assessment and Sustainable Development of Maastricht University welcomes application for the ?Marie Curie European Summer School on Earth System Governance? for the Summer 2007, with financial support by the European Commission. The Summer School consists of three days participation in the 2007 Amsterdam Conference on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change ?Earth System Governance: Theories and Strategies for Sustainability? and 8 days of intensive lectures by our international faculty. The Marie Curie Summer School on Earth System Governance aims to help students to better understand the causes of global change in an integrated manner and at the same time to develop options for the governance of a transition to more sustainable development paths at the national and global levels. It brings together insights from the modeling, integrated assessment, and sustainability science communities and from the social science, governance-oriented research communities.

To apply, please send a letter of motivation and a full CV to Philipp.Pattberg@ivm.vu.nl until 20 January 2007

http://www.2007amsterdamconference.org/summerschool.htm

3) African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) PhD Fellowships
AERC also offers a limited number of fellowships annually, towards PhD studies. To be eligible for consideration, the request must again come from an African national intending to pursue a career in economic management, research and/or teaching at a public institution in sub-Saharan Africa.

Academic excellence, as well as potential for research, forms the overriding criteria for short-listing candidates for interview. Priority is accorded to candidates who are on staff development in the Collaborative MA Programme (CMAP).

Deadlines: Applications for PhD fellowships must be submitted by January 31 of each year.

http://www.aercafrica.org/programmes/training_cpp_scholarships.asp

4) Center for International Development, Harvard University
2007 Norberg-Bohm Fellowship for Kennedy School of Government Doctoral PhD Candidates The Science Technology and Public Policy Program and the Environment and Natural Resources Program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government are accepting applications for the Vicki Norberg-Bohm Fellowship for 2007-2008. The purpose of the fellowship is to support Kennedy School of Government PhD candidates conducting early exploratory research on energy or environmental issues. The fellowship is designed to enable doctoral students to expose themselves to a wide range of researchers and research approaches early on in their training before they make their ultimate choice of a dissertation topic. The award can be used for a variety of activities such as conducting field work, providing support for an internship, or learning a foreign language in a host country. Applications will be accepted from students enrolled in one of the Kennedy School of Government's doctoral programs, i.e. Public Policy, Political Economy and Government, Social Policy, Health Policy. Preference will be given to students in their first two years of the program, or prior to passing their qualifying exams.

Due date for applications: February 15, 2007

http://www.cid.harvard.edu/sustsci/grants/fellows/

5) EMBO Short-Term Fellowships
Short term fellowships are intended for visits of up to 3 months duration and aimed at collaborative research between two EMBC member states. (For non-European applicants the short term fellowships are for a fixed duration of 90 days). Deadlines: Not fixed but ideally 3 months before the proposed start date.

EMBO Long-Term Fellowships are awarded for prolonged visits (12 to 24 months) and are intended for advanced training through research
The fellowships provide the travel costs and a stipend for the fellow and his/her family. If the applicant is already at the receiving institute at the time of application, travel is not paid. The stipend rates depend on the country being visited, marital status etc. In the event of early termination of the fellowship, any payments made after the date of termination will have to be repaid as will the return portion of the travel money. When the fellowship is accepted for a very brief period, the entire travel allowance will have to be returned.

Deadlines for receipt of applications : 15 February and 15 August

6) IFAR's Professional Development Grants:
In support of its mission, IFAR annually provides small grants to professionals from national agricultural research systems in developing countries (NARS). The award made to the youngest woman grantee each year will be designated the Ravi Tadvalkar Memorial Scholarship, in recognition of the many contributions to the organization by IFAR's first Treasurer and Secretary, his commitment to capacity building in developing countries, and his concern about diversity and gender issues.

IFAR also manages the IFAR Wilfried Thalwitz Scholarship established in his memory by the family and friends of the late CGIAR Chair for research linked with CGIAR Centers.

Due date for applications: March 2, 2007

http://www.ifar4dev.org/fellowships/index.html

7) The Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program (LEAP)
The Borlaug LEAP is a fellowship program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to enhance the quality of thesis research of graduate students from developing countries who show strong promise as leaders in the field of agriculture and related disciplines as defined by Title XII. LEAP is part of the overall Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows Program sponsored by the USDA.

The LEAP program will support engaging a mentor at a Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) system center to support and enhance the thesis research and mentoring experience. Awards will be made on a competitive basis to students who show strong scientific and leadership potential, have a well coordinated proposal between their home university, a US university mentor, and the CGIAR mentor, and whose research is related to a strong research and support project within the host country. Emphasis will be placed on work that has relevance to the national development of the student?s home country. Awards will be made three times a year but applications may be received at any time. The focus region for the current Request for Applications (RFA) is sub-Saharan Africa.

Deadline: March 15

8) Asian Development Bank, Philippines and the Government of Japan
Japan Scholarship Program

Eligibility: Applicants must be a national of an ADB borrowing member country and must have gained admission to an approved postgraduate course (economics, management, science and technology, or another development related field) at a participating academic institution. Applicants must also have a minimum of 2 years work experience.

Deadline: Applications must be received at least 6 months prior to commencement of studies.

http://www.adb.org/JSP/

9) Australian Government, Scholarships for study at Australian universities - Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarships
The Endeavour IPRS programme provides approximately 330 new scholarships each year and enables international students to undertake a postgraduate research qualification in Australia and gain experience with leading Australian researchers.

Scholarships are open to international students of all countries (except New Zealand) and are available for a period of two years for a Masters by research degree or three years for a Doctorate by research degree. The Scholarship covers tuition fees and health cover costs for Scholarship holders, and health cover costs for their dependants.(It should be noted that the Endeavour IPRS programme is undergoing review in 2006 which may result in changes for 2007.)

The Australian Government, through the Endeavour Programme, is committed to providing opportunities for high quality scholars and researchers from North/Latin America regions to participate in the Programme. The fellowships provide financial support for postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows from participating countries to undertake short-term research in any field of study in Australia. The research project must be taken in one block; it cannot be broken into two or more visits to the host country.

http://www.endeavour.dest.gov.au/individual_awards/iprs.htm

http://www.endeavour.dest.gov.au/for_north_latin_american_applicants/

CONFERENCES

1) The 2nd International Conference on Plant Molecular Breeding
Sanya, Hainan, China, March 23-27,2007
The 2nd International Conference on Plant Molecular Breeding （ICPMB), will be held in Sanya city, Hainan province, P. R. China on March 23-27, 2007. This event will focus on Applied plant genomics and molecular plant breeding in view of the increasing need to use new molecular approaches and mine novel gene resources. All important aspects of plant molecular breeding and related transgenic ecological risk and intellectual property right (IPR) will be covered in several sessions and satellite workshops.
Important Deadlines
Dec. 31th, 2006: Full paper and extended abstract submission deadline
Jan. 31th, 2007: Abstract acceptance deadline
Jan. 1st, 2007: Registration with regular fees
Mar. 20th, 2007: Registration with late fees
Conference Language: English is the official language of the ICPMB as well as for submissions

http://www.icpmb.org/142.html

2) XXIII Reuni?n de la Asociaci?n Latinoamericana de Rizobiolog?a.
C?rdoba, Argentina del 25 al 28 de Marzo de 2007
En la ciudad de Los Cocos, C?rdoba, Argentina, se realizar? entre los d?as 25 y 28 de marzo de 2007, la XXIII Reuni?n de la Asociaci?n Latinoamericana de Rizobiolog?a (ALAR). Al igual que en otras oportunidades, ser? ?sta una ocasi?n para encontrarnos y tratar los temas que nos son de inter?s com?n en el ?rea tem?tica que nos convoca. Aprovecharemos adem?s la oportunidad para reforzar viejas amistades y establecer nuevos v?nculos entre los asistentes. En esta p?gina usted encontrar? la informaci?n concerniente esta re uni?n bianual que organiza ALAR.

http://www.relar.com.ar

3) GCP Announces Course on ?Molecular Characterization of Inbred Lines and Populations in Maize? in India, 1-3 April 2007
The Generation Challenge Program announces a training workshop to be held 1-3 April, 2007 in New Delhi, India. The goal of this workshop is to provide background and training in the use of SSR markers for characterizing crop germplasm, with particular emphasis on heterogeneous populations, particularly maize. Sessions will include but not be limited to topics such as: DNA extraction for the bulked method; PCR, electrophoresis on an automatic DNA sequencer; reading gels and generating specialized data files of allele frequencies from bulks; analyzing population diversity statistics and comparisons between populations. A general discussion of use of genetic diversity studies will be included.

http://www.generationcp.org/capcorner.php?db=1&s=2&da=0556601

4) African Economic Research Consortium-Cornell University
Conference on Bottom-Up Interventions and Economic Growth in Africa
May 31-June 1, 2007 Nairobi, Kenya
The AERC in collaboration with Cornell University is organizing on Bottom up Intervention and Economic Growth in Africa. This Conference is motivated by the observation that while macro level policy reforms in Africa has addressed many of the economic distortions, its payoff in terms of growth and poverty reduction has been disappointing, to say the least. One reason for this may be that Africa is faced with many constraints to growth at the micro and meso levels. If this is the case, then addressing these constraints along with macro level reforms is likely to benefit poverty reduction and growth directly. Addressing these constraints, especially those faced by the poor, will improve the well being of the poor and also have positive feedback effects on the wellbeing of the non-poor and growth generally.

The objective of this conference, therefore, is to explore the feedback effects of a range of specific bottom up interventions on growth in general. The interventions considered might include those in health, education, community development, safety nets, gender equity, among others. A key feature of these interventions is that they operate in the first instance at the micro and meso levels, but they also have macro level consequences for economic growth. The conference will discuss theoretical, empirical and policy oriented papers that investigate these feedback effects in rigorous manner.

Please send substantive proposals (5-7 pages) or completed papers, to "Research" Research@aercafrica.org by October 31, 2006. Decisions will be communicated by January 31, 2007. The final versions of the selected papers should be submitted to Research@aercafrica.org by April 15, 2007. Submissions by African scholars are particularly welcome. This Conference will be held immediately before the AERC Biannual Research Workshop scheduled for June 2-8, 2007. The travel and accommodation costs of one participant per paper selected will be met by the conference. Output: Special Issue of a journal, or a volume with an academic publisher.

5) Promoting the productivity and competitiveness of African agriculture in a global economy
June 10 ? 16, 2007, Sandton Convention Centre Sandton city, Johannesburg, South Africa
The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Affairs of South Africa will co-host the fourth (4th) General Assembly of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and FARA. The General Assembly will draw together representatives of FARA's constituents from all African and non-African institutions involved in African agricultural research and development such as the Sub-Regional Organizations (SROs) (ASARECA, CORAF/WECARD, SADC/FANR and Northern Africa - AARINENA), the agricultural research institutions, universities, NGOs and private enterprises that comprise the national agricultural research systems (NARS) , non-African partner research institutions (PRIs), the international agricultural research centers (IARCs), international NGOs, policy makers, private sector, farmers? organizations and Africa's development partners.

http://www.fara-africa.org/

6) 8th African Crop Science Society Conference, First Announcement and Call for Abstracts

Theme: Crop research, technology dissemination and adoption to increase food supply, reducing hunger and poverty in Africa.

Date: 27- 31 October 2007- El-Minia, Egypt

Organizers: African Crop Science Society (ACSS) and Faculty of Agriculture, Minia University

Venue: Suzann Mubarak Center for Arts and Letters, Minia University Camps, El-Minia, Egypt.

Conference Topics and Symposia: The general topics to be covered at the conference include: agronomy, horticulture, crop improvement and physiology, post harvest handling and food sciences, crop protection, rural socio-economics; and agricultural extension and education, agricultural economics, agricultural microbiology, crop genetics and biotechnology, agricultural chemistry, integration of livestock in crop production, soils and agricultural engineering sciences, water sciences, environmental sciences, biodiversity and natural resources management. Special symposia can be arranged in consultation with the secretariat.

Conference Language: English is the official language of the conference. No simultaneous translation service will be provided. All presentations, including discussions and submitted materials, must be in English.

http://www.africancrops.net/News/july06/acss8.htm