TWAS Newsletter Vol. 19 No. 4

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Editorial: Palis Opens General Meeting

(pages 2-7, 709 K): TWAS President Jacob Palis opened TWAS's 18th General Meeting, held at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy, November 2007, by welcoming nearly 200 scientists from 44 countries to the event. In his address, Palis outlined the Academy's accomplishments to date and described the challenges that lie ahead as TWAS seeks to strengthen and expand its activities on the eve of its 25th anniversary. Excerpts from his address follow.

Publication Outreach

(pages 8-10, 232 K): On 22 October 2007, the TWAS Newsletter joined a coordinated global effort to publish articles on science, technology, public health and human development designed to examine and advance the Millennium Development Goals.

TWAS's 18th General Meeting

(pages 11-19, 355 K): The 18th General Meeting of TWAS was held from 13 to 14 November 2007 on the campus of the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy. Nearly 200 scientists from 44 countries were in attendance.

Building Capacity in Pakistan

(pages 22-28, 285 K): Amid all of the uncertainty, turmoil and violence that has gripped Pakistan over the past several years, one positive trend has emerged: the nation has dramatically increased its investment in higher education, science and technology.

Fighting Fundamentalism With Science

(pages 29-33, 222 K): Pervez Hoodbhoy was awarded the first Regional Prize for Public Understanding of Science by TWAS-ROCASA. During TWAS's 18th General Meeting, he reviewed Pakistan's recent growth in science and technology and suggested ways forward for a more open and inquiring society in his native country.

Science For Development

(pages 34-39, 224 K): TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world, is a UNESCO-affiliated organization headquartered in Trieste, Italy. The Academy receives the majority of its administrative funds from generous contributions provided by the Italian government. TWAS's mandate focuses on honouring scientific accomplishment and building scientific capacity in the developing world. Over the past decade, it has become increasingly concerned with applying scientific and technological capabilities to economic development challenges.

Cities, Science and Sustainability

(pages 40-42, 255 K): This year will mark a milestone in the global migration of people. For the first time in human history, more than 50 percent of the world's population will live in cities. An international workshop held in Trieste in September 2007 examined broad-ranging strategies for making cities in the developing world more sustainable.

The Metrobus in Mexico City

(pages 43-45, 255 K): Claudia Sheinbaum of the National Autonomous University of Mexico describes the development of Mexico City's Bus Rapid Transportation system, an initiative that seeks to make bus travel more convenient while reducing the amount of pollutants emitted into the atmosphere.

People, Places, Events

(pages 46-47, 179 K): Brief news about honours, appointments, awards and events.