Scientists Without Borders
Encyclopedia
Scientists Without Borders is an initiative that aims to mobilize and coordinate science-based, capacity-building efforts in the developing world. Its founders and partners believe that the scientific community has tremendous potential for promoting global health, agricultural progress, environmental well-being, energy needs, and other crucial advances, yet it lacks a way to mobilize its members for these benefits. Motivation to create such a body has intensified with the growing realization that integrated rather than narrow approaches are crucial for addressing key challenges such as extreme poverty and the glaring health problems that accompany it.
Guided by the UN Millennium Development Goals and co-conceived by the New York Academy of Sciences
(NYAS) and the UN Millennium Development Project, Scientists Without Borders first goal is to build a Web portal. The portal's cornerstone will be a database that aims to:
1. Foster cross communication among the many capacity-building efforts that take place in close physical proximity to one another, but without meaningful contact—and foster innovative activities among them.
2. Register needs and available resources, thus allowing scientists and organizations to connect and direct their energies for maximum impact.
3. Link scientists who wish to work on global health, environmental challenges, and other vital issues with institutions and projects that would welcome their expertise.
4. Provide a system by which organizations can build on one another's progress.
5. Offer funding agencies the opportunity to quickly assess local needs and resources as well as qualifications of potential grantees.
The Web site launched May 12, 2008 and is accepting database submissions.
Scientists Without Borders is a global partnership, led by the New York Academy of Sciences
. Organizational partners include the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa, the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (Third World Academy of Sciences
), Health Sciences Online, The Earth Institute
, the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, the University of Ghana
, Seeding Labs, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
, the Pasteur Institute, Duke University Health System
, Science and Development Network
, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative
, the Sabin Vaccine Institute, Universities Allied for Essential Medicines, the African Centre for Technology Studies, the Science Initiative Group, the Information Training and Outreach Centre for Africa, International Foundation for Science, the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation, the American Society for Cell Biology, the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations, Sustainable Sciences Institute, BioMed Central
, African Green Revolution Conference, World Academy of Young Scientists, PharmExperts.com, Millennium Development Goals Monitor, United Nations Development Programme
, the INDEPTH Network, American Physiological Society, American Society of Agronomy
, Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America
and Toxipedia.
http://www.scidev.net/en/news/new-network-seeks-to-break-down-science-barriers.html
http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/54355/
http://www.cell.com/content/article/fulltext?uid=PIIS0092867408005655
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v453/n7195/full/453564a.html
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/new-portals-exploring-how-we-survive-ourselves/
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/268707/306
http://www.geotimes.org/ontheweb_index.html
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/22/inventor-aims-to-aid-poorest-billions/
Guided by the UN Millennium Development Goals and co-conceived by the New York Academy of Sciences
New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is the third oldest scientific society in the United States. An independent, non-profit organization with more than members in 140 countries, the Academy’s mission is to advance understanding of science and technology...
(NYAS) and the UN Millennium Development Project, Scientists Without Borders first goal is to build a Web portal. The portal's cornerstone will be a database that aims to:
1. Foster cross communication among the many capacity-building efforts that take place in close physical proximity to one another, but without meaningful contact—and foster innovative activities among them.
2. Register needs and available resources, thus allowing scientists and organizations to connect and direct their energies for maximum impact.
3. Link scientists who wish to work on global health, environmental challenges, and other vital issues with institutions and projects that would welcome their expertise.
4. Provide a system by which organizations can build on one another's progress.
5. Offer funding agencies the opportunity to quickly assess local needs and resources as well as qualifications of potential grantees.
The Web site launched May 12, 2008 and is accepting database submissions.
Scientists Without Borders is a global partnership, led by the New York Academy of Sciences
New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is the third oldest scientific society in the United States. An independent, non-profit organization with more than members in 140 countries, the Academy’s mission is to advance understanding of science and technology...
. Organizational partners include the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa, the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (Third World Academy of Sciences
Third World Academy of Sciences
TWAS, until 2004 named Third World Academy of Sciences and now TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world, is a merit-based science academy uniting 1,000 scientists in some 70 countries. Its principal aim is to promote scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development in...
), Health Sciences Online, The Earth Institute
The Earth Institute
The Earth Institute was established at Columbia University in 1995. The research institute's stated mission is to address complex issues facing the planet and its inhabitants, with particular focus on sustainable development and the needs of the world's poor...
, the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, the University of Ghana
University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
, Seeding Labs, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative is a global not-for-profit, public-private partnership working to accelerate the development of vaccines to prevent HIV infection and AIDS. IAVI researches and develops vaccine candidates, conducts policy analyses, serves as an advocate for the field and...
, the Pasteur Institute, Duke University Health System
Duke University Health System
The Duke University Health System, combines the Duke University School of Medicine, the Duke University School of Nursing, the Duke Clinic, and the member hospitals into a system of research, clinical care, and education.-Duke University Hospital:...
, Science and Development Network
Science and Development Network
SciDev.Net is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing reliable and authoritative information about science and technology in the developing world to policymakers, researchers, the media and civil society....
, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative
Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative
The Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative 501 is a non-profit drug research and development organization that is developing new treatments for neglected diseases....
, the Sabin Vaccine Institute, Universities Allied for Essential Medicines, the African Centre for Technology Studies, the Science Initiative Group, the Information Training and Outreach Centre for Africa, International Foundation for Science, the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation, the American Society for Cell Biology, the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations, Sustainable Sciences Institute, BioMed Central
BioMed Central
BioMed Central is a UK-based, for-profit scientific publisher specialising in open access journal publication. BMC, and its sister companies Chemistry Central and PhysMath Central, publish over 200 scientific journals. Most BMC journals are now published only online. BMC describes itself as the...
, African Green Revolution Conference, World Academy of Young Scientists, PharmExperts.com, Millennium Development Goals Monitor, United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
, the INDEPTH Network, American Physiological Society, American Society of Agronomy
American Society of Agronomy
The American Society of Agronomy is a scientific and professional society of agronomists and scientists of related disciplines, principally in the United States but with a large number of non-U.S. members as well...
, Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America
Soil Science Society of America
The Soil Science Society of America , is a scientific and professional society of soil scientists, principally in the U.S. but with a large number of non-U.S. members as well...
and Toxipedia.
Further reading
- Eva Aguilar, New network seeks to break down science barriers. SciDevNet, February 6, 2008.
http://www.scidev.net/en/news/new-network-seeks-to-break-down-science-barriers.html
- Edyta Zielinska, Scientists Without Borders. The Scientist.com, February 21, 2008.
http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/54355/
- Corinna Wu, Scientists Without Borders. Cell, May 16, 2008.
http://www.cell.com/content/article/fulltext?uid=PIIS0092867408005655
- Linking up Development: An initiative to link scientists in the poorest nations with colleagues around the world. Nature, May 28, 2008.
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v453/n7195/full/453564a.html
- Revkin, Andrew C., New Portals Exploring How We Survive. The New York Times. June 3, 2008.
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/new-portals-exploring-how-we-survive-ourselves/
- Scientists Without Borders - Global. The Communication Initiative Network - The Drum Beat. June 30, 2008.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/268707/306
- Sharing Across Borders. July 1, 2008.
http://www.geotimes.org/ontheweb_index.html
- Revkin, Andrew C., Segway Inventor Turns Mind to the Poor. The New York Times. October 22, 2008.
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/22/inventor-aims-to-aid-poorest-billions/
External links
- Scientists Without Borders Web site. http://www.scientistswithoutborders.org