The InterAmerican Network of Academies of Sciences (IANAS) was established in Santiago, Chile in May 2004. Its main objective is the support of national scientific and technological development in the hemisphere, by increased interaction among the Academies. Member academies agreed to cooperate towards the strengthening of science and technology as a tool for advancing research and development, prosperity and equity in the Americas. The IANAS Secretariat is hosted by the Brazilian Acadsemy of Sciences. Contact: mcbs@abc.org.br
For the latest information on IANAS activities, visit the IANAS website at: www.ianas.org/
Selection of IANAS Activities:
2010 ...
The Women for Science Working Group (WfS-WG) of the InterAmerican Network of Academies of Science (IANAS) will be officially launched at its first meeting on 11 June 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in conjunction with the VII Meeting of the National Focal Points of the IANAS Science Education Program. The mandate of the IANAS “Women for Science” Working Group is to advise IANAS and its member academies on fostering a climate in the sciences that is welcoming to women, and to alert IANAS and its academies to the gender aspects and issues encountered in their work and programs. The WfS-WG will develop a Plan of Action for the IANAS member academies to strengthen participation of girls and women in S&T in the following key areas:
· promoting education in S&T for girls and women;
· • increasing the visibility of women scientists/engineers;
· supporting networking, leadership training and mentoring for women in science.
· b building an inclusive institutional culture in S&T organizations, including science academies;
For more information on the WfS-WG, contact: shuyer@twows.org
2009 ...
The IANAS “Women for Science Symposium” was hosted by the Mexican Academy of Sciences in Mexico City on April 20-21, 2009. The symposium was organized with the support of IAP, the Mexican National Council on Science and Technology (CONACYT) and ICSU's Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ICSU-LAC). The agenda, list of participants, presentations and final report are available on the IANAS website at: http://www.ianas.org/mexico_en.asp
2008 ...
The Interamerican Network of Academies of Sciences (IANAS), with the support of IAP and in partnership with the National Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences of Argentina and the Argentinean Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation, organized the IANAS Workshop "Toward a Sustainable Energy Future", which was held at the headquarters of the Argentinean Center of Engineers, in Buenos Aires, on 30-31 October 2008. The workshop brought together 130 high-level experts from 15 different countries, covering North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean region. The agenda, list of participants, final report, and copies of the presentations can be viewed on the IANAS website at: http://www.ianas.org/BuenosAires_en.asp
2006 ...
- IAP and IANAS co-sponsored a regional workshop for the Americas on "Bridging Water Research and Management: Enhancing Water Management Capacity in the Hemisphere", which was held from 24-28 July 2006 in São Paulo. The workshop, organized by the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, focused on regional problems, aiming to identify areas where existing programmes for water conservation, wastewater treatment, contamination, and the rational use of the existing resources can be improved.
- IANAS, the Caribbean Scientific Union (CSU), and CARISCIENCE, in association with UNESCO, held a Conference on "Harnessing Science and Technology for Caribbean Development" in Trinidad and Tobago from 9-13 May 2006. For additional information contact: haroldramkissoon@hotmail.com.
2005
- IANAS, the InterAmerican Network of Science Academies, organized a Summit of the Americas in November 2005. The focus of this Summit was the fight against poverty, creation of employment and democratic governance. For further details, contact the IANAS Secretariat at: ianas@abc.org.br
- One of IANAS's main programmes, water, was on the agenda at the 1st national 'focal point' meeting held at the Colombian Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, in Bogotá, 12-13 March 2005. The meeting was coordinated by the Brazilian and Mexican Academies of Sciences. For additional information, contact the IANAS secretariat: mcbs@abc.org.br
2004
- IANAS held its first steering committee on 5 November 2004 at the headquarters of the Royal Society of Canada in Ontario. Participants assessed the first year's activities and discussed plans for the the following months.
- The IANAS Science Education Programme, inspired by experiences developed by Academies in the region, was created under the leadership of the Chilean Academy of Sciences. This initiative includes a global review of the teaching of science to children at the school level. With an initial 5 year scope, the general objective of this programme is to improve the level and the relevance of science education in the hemisphere, through the active participation of members of science academies of the Americas, working together with teachers and educational authorities. The initial focus of the program was on elementary level science education. However, it was decided that activities on secondary and undergraduate science education would also be considered.
- The IANAS regional water programme was created with the aim to aid national governments in addressing the issue of access to clean water. The challenges of water scarcity require a vigorous scientific, technological and managerial action in order to: adequately and better use the existing supplies; recover degraded surfaces and groundwater reserves; and secure for the future generations the necessary water resources. To face this situation, it is necessary to improve programmes of conservation and to provide scientific and technological tools to assure a more rational use of the water supplies. The Brazilian and the Mexican Academies of Sciences were asked to coordinate this programme.
Links to:
IANAS Bulletin, available from: http://www.ianas.org/boletim_en.asp
Press release on the establishment of IANAS