The World Academy of Sciences facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | TWAS |
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| Formation | 1983 |
| Type | International nongovernmental organization |
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Region served
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Worldwide |
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President
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Quarraisha Abdool Karim |
The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) is a special group of scientists from all over the world. It was created to help science grow in countries that are still developing. More than 1,400 scientists from about 100 countries are part of TWAS. Their main goal is to make science stronger and better in these countries. This helps with important things like making life better for everyone. TWAS used to be called the Third World Academy of Sciences. Its main office is in Trieste, Italy, at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics.
How TWAS Started
TWAS was started in 1983 by a group of important scientists. They were led by Abdus Salam, a Nobel Laureate from Pakistan. These scientists wanted to improve scientific research in developing countries. They saw several problems that needed fixing:
- Even though developing countries have most of the world's people, they had very few scientists. This meant they lacked new ideas to solve their own problems.
- Scientists in these countries often did not have enough money for their research. This made them feel alone and could hurt their careers.
- Scientists were often not paid well and their work was not always respected. This caused many smart people to leave for richer countries. This is called "brain drain."
- Research centers and universities in developing countries did not have enough funding. Scientists had to work in tough conditions with old equipment.
The scientists who started TWAS decided to create an organization that would help in several ways:
- They wanted to find and support excellent scientific research in developing countries.
- They aimed to give promising scientists the tools and places they needed for their work.
- They wanted to help scientists and research centers in developing countries connect with each other.
- They also wanted to encourage cooperation between scientists in developing and developed countries.
- Finally, they wanted to support scientific research that could solve big problems in developing countries.
Since it began, the Italian government has given a lot of money to TWAS. Since 1991, UNESCO has helped manage TWAS's money and staff. This was agreed upon by UNESCO and the president of TWAS.
TWAS has changed its name a few times. It was first called the "Third World Academy of Sciences" until 2004. Then it was "TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world" until September 2012. After that, it got its current name: "The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries."
Important Founding Scientists
Many brilliant scientists helped start TWAS in 1983. They came from various countries around the world. Some of these founding members include:
- Hua Luogeng (China)
- Nil Ratan Dhar (India)
- Luis F. Leloir (Argentina)
- Benjamin Peary Pal (India)
- Ignacio Bernal (Mexico)
- Gerardo Reichel-Dolmatoff (Colombia)
- Emilio Rosenblueth (Mexico)
- Salimuzzaman Siddiqui (Pakistan)
- Abdus Salam (Pakistan)
- Carlos Chagas Filho (Brazil)
- Johanna Döbereiner (Brazil)
- Gopalasamudram Narayana Ramachandran (India)
- Thomas Risley Odhiambo (Kenya)
- Marcel Roche (Venezuela)
- Sivaramakrishna Chandrasekhar (India)
- Thomas Adeoye Lambo (Nigeria)
- Autar Singh Paintal (India)
- Hélio Gelli Pereira (Brazil, United Kingdom)
- Khem Singh Gill (India)
- Ricardo Bressani Castignoli (Guatemala)
- Daniel Adzei Bekoe (Ghana)
- Albert Rakoto Ratsimamanga (Madagascar)
- Félix Malu wa Kalenga (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (India, USA)
- C.R. Rao (India, USA)
- Shiing-Shen Chern (China, USA)
- C.N.R. Rao (India)
- Sir Michael Atiyah (United Kingdom, Lebanon)
- Baruj Benacerraf (Venezuela, USA)
- Humberto Fernández-Morán (Venezuela, Sweden)
- Ali Javan (Iran, USA)
- Har Gobind Khorana (India, USA)
- M. G. K. Menon (India)
- Ricardo Miledi (Mexico)
- César Milstein (Argentina, United Kingdom)
- M.S. Swaminathan (India)
- Yang Chen-Ning (China, USA)
- Crodowaldo Pavan (Brazil)
- Tsung-Dao Lee (China, USA)
- Devendra Lal (India, USA)
- Muhammad Akhtar (Pakistan, United Kingdom)
- Samuel C.C. Ting (China, USA)
- Héctor Croxatto (Chile)
The TWAS Prize
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The TWAS Prize is an award given out every year since 1985. TWAS created it to celebrate excellent scientific research in developing countries. When it first started, it was called the TWAS Awards in Basic Sciences. It was given for work in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.
In 2003, this award joined with another prize to become the TWAS Prize we know today. Now, it is given in nine different areas. These include Agricultural Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Mathematics, Medical Sciences, Physics, and Social Sciences. Winners receive a special plaque and a cash prize of $15,000. Scientists who live and work in a developing country can win this award.
See also
In Spanish: TWAS para niños
- Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World
