Richard Melson

SCIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT NETWORK:

News, Views and Information about

Science, Technology and the Developing World.

OVER THE PAST WEEK.

========================================
NEWS
========================================

Treat HIV by making cells self-destruct, says study:

instead of targeting the virus itself could

overcome the problem of drug resistant viruses.

Human enzyme helps Ebola virus invade cells:

News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2049&language=1
Research showing that a human enzyme helps Ebola virus

infect people could lead to drugs against the virus

and the related Marburg virus.

Dams disrupt half of world's major rivers, says study:

News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2048&language=1
Detailed global studies have revealed that human activities

are having a significant impact on the world's rivers.

Bird flu: 'culling birds will not work':

will not control the disease, and havecalled for funds

to help Asia with vaccination programmes.

(Source:Nature)

China to assess claim illegal GM rice entered food chain:

Greenpeace China that genetically modified rice

has illegally entered the food chain.

China's premier wants stronger science links with India:

News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2045&language=1
Plans to boost scientific collaboration between China and India

were bolstered this week when the Chinese premier

visited Indian research institutions.

HIV/AIDS drug for newborns declared safe:

News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2044&language=1
An independent report has confirmed the findings of a

controversial study showing that the drug nevirapine

can prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Argentina brings vaccine research home:

its own vaccines thanks to a US$3 million investment by the

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

Big development role for tiny technology, says study:

News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2042&language=1
Nanotechnology has a big role to play in meeting the Millennium Development
Goals, say researchers, who propose a global initiative to boost this role.

Survey reveals South African biotechnology blind spot:

News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2041&language=1
The first detailed survey of public perceptions of biotechnology

in South Africa reveals that most people know

little or nothing about the field.

========================================
FEATURES
========================================

Good news, bad news from parched Amazon:

Features/index.cfm?fuseaction=readFeatures&itemid=392&language=1
Erik Stokstad reports on an unprecedented experiment that is depriving a patch
of the Amazon forest of rainfall to study the effects of extended drought.
(Source: Science)

Wearing down resistance to GM crops in Egypt:

As Egypt prepares to launch its first genetically modified crops,

Joseph Krauss investigates how the country plans

to make the industry a commercial success.

(Source: Truth About Trade & Technology)

Making 'health for all' a reality:

on its goal of making cheap andeffective drugs

for neglected disease — starting with leishmaniasis.

(Source:The Economist)

The dustiest place on the planet:

the dustiest place on Earth, could helpresearchers

predict whether hurricanes will strike in the western Atlantic,

reports Jim Giles.

(Source:Nature)

========================================
OPINIONS
========================================

'Innovation systems': old wine in a new bottle?:

Opinions/index.cfm?fuseaction=readOpinions&itemid=378&language=1
Dana G. Dalrymple argues that the 'innovation system' approach

can underestimate the importance of scientific research, as well as

the role of the products of such research as 'public goods'.

Generic drugs 'should prove their worth':

dossiers/index.cfm?fuseaction=policybrief&dossier=13&policy=61
Kevin Robert Frost says it is time that generic HIV/AIDS drugs are better
regulated so that people living with AIDS in developing countries can access the
most effective and economical therapies. (Source:The Lancet)

========================================
POLICY BRIEFS
========================================

The 'system of innovation' approach,

and its relevance to developing countries:

editorletters/index.cfm?fuseaction=readeditorletter&itemid=51&language=1
How the 'innovation system' approach is changing the way we view and process
knowledge for development.

========================================
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
========================================

Limits to Growth 'valuable not apocalyptic':

editorletters/index.cfm?fuseaction=readeditorletter&itemid=50&language=1
Jon Kohl comments on a recent editorial, underlining the value of the book
Limits to Growth.

Northern emissions dwarf those from Southern fires:

the contribution of wood-burning stoves to climate change,

the focus should not be taken off emissions in the North.

========================================
BOOK REVIEWS
========================================
Maize and Grace:

Africa's Encounter with a New World Crop 1500–2000:

crop contributed to the emergence of modern-day Africa.

(Source:Nature)

========================================
EVENTS
========================================

Rwanda National Conference on Research, Science and Technology:

events/index.cfm?fuseaction=readevents&itemid=622&language=1
Location: Butare, Rwanda
Date: 5 May 2005

E-mail conference - Biotechnology

and characterisation/conservation of genetic resources:

events/index.cfm?fuseaction=readevents&itemid=621&language=1
Location: Online conference
Date: 30 May - 26 June 2005

Ethical challenges in health care: global context, Indian reality:

jobs/index.cfm?fuseaction=readjob&itemid=429&language=1
Location: Mumbai, India
Date: 25 - 27 November 2005

========================================
JOBS
========================================

Research Analyst, Corporate Climate Change Strategies:

grants/index.cfm?fuseaction=readgrants&itemid=223&language=1
Organisation: World Resources Institute
Location: Washington DC

========================================
GRANTS
========================================

TWAS International Programme for Higher Education and Research

(IPHER):

announcements/index.cfm?fuseaction=readannouncement&itemid=201&language=1
Organisation: The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS)

========================================
ANNOUNCEMENTS
========================================

BioThailand 2005: Biotechnology:

Challenges in the 21st Century, Bangkok,Thailand:

National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

Closing date: 2 November 2005:

International Dialogue on Science and Practice

in Sustainable Development:

announcements/index.cfm?fuseaction=readannouncement&itemid=261&language=1
Organisation: The International Dialogue Secretariat

UNEP short video on Kyoto Protocol and CDM:

announcements/index.cfm?fuseaction=readannouncement&itemid=260&language=1
Organisation: UNEP

Characterisation/conservation of genetic resources -

Workshop proceedings:

announcements/index.cfm?fuseaction=readannouncement&itemid=259&language=1
Organisation: Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture (FAO)

FAO biotechnology database expanded to include forestry sector:

announcements/index.cfm?fuseaction=readannouncement&itemid=259&language=1
Organisation: Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture (FAO)

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Monday, April 18, 2005