Kenya National Academy of Sciences

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

The National Academy continues to maintain close contact with the International Scientific circles for the purpose of starting and contributing to the international scientific activities and related issues. KNAS continues to subscribe to the International bodies to which it has gained membership.

It is the aim of the Academy to subscribe on behalf of the Kenya Scientists to several other International Organizations. Such subscriptions bring many fold benefits to Kenyans. For example, it allows Kenyan Scientists participation in International Conferences and bring very well deserved and needed research funds.

These Organizations include the following:

• Inter Academy Panel (IAP)
• Inter Academy Council (IAC)
• International Council for Science (ICSU)
• International Foundation for Science (IFS)
• The Academy of Science for the Developing World (TWAS)
• The Third World Network for Scientific Organization (TWNSO)
• The Inter-Academy Panel for Population and Development Advisory Committee on Genetics and Biotechnology (ACOGEB)

Costs associated with these memberships are about US $4000 annually. Kenyan Scientists benefit from, for example, research grants to Kenyan Scientists through IFS, travel grants from TWAS, participation in ICSU activities and research participation by Kenyan Scientists in the IGBP. Our subscription to IFS, for example, has benefited fifty (50) Kenyans who have been awarded research grants worth over US $2 million between 1974 and 1998.

The National Academy participates actively in regional scientific activities. Presently Kenya chairs the SAFCOM and hosts the Pan African START Secretariat in collaboration with the University of Nairobi.

The Academy is one of the founder members of the network of African Scientific Academies (NASAC). Through NASAC the Academy will be undertaking research on the following projects;

• Genetically modified crops in Africa in connection with the alleviation of hunger in African.
• HIV/AIDS and political stability in Africa.

LOCAL COOPERATION

The KNAS once again take this opportunity to express its gratitude to the various donors and well-wishers who have supported it in the past and continue to support it.

The following have continued to support KNAS:

The Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Education Science and Technology, which has been seconding officers to the National Academy and granting varying amounts of money in support of its activities.

The International Development Research Centre for a grant in support of the second phase of the KNAS Public lecture series.