Sida’s global research programmes

Annual Reporting

INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE PROGRAMME (ISP)

ANNUAL REPORT 2012

CONTENTS

Section 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Section 2: ORGANISATION

Section 3: OBJECTIVES AND RELEVANCE

Section 4: STRUCTURE AND OPERATION

Section 5: PROGRAM-WIDE RESULTS

Section 6: EXAMPLES AND APPLICATIONS

Section 7: ABREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

1

Section 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

International Science ProgrammeAnnual Report2012

The Annual Report since 2010 essentially follows “Sida’s Global Research Programmes Annual Reporting: Guiding Principles and Reporting Format”, provided in June 2010.

Objective, Relevance, and Organization (Sections 2 – 4)

The purpose of the International Science Programme (ISP), Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden, is to contribute to the development of active and sustainableenvironments for higher education and scientific researchin developing countries, within thebasic sciences chemistry, mathematics, and physics, with the objective to increase the production and use of results relevant for the fight against poverty by researchers in the basic sciences in developing countries.

ISPwas initiated in 1961 and now consists of three subprograms: the International Programme in the Physical Sciences (IPPS, since 1961); the International Programme in the Chemical Sciences (IPICS, since 1970); and the International Programme in the Mathematical Sciences (IPMS, since 2002).

ISP provides long-term support to Research Groups and ScientificNetworks. The work is carried out in close cooperation with research groups at more advanced host institutions. Although Uppsala University is the base of the operation, ISP functions as an international program and host laboratories may be at other Swedish universities, in other Nordic and European countries, and in the regions. This is to meet the requests from developing countries on their own terms. ISP also handles other research programs, organised by Sida.

ISP operation is well aligned with the overarching goals and strategies of Uppsala University, and with its program for internationalization.

In the Swedish Policy for Global Development, established in 2003, the need for scientific research and technology is stressed. The New Development Policy, announced in 2007, has guided ISP in directing most of the support to research groups in the indicated focus countries. The New Swedish Africa Strategy 2007stresses that basic research capacity is a precondition for poverty reduction and social development. ISP has recent years clarified and expanded its objectives guided by the Strategy for Sida’s support for development research cooperation 2010–2014, which was adopted by the Swedish government in October 2009

Activities and Results (Sections 5 – 6)

Support to scientific Research Groups and Networks

In 2012, totally 28 research groups were supported using Sida funding, twelve in chemistry, two in mathematics, and fourteen in physics. Ineight of the twelwe Swedish focus countriestotally24 research groups were supported, while four research groups were still supported in two non-focus countries. In addition, 16 scientific networks were supported, one of which (NADMICA) is not accounted for in the results section of this report.

Sida assignments

The Sida coordination assignment of ISP in the bilateral support program with School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia was concluded in 2012, while the assignments in the programs with universities in Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda continued. In 2012 ISP entered into a new agreement with Sida to pay subsistence allowances to sandwich students in the bilateral programs with Bolivia, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, while in Sweden.

Other activities

The agreement with Al Baha University, Saudi Arabia, was renewed for three years, 2012-2014, and preparatory activities continued. The collaboration with Stockholm University, Sweden, mainly regarded support to research groups in Laos, and continued development of the Pan African Centre of Mathematics. Together with partners at Linköping University and the National University of Rwanda, a successful letter of intent was submitted in response to a Sida call, and a full proposal was submitted in October 2012. Expanded collaboration was discussed with visitors from the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), Abuja, Nigeria. An NMC staff member continued PhD-training at Luleå University of Technology.IPICS was invited to anOrganisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) workshop. A reference group member, and members of IPICS-supported activitieswere among participants. Discussions continued with Thailand Research Fund, in 2012 including Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency, regarding collaboration in that region.

ISP staff members attended24 meetings and conferences and gave 10 oral presentations.

A “Minor Field Studies” stipend program was launched, and in 2012 five Swedish students were supported to carry out work at institutions in eligible countries, four of which with currently or formerly ISP-supported research groups.

ISP received or participated in the reception of 15 external guests and delegations.

Achieved Outcomes and Outputs

In 2012, ISP supported 28 research groups and 15 scientific networks (besides NADMICA), spending in total 19,731 kSEK (Table 4). The research groups and networks graduated 133 Master’s students and 25 PhDs, disseminated 444 scientific contributions as publications or at conferences, and arranged 45 meetings. The supported activities in Africa accounted for 81% of the expenditures, the ones in Asia for 17%, and the one in Latin America for about 2%. Most of the financial resources were spent on development (41%), followed by regional activities (25%), longer-term training (25%), and scientific exchange (9%).

Research groups accounted for 55% of the total expenditures, and scientific networks for 45%. About 87% of the expenditures by the research groups were in Swedish focus countries, and 13% in non-focus countries. IPICS supported ten scientific networks, which used 33% of the total network expenditures, while the two networks supported by IPMS spent 49% and the three networks(excluding NADMICA) supported by IPPS spent 19%.

In 2012, totally 199 PhD students (25% of which are female) were active in research groups and scientific networks, of which 27% on a “sandwich” basis. During the year 25 PhD students graduated. Five of these were on sandwich programs (1 of them female), and 20 were on local programs (6 of them female). In total, 28% of the graduated PhD students were female.

The number of students on Master’s level was 345 (25% of which are female), and in all only 2% on a “sandwich” basis. During the year 133 Master’s students graduated, of which 29 (22%) were female.

In 2012, 48% of the 192 publications in scientific journals were in journals listed with Thomson Reuter Impact Factors. Besides publications, 224 contributions were made to scientific conferences, 30% at the international, 35% at the regional, and 35% at the national level. In addition, 45 scientific events were arranged.

Outcomes and Outputs that were not achieved

In January 2012, Sida invited ISP to apply for continued support 2012-2016. The application was submitted 30 March, but could however not be assessed during the year. Instead, the agreement with ISP was extended twice. The step-wise extension caused some difficulties in the operation of the program. The delays, however, were beyond the control of Sida’s Unit for Research Cooperation. ISP’s position as a unit at Uppsala University greatly facilitated the continued uninterrupted operation of the program.

A fatal road accident in Tanzania in November 2011 caused the death of six mathematics students and injured four. In 2012, ISP devoted considerable efforts to secure insurance payments and voluntary contributions to those concerned. ISP considers providing guidelines to supported groups and networks, pointing out which safety measurements should be taken to reduce the risk of travel accidents.

The participation of female students in the program remained low, in particular with regard to mathematics and physics. The research groups and networksin the physical sciences proposed measures to improve gender balance. The measures will be reviewed and considered in further developing the ISP strategy to achieve gender balance in the program.

The shipping of several pieces of equipment to Kenyan research group was severely delayed by difficulties to clear the goods at entry. This was found to be due to several factors. The matter will be followed up closely, and what support is needed will be provided to the concerned universities in Kenya to try to facilitate a faster clearance

Examples of research findings and applications

Examples of research findings are given in the fields of:Air quality, Conducting polymers, Electrochemical sensors, Food and environmental safety, Pesticides, Pharmaceutical chemistry, and Soil fertility.

Opportunities for policy influence or changed practices were recognized in the fields of: Air quality, Applications of clay minerals, Chemicals safety, Energy, Environment/Environmental Safety, Food security, Medicine, Nuclear safety, Seismology and infrastructure.

More than 50 awards, promotions and honors were reported for members of ISP-supported research groups and networks. The mathematics program reported close to 20 post doc and research visits during 2012.

Besides presentations at various scientific meetings, more than 30 other instances of communication of research results were reported, ranging from interactions with stakeholders to media coverage.

In the field of medical physics use and strategies for use of results are exemplified. Other interesting results were reported in:Development in education and chemistry, Instrument maintenance, ISO audit training, and Solar energy.

Section 2: ORGANISATION

International Science Programme

Uppsala University

P. O. Box 549

SE-751 21 UPPSALA

SWEDEN

Visiting address: Ångström Laboratory, Lägerhyddsvägen 1 (Polacksbacken), Uppsala

Phone: +46 18 471 3575 | Fax: +46 18 471 3495

Email:

Internet:

Sida Agreement: 75000514 / 2008-001272

Section 3: OBJECTIVES AND RELEVANCE

3.1Objective

To contribute to the development of active and sustainableenvironmentsfor higher education and scientific research in developing countries, within chemistry, mathematics, and physics,to increase the production and use of results relevant for the fight against poverty by researchers in the basic sciences in developing countries.

3.2Relevance for development cooperation

An increased domestic capacity for research and higher education in basic sciences has a long-term impact on economic growth and poverty alleviation, driven by an increasingly knowledge-based society. A country’s domestic competence in basic sciences is crucial for:

  • an increased quality of education, at all levels,
  • the development of scientific, critical thinking based on reproducible evidence
  • the development of applied sciences to meet local needs,
  • the development of technology, innovation, and engineering on a local ownership basis
  • the adoption of a sustainable use of natural resources, and
  • the engagement in business and global trade at a level of knowledge which matches global partners, industry and investors
  • the development of scientific excellence on own terms.

3.3Alignment with Swedish policies and strategies

3.3.1Alignment with the goals and strategies of Uppsala University

ISP operation is aligned with the overarching goals and strategies of Uppsala University, stating that the university shall:

  • Pursue research and education of the highest quality;
  • Play an active role in global society, promoting development and innovation;
  • Be far-sighted and open to change in all facets of its work; and
  • Contribute to making our world a better place.

Furthermore, ISP activities are well in line also with the Uppsala University program for internationalization,[1]where objectives and strategies are in three areas, all having strong relevance for ISP:

  • Internationalization for eminent research;
  • Internationalization for first class education; and
  • Internationalization for a developed university environment.

3.3.2Alignment with the Swedish government’s strategy

The Policy for Global Development 2003

The Swedish development support policy is based on the Policy for Global Development, established be the Swedish Parliament in 2003.[2] The need for scientific research and technology is stressed as important prerequisites in addressing six challenges listed in the document.

The New Development Policy 2007

The policy[3]states that long-term development cooperation should be confined to twelve countries, in Africa Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, in Asia Bangladesh and Cambodia, and in Latin America Bolivia. Both Sida bilateral support to research development and Sida-financed ISP direct support to research groups were expected to adhere to this policy and to be limited to these twelve countries. ISP has since then redirected most of its support to research groups to these focus countries.

The New Africa Strategy 2007

In the New Swedish Africa Strategy[4]it is stressed that basic research capacity is a precondition for poverty reduction and social development.

Strategy for Sida’s support for development research cooperation 2009

A Strategy for Sida’s support for development research cooperation 2010–2014 was adopted by the Swedish government in October 2009.[5]The overall objective is to strengthen and develop research of relevance to the fight against poverty in developing countries. To achieve the overall objective, Sida is to focus on three specific areas:

1)Research capacity building in developing countries and regions

2)Research of relevance to developing countries

3)Swedish research of relevance to developing countries

The activity of ISP falls mainly within the first two of the specific areas, the respective objectives of which are:

  • Partner countries and regional research actors are better able to plan, produce and use research in the fight against poverty; and
  • Increased production of research relevant to the fight against poverty in developing countries.

In 2011, the ISP overall objective was expanded to “to increase the production and use of results relevant for the fight against poverty by researchers in the basic sciences in developing countries.”The specific objectives are:

  • To increase the capacity to plan and carry out research in the field of basic sciences in developing countries and regions.
  • To increase the production of high quality research results in basic sciences in developing countries.
  • To increase the application of research results in basic sciences useful for the fight against poverty in developing countries.

Higher education in development cooperation 2011

In a communication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2011, Higher Education in the Development Cooperation (available only in Swedish),[6] an analysis of higher education within the frame of Swedish development cooperation and the Policy for Global Development is made. It is established that a beneficial development of society to an increasing degree is knowledge based, and that there is a positive link with increasing resources to higher education.It is recommended that Swedish institutions of higher education in their development of internationalization strategies give more room to cooperation with low-income countries.

Dialouge meeting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2012

In May 2012, a dialogue meeting initiated by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs was held about a development support platform intended to focus the Swedish policies. In a following email consultation, ISP gave the following input to the questions asked by the Ministry, emphasizing the importance of basic sciences and knowledge development.

Which problems is Swedish development support supposed to solve?

- Insufficient ability in recipient countries to improve the local situation, because of shortage of knowledge in the domestic population.

How can it be further defined what the Swedish contribution is and can be in the lives of poor people?

- Fulfillment of the ambition to help creating conditions that will enable poor people to improve their lives requires access to a domestic population of skilled people, educated to the level of the contemporary research position in the basic sciences biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics. Solving the challenge of poverty in a sustainable way requires e.g. intimate knowledge of modern agricultural practices (including understanding environmental effects of pesticide use, molecular biology, etc.), knowledge of hydrological and meteorological modeling, knowledge about energy materials and energy transfer, knowledge of antibiotics resistance and diagnostics using computer based expert systems, computer networks, and data banks. All this requires profound knowledge in the basic sciences, which, having the technological development of applications in mind, necessarily means that a domestic stock of people educated to the level of scientific research, are available and active in low income countries.

How can the poverty reduction goal be interpreted?

- Creating conditions for poor people to improve their living conditions is a central prerequisite. ISP’s interpretation of this leads to the conclusions that the following actions are crucial to reach the goal.

1)To increase the ability on the regional, national and individual levels to utilize the available knowledge that is necessary for survival and for satisfying basic needs with regard to food, water, health and energy supply, and education.

2)To increase the ability on the regional, national and individual levels to produce new knowledge leading to technical solutions and innovations that increase the possibilities for survival, and the satisfaction of basic needs with regard to food, water, health and energy supply, and education, as well as necessary adaptation to a changing climate and environment, including urbanization.

3)To increase the ability and capacity on the regional and national levels to utilize the domestic intellectual potential, which – should sufficient opportunity for education be at hand – would significantly contribute to poverty reduction in line with above items 1) and 2).

Section 4: STRUCTURE AND OPERATION

4.1Structure

The International Science Program (ISP) is at the Faculty of Science and Technology at Uppsala University. It was initiated in 1961 and now consists of three subprograms:

  • International Programme in the Physical Sciences (IPPS, since 1961)
  • International Programme in the Chemical Sciences (IPICS, since 1970)
  • International Programme in the Mathematical Sciences (IPMS, since 2002)

4.1.1The ISP Board

In 2012, the ISP Board met once, Monday 26March. In addition, per capsulam decisions were taken in August in approval of the Annual Report 2011 and a new Sida “Allowance payment assignment”. The Board had the following composition:

  • Professor Ulf Danielsson, Vice-Rector, Uppsala University, Chairman
  • Professor Bengt Gustafsson, Dept. Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala Univ., Vice Chairman
  • Professor Claes-Göran Granqvist, Dept.Engineering Sciences, Uppsala University.
  • Professor Kersti Hermansson, Dept. Materials Chemistry, Uppsala University.
  • Dr Irene Kolare, Office for Science and Technology, Uppsala University.
  • H.E. Professor Jean-Pierre Ezin, Commissioner of Human Resources, Science and Technology, African Union Commission
  • Professor Mohamed H.A. Hassan, former Executive Director of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS)
  • Professor Elzbieta Glaser, Dept. Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University.
  • Professor Anders Karlhede, Department of Physics, Stockholm University.
  • Professor Sune Svanberg, Atomic Physics, Lund University.
  • Ms Marta Kiesel, representative of the student organisations, Uppsala University.
  • Dr Linnea Sjöblom, representative of the personnel unions, Uppsala University.

Deputy Board members, Uppsala University: