Excellence in Science

"Excellence in Science: Profiles of Research Institutions in Developing Countries", is a series of books published by TWAS that explore the achievements of some of the South's most successful science centres. Each profile details how the research center was founded, the challenges it has overcome and its role in a nation's sustainable economic development. TWAS's publication partners have included the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) and the Science Initiative Group.

2016 - International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is an intergovernmental science centre involving eight nations in the Hindu Kush Himalayas – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. It has built extensive knowledge of the Himalayas, and its work has an impact that extends thousands of miles into China, Vietnam and Myanmar.
– Published in collaboration with the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS). 2016.

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2013 - Centro Internacional de Física, Colombia

The work of the Centro Internacional de Física (CIF) – in English, the International Centre of Physics – ranges from astrophysics and optics to biotechnology and materials science. Founded in 1985, the centre has advanced scientific understanding, but also has produced important applications to support industry and improve the lives of the people.

– Published in collaboration with the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS). 2013.

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2011 - National Agricultural Research Laboratories, Uganda

In Uganda, new farming techniques tailored to local conditions and challenges are being developed. Biotechnology is being harnessed to produce crop varieties resistant to pests. At the centre of this development are the National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL), a key centre of Uganda’s vibrant agricultural research landscape. NARL is helping to build a healthier and more prosperous future for all Ugandans.

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2011 - Okavango Research Institute, Botswana

The Okavango Research Institute, on the edge of the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa, is a unit of the University of Botswana. It is dedicated to the study and conservation of one of the world’s largest and most intact inland wetland ecosystems: the Okavango Delta. In recent years, the institute's mission has been expanded to include the cultural, social and economic problems of the region.

– Published in collaboration with the Science Initiative Group.

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2011 - Institute of Marine Sciences, Zanzibar, Tanzania

The Institute of Marine Sciences on Zanzibar has followed an arduous path, beginning in the 1950s as part of a multi-country East African Marine Fisheries Research Organization. Today, the Institute is emerging as one of the leading marine research institutes in sub-Saharan Africa, thanks to strong collaborative ties with international organizations.

–Published in collaboration with the Science Initiative Group.

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