Developing countries face a two-fold energy challenge, say Dilip Ahuja and Marika Tatsutani. They must expand access to the billions of people who lack basic services and, at the same time, make the move to clean and renewable energy.

A group of scientific academies in Africa encourages the G8+5 countries to help Africa stem the scientific brain drain.

TWAS, the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, has announced the winners of the TWAS Prizes for 2008. Each winner will receive a US$15,000 cheque and be asked to lecture about his or her research at TWAS's 20th General Meeting to take place in South Africa in October 2009.

TWAS awarded its first-ever Regional Prizes for Public Understanding of Science. The awards ceremony took place at the TWAS 18th General Meeting in Trieste, Italy. The prize, which is given by each of the Academies regional offices, carries a US$3,000 cash award. It is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to improving public understanding and appreciation of science.

TWAS has awarded its first Regional Prizes for Development of Educational Material and School Science Curricula. The awards ceremony took place at the TWAS 19th General Meeting and 25th Anniversary Celebration in Mexico City, Mexico.

TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world, has elected 41 new members. The election took place during the opening day of the Academy's 25th anniversary meeting in Mexico City.

Trieste, Italy, 29 September 2008. Beatriz Barbuy, an eminent Brazilian astrophysicist who has made a major contribution to the study of the evolution of the chemical composition of stars, and Roddam Narasimha, an internationally renowned Indian engineer and physicist whose work in fluid dynamics has increased our understanding of turbulence, have been awarded the 2008 Trieste Science Prize.