BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER
14
SEPTEMBER
2014
African Countries Form
Partnership for STEM
Less than 25 percent of students attending univer-
sity in Africa are enrolled in science, engineering,
and technology programs, an issue that several Af-
rican governments are coming together to address,
in hopes of boosting economic development on
the continent. In June, representatives from twelve
African countries participated in a forum call-
ing for greater government investment in applied
sciences, engineering, and technology. Representa-
tives from Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote
d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethio-
pia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania,
and Zambia attended the forum, which also in-
cluded representatives from institutions in Brazil,
China, and Korea, nations whose economies have
been improved in recent years due to an increased
investment in science and math education.
The forum was part of a new World Bank-sup-
ported partnership called the Partnership for Skills
in the Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Tech-
nology (PASET). PASET will help to establish
postgraduate scholarship programs and to support
the creation of regional technical and vocational
education centers, in hopes of creating a more
competitive workforce. The hope is that PASET
will also enable systematic knowledge sharing
amongst the involved nations, in order to assess
and further develop the program.
International Affairs
Grants and Opportunities
2015 Vannevar Bush Award
Objective:
To honor truly exceptional life-
long leaders in science and technology who
have made substantial contributions to the
welfare of the Nation through public service
activities in science, technology, and public
policy.
Nomination Deadline:
October 1, 2014
Website:
/
bush.jsp
Collaborative Research in Computation-
al Neuroscience (CRCNS)
Objective:
To support collaborative activities
that will advance the understanding of ner-
vous system structure and function, mecha-
nisms underlying nervous system disorders,
and computational strategies used by the
nervous system.
Who Can Apply:
Scientists, engineers, or
educators in the United States and United
States citizens, universities, colleges, non-
profits, for-profits, and state and local govern-
ments in the United States.
Deadline:
October 28, 2014
Website:
/
nsf14504/nsf14504.htm
Submit Your Networking Event Proposal
Do you have an idea for a networking event and want to host one in your area? BPS will be ac-
cepting 2015 networking event proposals until October 30. If selected, you can receive up to $500
through the Membership Committee’s mini-grant program to host your event. For more informa-
tion about networking events and proposal requirements, visit the Meetings section of the Society
website at
.
