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Notes and Report of some events (Part 2)- Morning Session.

From: Eng-leong Foo (Stockholm)

The 3rd lecture on "Biotechnology - A Tool for Development"
was given by Prof. Irwin.C. Gunsalus who is director of the
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology and stationed in Trieste, Italy. His Bitnet
address is GUNSALUS@UIUCSCS. He is Professor Emeritus from
the University of Illinois and has served in several panels
and committees. He has been the President of the American
Society of Biochemistry.
        Prof. Gunsalus gave a general outline of what has
been done in biotechnology and what could be done in the
future with genetic engineering as the "equalizer". He also
stressed the problems of equipment and access to
information and journals faced by scientists in developing
countries.

        A panel discussion on "Networking in the context of
non-governmental and governmental operations" followed
after the morning session lectures. The panelists were -
Dr. Mark C Chona (Chairman of Sumika Investments Ltd and
former special assistant to President Kenneth Kaunda of
Zambia), Prof. Geoffrey Hamer (Secretary of the UNEP/UNESCO
/ICRO Panel on Microbiology and Biotechnology), Dr Bo
Bengtsson, Director of SAREC (Swedish Agency for Research
and Cooperation). Each member had 5 minutes to talk about
the organizations they represent in the context of the
panel discussion. The main items raised were - the need for
cooperation ( & networking) between NGOs and the GO(s); the
promotion of social & technological development in LDC and
the need to provide means on how to coordinate existing &
new initiatives. Weaknesses were also identified, e.g. many
NGOs are weak in scientific spheres; that the direction of
need specifications should be from end-users to scientists
and NGOs/GOs; granting agencies should consider funding
long term projects (10 years).

(more on Afternoon Session follows)