Capacity Building in Science encompasses the continuous efforts that
are required to establish and maintain a critical mass of qualified scientists
with the supporting infrastructure, including facilities and working conditions,
that enable them to conduct research, education, training and advisory
work. Capacity building is a challenge in all countries, although there
are particular issues in many developing countries, where limited financial
resources and an absence of universal education systems, amplify the problems.
ICSU, and its members, are variously active in all areas of capacity
building. The ICSU grants programme and ICSU/TWAS/UNESCO Visiting
Scientist programme provide specific support for international scientific
exchange. The ICSU Committee on Capacity Building in Science (CCBS) had,
until recently, a particular focus on primary school science education.
ICSU, together with the Inter-Academy Panel on International Affairs (IAP),
has developed a ‘teaching science’
web-portal that provides extensive information on science education and
training programmes from across the world. This includes regularly up-dated
information from national science academies and international unions.
As part of its overall strategy development, ICSU conducted a Priority
Area Assessment (PAA) to help define the
Council’s particular role(s) in capacity building in the future.
Establishing ICSU Regional Offices is
a very important function in this regard.
Science Education and Capacity Building for Sustainable Development
(ICSU report, 2002)
Review of the Committee on S&T in Developing Countries (April,
2002)
