N A T O S C I E N C E A N D S O C I E T Y<br /> N E W S L E T T E R<br /><br />Issue No. 59 - June 2002<br />*********************************************************************<br /> CONTENTS<br /> ******************<br /><br />* Moscow, Rome . . .<br /> Foreword by Mr. Jean Fournet<br /><br />* NATO-Russia<br /> Background to Long-Standing Collaboration<br /> Cooperation Today<br /> New Initiatives<br /> Reflections on the Way Ahead<br /> Russian participation in Science for Peace<br /> Science for Peace Site Visits in Moscow<br /> Russian involvement in CCMS activities<br /> Bringing scientists together for progress and peace<br /><br />* Contributing to Stability in the Caspian Region<br /><br />* President of Azerbaijan receives Assistant Secretary General<br /><br />* President Shevardnadze visits NATO Science for Peace project<br /><br />* CCMS Activities<br /><br />* Annual Meeting of CCMS in EAPC Format<br /><br />* Meeting of NATO-Ukraine Joint Working Group<br /><br />* A Transatlantic Alliance<br /><br />* NATO Panels meet in Mediterranean Dialogue countries<br /> Morocco<br /> Tunisia<br /><br />* New Science Committee member for the Netherlands<br /><br />* Government appointment for Hungarian Science Committee member<br /><br />* Upcoming Events<br /><br />* Some recent additions to the Science and CCMS web sites<br /><br />* Defining NATO Science and Society<br /> The Science Committee and the Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society<br /><br />***********************<br /><br />Moscow, Rome . . .<br />=====================<br />"Today, we have launched a new era in NATO-Russia cooperation"<br /><br />So begins the Statement by the NATO-Russia Council following signature of the Rome Declaration of 28 May 2002, which heralded the creation of the new Council, to meet at twenty. This new Council will become "an effective forum for consensus-building, consultations, joint decisions and joint actions". The subjects to be debated will be selected by consensus between Russia and the nations of the Alliance, and the discussions will be conducted at twenty, under the chairmanship of the NATO Secretary General.<br /><br />The idea has been in the air for some time and, like pollen in a spring breeze, it holds the promise of fruit to come.<br /><br />Progressive by nature, the Science Committee, as well as the Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society, welcome with great interest these new directions. The programmes related to "Science and Society" cover many areas where cooperation at twenty is not only possible but desirable. One may cite as examples - non-classified scientific research on reducing the impact of terrorist action, training of specialists in research management techniques, protection of the environment during military activities, clean technologies, etc.<br /><br />The field is vast, and that is why this issue of the Newsletter is largely devoted to our past, present and future relations with Russia, as well as the deepening of our environmental activities.<br /><br />The next issue will disclose more on our relations with the countries of Central Asia, and offer our readers a report on Tashkent, where the next meeting of the Science Committee will be held later this month.<br /><br />Good luck with your work, and . . . best wishes to all for an enjoyable vacation.<br /><br />Jean Fournet<br />***********************<br /><br />NATO-Russia<br />Background to Long-Standing Collaboration<br />======================================<br />As a Republic within the Soviet Union, Russia had a quite exceptionally large number of scientists working in both the civilian and military sectors. In considering only the civil sector, it is remarkable that many institutes of the Academy of Sciences comprised several thousand scientists and technicians in all disciplines, and these individuals enjoyed substantial benefits compared to other groups in Soviet society. Even now, after the conspicuous emigration of researchers and engineers in the nineties to prestigious foreign institutions, which readily recognised their high level of knowledge and experience, the Russian scientific community still represents the largest group among Partner countries, with incredible potential for productive cooperation. But today the status of the scientists working in the institutes of the Academy has changed.<br /><br />The association of Russian experts with the NATO Science Programme is long-standing, as it started, though in very small numbers, during the Cold War when scientists from the Soviet Union lectured at NATO Advanced Study Institutes and participated in expert discussions at NATO Advanced Research Workshops, thus demonstrating the international nature of science and the necessity for exchanging ideas. When, in 1992 therefore, the Science Committee launched its outreach activities to include participation of the countries of the former Warsaw Pact in the Science Programme, Russian scientists took immediate advantage of the opportunities offered for cooperation, and this attitude has remained constant until now, and continued even during the Kosovo crisis when other forms of cooperation were suspended.<br /><br />The first official contacts between NATO staff and Russian officials began in 1993, and following are some highlights: Prof. V. Koptyug, President of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, participated as invited speaker in a NATO Science Committee session in September 1993; Mr<br />B. Saltykov, Minister of Science and Technology, participated in the first Science Committee meeting in the format "16+1" (the then sixteen NATO member countries plus Russia) in March 1996, and met with the NATO Deputy Secretary General.<br /><br />At the same time, NATO Advanced Research Workshops were co-directed by Russian scientists mainly in physical sciences, but also in the area of Science and Technology Policy. The Science for Peace sub-programme rapidly became a popular vehicle for support of Russian researchers looking for possible markets for their technologies. The then priority area of Disarmament Technologies managed to sponsor cooperative activities in the previously-closed sector of the military establishment. Computer Networking activities were also certainly appreciated in such a large country in need of interconnection.<br /><br />After the signing of the NATO-Russia Founding Act in Paris on 27 May, 1997, a Memorandum of Understanding between NATO and the Russian Ministry of Science and Technology (today the Ministry of Industry, Science and Technology) was concluded in Luxembourg on 28 May, 1998, thus establishing the Joint Scientific and Technological Cooperation Committee (JSTC). This "bilateral" cooperation concerns, at the moment, three areas: Plasma Physics, Plant Biotechnology, and the Forecast and Prevention of Catastrophes. A Joint Advisory Panel provides scientific advice, and makes qualitative recommendations to the JSTC Committee.<br />***********************<br /><br />NATO-Russia - Cooperation Today<br />==============================<br />Today, the relationship with Russian colleagues continues to be very fruitful. Following a period from 1992-1998 when only 30% of the Science Programme was devoted to support for cooperation with Partner-country scientists, including Russians, from 1999 the entire programme has been devoted to such collaboration. The opportunity presented by the full opening of the Science Programme was seized upon by Russian scientists, and over the past three years the number of grants each year involving Russians has consistently been 46% of the total participation of Partner-country scientists.<br /><br />In 2001 a total of 192 grants involved research teams from at least one Russian laboratory. 113 of these were Collaborative Linkage Grants, and other activities were Advanced Research Workshops (24), Advanced Study Institutes (14), Expert Visits (15), Advanced Training Course (1), Computer Networking Supplement to Linkage Grant (1), Networking Infrastructure Grant (1), and Science for Peace Planning Grants (22). Among these, the JSTC awards represented 3 Advanced Research Workshops, 13 Collaborative Linkage Grants and 1 Expert Visit.<br /><br />In addition a total of 177 Science Fellowships were made to Russians to study or conduct research for a period of from 6 months to 12 months in a NATO country - mainly in Germany, the United Kingdom, Greece, Portugal, and Turkey. Further Russian involvement was as participants in NATO scientific meetings - Advanced Study Institutes or Advanced Research Workshops, amounting to about 600 Russian scientists in 2001.<br />***********************<br /><br />NATO-Russia - New Initiatives<br />============================<br />Although the Science Programme will continue to favour the "bottom-up" approach which allows individual scientists to apply for support for their chosen areas of research and study, and which is aimed not only at scientific progress but also at contributing to peace and stability and to confidence-building through cooperation, new initiatives with a more top-down approach are being undertaken, to be more responsive to new challenges and more relevant to NATO's changing priorities. As a starting point we can cite:<br /><br />A NATO-Russia Workshop on "Social and Psychological Consequences of Chemical, Biological and Radiological Terrorism" was held at NATO Headquarters on 25-27 March, 2002.<br />A NATO-Russia Task Force on Science Related to Anti-Terrorism met on 29 April to examine the potential for cooperation in scientific studies on combating terrorism. Some of the topics being considered for cooperation are:<br /><br />Detection and global monitoring of chemical, biological and radiobiological materials for selected territories;<br />Decontamination and Destruction methods;<br />Medical countermeasures or medical assistance to exposed populations;<br />Modelling, Simulation and Forecasting methodologies of the risk of disasters caused by terrorist attacks.<br /><br />Since the Rome meeting of Heads of State and Government from NATO member countries and Russia, and the setting up of the NATO-Russia Council to work at 20, fresh grounds exist to prepare new themes, new methods, new frameworks. It will be a task for the coming months to work jointly on such new initiatives.<br />***********************<br /><br />NATO-Russia : Reflections on the Way Ahead<br />============================<br />Some possibilities for future collaboration with Russia in the scientific and environmental fields -<br />-------------------------------------<br />* To launch more joint initiatives in the combat against terrorism, in particular on detection of and protection from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons;<br /><br />* To launch top-down activities on topics related to stability, safety and security, within our fields of competence, with the assistance of Advisory Panels, and closer links with the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Industry, Science and Technology.<br /><br />* To organise a series of training sessions in Russia in, for example, such areas as commercialisation and intellectual property rights, to help Russian researchers to develop their products for industrial application where appropriate.<br /><br />* To increase the number of scientific meetings taking place in Russia, to allow easier access for more Russian scientists<br /><br />* To make use of the new NATO Information Office in Moscow to increase the visibility of our activities with the general public.<br /><br />* To enhance our links with different Russian institutions in charge of science and technology, and seek to improve working conditions with them, while in parallel enhance our links with other international organisations which promote and develop relations with Russia.<br /><br />* To take steps to involve more young scientists, to invest in a future generation - the "leaders of tomorrow".<br /><br />And why not -<br />--------------<br />* initiate joint projects with other international organisations with complementary goals, such as the Moscow-based International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC), to target specific problems more effectively?<br /><br />* launch joint projects co-funded by Russia and NATO, under the umbrella of the NATO-Russia Council?<br />***********************<br /><br />The NATO-Russia Council<br />=====================<br />As mentioned elsewhere in the Newsletter, an historic event took place in Rome on 28 May 2002, when the Heads of State and Government of the NATO Member States and the Russian Federation signed a Declaration on NATO-Russia Relations: A New Quality, a document now referred to as the "Rome Declaration". The Declaration created a new Council - the NATO-Russia Council - which replaces the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council, the body under which relations between NATO and Russia had previously been formalised. As stated in the Declaration, in the framework of the NATO-Russia Council, NATO member states and Russia will work as equal partners in areas of common interest.<br /><br />Among the areas of common interest defined so far is that of New Threats and Challenges, under which possibilities will be explored for confronting new challenges and threats to the Euro-Atlantic area in the framework of CCMS and through enhanced scientific cooperation.<br /><br />The full text of the Rome Declaration may be found at:<br /><br />http://www.nato.int/docu/basictxt/b020528e.htm<br />***********************<br /><br />Russian participation in Science for Peace<br />==========================================<br />Russian research teams are at present involved in 36 Science for Peace (SfP) projects, which is one-third of the projects currently underway. The 36 projects involve 48 different Russian teams from laboratories in state universities, or institutes of the Academy of Sciences. in all major cities throughout the country. In addition to Moscow there are 32 research facilities working on SfP projects in cities as widespread as Chernogolovka, Tomsk, Pushchino, Troitsk, Novosibirsk and Nizhni Novgorod.<br /><br />The Ioffe Institute in St. Petersburg, for example, is working on several SfP projects, among which is one directed by Prof. Zhores Alferov, the 2000 Nobel Prizewinner for physics to develop a new concept of light emitting devices by applying an innovative nanostructured material. It is expected to result in new possibilities for information storage and is intended to be commercialised by industries in the Partner countries.<br /><br />Another example is a project underway between teams at the Nizhny Novgorod State University and Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands, on the development of low-noise, highly-reliable, semiconductor devices and structures, which is one of the priority directions of Russian science and engineering. Semiconductor devices are necessary for various aspects of the national economy, such as satellite communication systems subjected to the influence of cosmic radiation; or monitoring of nuclear reactors and storehouses of nuclear fuel.<br /><br />The majority of currently running SfP projects aim at developing an industrial product that can be produced and commercialised within the Partner country involved. A smaller portion of projects deal with environmental problems of regions in Partner countries.<br /><br />The Russian industrial projects are in areas of catalysts, nanomaterials, telecommunication, protection coating, semiconductors, sensors, and many more. Some of the industrial partners are small, highly innovative spin-off companies on their way to becoming medium sized enterprise. Others are well-established companies such as the Byisk Oleum Plant in the Altai region, the Nizhni Novgorod Machine Building Plant, or the pharmaceutical company Belgorodvitaminy in Belgorod.<br /><br />About one third of Russian SfP projects deal with environmental issues such sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emission abatement, degradation of chemical warfare and sustainable water management. These projects involve Russian local authorities and ministries who will ensure the implementation of the end results.<br /><br />One of the first Russian SfP projects to be completed was carried out at the Institute of Laser and Information Technology in Shatura. The Russian director Prof. Andrey Larichev, and his American counterpart Dr. Leonard Otten, have succeeded in developing a high resolution retinal imaging system to be used in clinical instruments for eye health care. A currently tested prototype will soon be ready for commercial production in Russia and the United States. The market in the USA is estimated to exceed 10 million USD.<br /><br />A complete list of ongoing Science for Peace projects, including the Russian projects, is available at the NATO Science web site (http://www.nato.int/e/sfp-funded).<br />***********************<br /><br />Science for Peace Site Visits in Moscow<br />=======================================<br />In June this year the Russian teams involved in Science for Peace (SfP) projects located in the capital will receive a visit from members of the SfP Steering Group and the Programme Director, Dr. Chris De Wispelaere. Twenty-four laboratories will be visited, some of which have substantial equipment purchased through NATO SfP funds. Though the NATO experts will not be able to visit each of the 32 Science for Peace projects in Moscow, it is planned that they will at least meet with every Project Co-Director.<br /><br />Visits will also be made to Moscow companies involved in the commercialisation of SfP end-products. Such a company, for example, is OPTEL Ltd. which will eventually produce and sell new blue light-emitting diodes.<br /><br />The site visits by members of the Steering Group will focus on solving problems, especially with respect to technology transfer. Earlier site visits have shown that personal contacts between scientists from Partner countries and the experts from NATO countries are an important basis for building confidence and trust.<br />***********************<br /><br />Russian involvement in CCMS activities<br />====================================<br />Russian experts have actively taken part in fifteen CCMS activities, and notably in pilot studies on the Black Sea and Caspian Sea environmental contamination, and in the Environmental Impact Assessment.<br /><br />Most recently several scientists from Russia took part in the workshop on Risk Assessment of the Chernobyl Accident Consequences, which took place in Kyiv, Ukraine, in April. They came from the Medical Radiological Research Center Obninsk, the Research Institute for Radiating Hygiene St. Petersburg and the State Research Center of the Russian Federation Institute of Biophysics, Moscow, and they presented their results and views on the consequences of the Chernobyl accident on the environment and the human health of their citizens*.<br /><br />The expertise of Prof. M. Kozeltsev from the Regional Environmental Centre for Russia, was also helpful when he made a report on the decision-making process used in his country at the meeting of the Pilot Project on Environmental Decision-Making For Sustainable Development In Central Asia held in Brussels in March*.<br /><br />These experiences have shown how valuable is Russian collaboration in CCMS activities, both to Russia and to the other EAPC countries. Russia has a large amount of knowledge and data, which it would be to the advantage of all to be freely exchanged.<br /><br />Following the launch of the NATO-Russia Council, the Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society will work on cooperative efforts to confront new challenges and threats to the Euro-Atlantic area in the framework of the activities of CCMS.<br />***********************<br /><br />Bringing scientists together for progress and peace<br />================================================<br />Over 40 years the goals and mechanisms of the NATO Science Programme created a network of like-minded intellectuals in a family of nations within the Alliance. These same goals and mechanisms are now at work in a wider Euro-Atlantic community involving scholars in 53 countries.<br /><br />In 2001,113 Collaborative Linkage Grants (CLGs) involved research teams from one or more Russian laboratories. However, these 113 grants support more than 113 Russian scientists, as for practical reasons only the team leaders from each supported laboratory are recorded in our database. We present below four CLGs awarded this year. Our files reveal that these four grants involve the collaboration of 12 teams comprising 26 scientists from 6 different countries.<br /><br />* Dr. M. Vainshtein, Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino, Russia, Dr. D. Kosolapov, Institute of Biology of Inland Waters, Yereslavl, Russia, Dr. P. Kuschk, UFZ Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany, Dr. A. Stams, Wageningen University, Netherlands.<br />studying a multidisciplinary biotechnology approach using bacteria and plants to detoxify waters contaminated by hazardous heavy metals<br /><br />* Dr. Vera Popova, St. Petersburg State Technical University, Russia, Dr. G. Tovstiga, Twente University, Netherlands and Dr. P. Den Hamer, Industrial Management Consultancy, Son, Netherlands.<br />pursuing methods for improving the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Russian Federation, with particular reference to the Innovation and Technology Centre ('Fund TVN') of the Technical University and the Ioffe Institute, St. Petersburg.<br /><br />* Dr. O. Kulinich, All-Russian Institute of Plant Quarantine, Bykovo, Moscow Region, Russia, Dr. M. Mota, University of Evora, Portugal, Dr. S. Akbulut, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Duzce, Turkey, Dr. Laura Ambrogioni, Experimental Institute of Agricultural Zoology, Florence , Italy.<br />developing effective quarantine measures to prevent the spread throughout Europe of a parasitic worm which is decimating conifers worldwide, and has recently been discovered in parts of Europe, including Portugal and Russia.<br /><br />* Dr. Nina N. Fotieva, Tula State University, Russia and Dr. L.M. Ribeiro e Sousa, Laboratorio Nacional de Engenharia Civil, Lisbon, Portugal<br />researching new design methods to protect underground structures from damage during earthquakes.<br />***********************<br /><br />Contributing to Stability in the Caspian Region<br />===============================================<br />A number of actions are underway in both the Science Programme and CCMS to help in the international effort to alleviate the environmental problems of the Caspian Sea, and contribute to the stability of the region. Three NATO workshops being held this year concentrate on different problem areas, and are summarised below.<br /><br />The Caspian Sea is a salt-water lake, the largest on earth. Its coastline is of interest to four Partner countries - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan - and its water-producing basin covers a further three - Armenia, Georgia and Turkey.<br /><br />Environmental Challenges of the Caspian Sea<br />-----------------------------------------<br />* A CCMS workshop on Environmental Challenges of the Caspian Sea took place in Baku, on 7-8 May, and was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan. Experts from ten countries participated and a wide range of problems were reviewed, including contaminants such as oil and gas leakages, and river inputs carrying heavy metals and untreated urban wastes and sewage. The introduction of alien species such as the Ctenophore Mnemiopsis was also remarked upon as having a severe impact on the eco-system. The bordering countries were encouraged to make use of the experience gained by countries in the Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean regions in the use of high speed technologies permitting real-time gathering and processing of data which had not yet been tried in the Caspian basin. The workshop will give rise to a CCMS short-term project to further pursue the ideas and recommendations resulting from the workshop.<br /><br />Invasion of the Black, Mediterranean and Caspian Seas by North American predator jellyfish<br />-------------------------------------------------------------------<br />* A Science Programme Advanced Research Workshop will be held in Baku from 24-26 June, supported under the Science Programme, and will concentrate on one of the areas of concern raised at the CCMS workshop. The predator jellyfish Mnemiopsis leidyi, a native to North America, was first introduced accidentally into the Black Sea in the early 1980s in the ballast waters of ships. It is blamed for the collapse of commercial fisheries in the Black Sea region. It was first seen in the Caspian Sea in 1999, and there is grave danger that it will kill the Sea's sturgeon population, the most important source in the world. The Black Sea infestation is being brought under control by the introduction of another species, Beroe ovata, that preys on Mnemiopsis leidyi. The workshop will bring together experts working with these species in other parts of the world with colleagues in the Caspian region, to share the knowledge gained in combating this threat.<br /><br />Natural Marine Hydrocarbon Seepage in World Oceans with Applications to the Caspian Sea Region<br />----------------------------------------------------------------<br />* A further Science Programme Workshop will take place in Baku, from 9-12 October and will review the origin, detection, dispersal and destruction of oil slicks and petroleum seepage in petroleum-producing areas of the world's oceans. The pollution by natural and man-made oil slicks is more acute for inland seas such as the Caspian, as the potential for dispersion of the oil is restricted. Lessons learned world-wide could be applied to the developments in the Caspian area, and experts having worked in offshore California, the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska will interact with experts in the developing Caspian Sea petroleum-producing area, with the objective of establishing a research programme to tackle the problems associated with the oil pollution.<br />***********************<br /><br />President of Azerbaijan receives Assistant Secretary General<br />=======================================================<br />Mr. Hydar Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, received Mr. Jean Fournet during a recent visit to Azerbaijan. President Aliyev expressed his gratitude for the organization of a NATO CCMS workshop on the Caspian Sea which was taking place in Baku, in view of the importance of finding solutions to the problems of this unique water basin (see page 7). The President referred to the Caspian Summit of Littoral States recently held in Ashkabad to deal with legal issues linked to remedial environmental measures, and he expressed the readiness of the Azerbaijan authorities for enlarged cooperation with NATO on these matters.<br /><br />Foreign Minister Mr. Vilayat Guliyev also met with Mr. Fournet and noted the strong commitment of Azerbaijan to collaborate closely with NATO, drawing attention to the already active participation of his country in Partnership for Peace. He noted also the importance attached in Azerbaijan to cooperation in science and the environment, and in this context made a number of proposals to increase the participation of scientists from his country in Science Programme activities. One of his suggestions was for training seminars be arranged to advise scientists on ways of making best use of the support mechanisms available.<br /><br />Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Yagub Eyyubov also expressed his strong support for the ongoing scientific cooperation between NATO and Azerbaijan, which was later to be discussed at the Academy of Sciences.<br /><br />Mr. Fournet visited Azerbaijan at the invitation of Mr. Hyseyin Bagirov, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, on the occasion of the workshop on the Caspian Sea which was co-sponsored by his Ministry.<br />***********************<br /><br />President Shevardnadze visits NATO Science for Peace project<br />=====================================================<br />President Eduard Shevardnadze of Georgia paid a visit the Research and Production Complex of the Tbilisi State University on Georgia's National Day, Sunday 26 May, to inspect a NATO Science for Peace project. The Minister of Science and Education and the Mayor of Tbilisi also participated in the visit.<br /><br />The project is supporting the development of a high-technology process for production of integrated circuits for use in the electronics industry. Through this Science for Peace project, which is carried out in cooperation with researchers from Greece and a German project consultant, NATO is assisting Georgia in upgrading the Research and Production Complex of the I.Javakhichvili Tbilisi State University, which has close working relations with the Georgian industrial partner Electron Technologies Ltd., (MION-7), a company which is bringing the research results to the market.<br /><br />The fact that NATO supported this project has meant that it attracted further support from other international organisations, such as the Moscow-based International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC), and the German Fraunhofer Society, while the private company Infinion Technologies has provided the laboratory with high-quality scientific equipment worth over ? 250 million (cf Consultant's report in Newsletter No.57).<br /><br />President Shevardnadze expressed his appreciation and admiration for the work which was achieved, and thanked NATO particularly for supporting this project. He assured the project director, Dr. Nina Kuchua, that Georgia would continue to support this project in the future.<br />***********************<br /><br />CCMS ACTIVITIES<br />===================<br />CCMS activities have been at their peak during the first five months of 2002, with events in line with its key objectives:<br /><br />Reducing the environmental impact of military activities<br />---------------------------------------------------<br />* On March 13-14, the second seminar of the short-term project Sustainable Building For Military Infrastructure, co-sponsored by the Belgian Defence Infrastructure Division, the Norwegian Defence Construction Service and the Belgian Building Research Institute, was held in Brussels. Twenty-two nations were represented at this seminar which addressed topics as diverse as the sympathetic restoration and renovation of an early 19th century historic barracks in the UK to meet evolving needs, and the legacy of contaminated sites and the critical need to mitigate them in the face of competing economic priorities. The agenda and the presentations are available on the CCMS web site (www.nato.int/ccms).<br /><br />Conducting regional studies<br />------------------------<br />* The pilot study team on Environmental Decision-Making For Sustainable Development In Central Asia met for the second time in Brussels on March 18-20 at the invitation of the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre. Experts from Central Asia and six other Partner countries provided information on the environmental decision-making approaches and processes used in their countries. Based on the discussions at this meeting, future pilot study meetings will be organized around working groups to address specific problem areas. The next meeting, scheduled to be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on September 15-17, will focus on water resources management issues in Central Asia.<br /><br />Addressing emerging risks to the environment and society<br />---------------------------------------------------<br />* A workshop on Risk Assessment of the Chernobyl Accident Consequences, hosted by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine, was held in Kyiv on April 9-12, in the framework of the CCMS pilot study Advanced Cancer Risk Assessment Methods, jointly led by Italy and the USA<br />Twelve countries were represented at the workshop, and the presentations made by the experts from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus provided particular information for a better understanding of the current problems resulting from the accident. Limitations seem to be in the need for stronger collaboration between the three directly involved countries and in a comprehensive risk assessment approach. The limited financial capacities of these countries have also so far prevented the establishment of an international data base.<br /><br />* The first meeting of the short-term project on Assessment of Natural Hazards took place in Toronto, Canada, on 15-17 April. Forty participants attended this meeting, from Armenia, Canada, Hungary, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Switzerland, Turkey, UK and USA. Presentations were made on individual hazards such as floods, drought, fire, earthquakes, and landslides, as well as on ethics and emergency preparedness and response. While international work on many of these issues has been proceeding, for example under the auspices of UNESCO, it was noted that the EAPC countries under NATO auspices have a particular need to focus on disasters in heavily populated and developed regions.<br /><br />Addressing non-traditional threats to security<br />------------------------------------------<br />* The meeting of a pilot study on Effective Risk Response Strategies, launched at the CCMS plenary session in March under the leadership of the United Kingdom, was held at the Ministry of Defence, London on 8-10 April. Participants agreed on five themes to be studied: (1) complex multiple-source and multiple effect global hazards; (2) local/regional scale natural hazards, using flooding as a study; (3) systemic hazards associated with industrial/economic processes, with a case study on the quality of the food chain; (4) hard engineering issues such as transportation or infrastructure; (5) endemic acute emergencies, with possible studies on a number of topics including chemical releases or pandemic flu. The next meeting is scheduled for October 2002 in Copenhagen.<br />***********************<br /><br />ANNUAL MEETING OF CCMS IN EAPC FORMAT<br />====================================<br />The annual meeting of the Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society (CCMS) in the format of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC), took place at NATO Headquarters, Brussels on 22 March, attended by representatives from 38 countries. It was a lively and fruitful meeting, thanks to the dynamic presentations of the speakers, free exchange of ideas, and willingness to reach positive conclusions.<br /><br />The Minister for Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, introduced the forthcoming workshop on Environmental Challenges of the Caspian Sea (see page 7) and the Executive Director of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) made a presentation on his Centre's activities. Many other high-level speakers exchanged information on current CCMS pilot studies, short-term projects and workshops which are focussed on regional cooperation, on the reduction of environmental impact of military activities, and on the identification of new threats to security.<br /><br />The prevention and mitigation of societal disruption is now a key theme of interest under this last item, concentrating on short-term, mid-term and long-term initiatives. Following an invitation to propose topics on this theme for possible workshops, several nations have since responded with suggested topics such as food security, environmental crime and media-communications.<br />***********************<br /><br />Meeting of NATO-Ukraine Joint Working Group<br />-----------------------------------------<br />The NATO-Ukraine Joint Working Group on Scientific and Environmental Cooperation met at NATO Headquarters on 22 May, and consolidated the friendly relations and the good cooperation which is a particular feature of the Group's work. Mr. Andriy Hurzhiy, First Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and Mr. Jean Fournet, co-chaired the meeting.<br /><br />In discussing possible improvements in implementing Ukraine's participation in the Science Programme a number of areas were suggested for study, such as possible prioritization of the type of subject supported, and support for projects with a regional impact both within Ukraine and with neighbouring countries. The delegation from Ukraine noted their particular appreciation of the Science for Peace projects underway in their country.<br /><br />A similar interest in regional projects was expressed by Ukraine in discussing cooperation in the environmental activities of CCMS. The importance of the CCMS activities was also underlined by the Ukrainian side, who expressed their intention to increase their level of participation.<br /><br />A report on the Working Group's discussions and views will be presented to the NATO-Ukraine Commission at its next meeting in Kyiv in July.<br /><br />About 200 Ukrainian research teams have received support for collaboration under the NATO Science Programme in the three-years 1999-2001 and a further 175 Science Fellowships were awarded to Ukrainian scientists to study for a period in NATO countries.<br />***********************<br /><br />A Transatlantic Alliance<br />=======================<br />The United States is the most popular country in the Science Programme for Partner-country applicants, accounting for 32% of applications received for the collaborative activities in 2001. Applications involving transatlantic cooperation, that is including Canada, were 39% of the total. The next most popular country with Partner scientists in 2001 was Germany, with 19% of applications.<br /><br />The number of grants in 2001 involving transatlantic collaboration was 163, which is 42% of total awards under the Cooperative Science and Technology sub-programme.<br /><br />Transatlantic cooperation is an exceptional feature of the Science Programme among international agencies engaged in helping the scientific community of the countries in transition. It plays a pivotal role in the effort to integrate the scientists in these countries into the wider Euro-Atlantic community of scientists.<br />***********************<br /><br />NATO Panels meet in Mediterranean Dialogue countries<br />================================================<br />Morocco<br />-------<br />The Advisory Panel on Physics and Engineering Science & Technology met in Marrakech in May, when the Programme Director had the opportunity to meet with the Secretary of State for Higher Education and Scientific Research of Morocco, Mr. Omar Fassi-Fehri. Panel members were able to attend the Advanced Research Workshop on Electromagnetics of Complex Media which took place in Marrakech in conjunction with their visit, and a presentation on the possibilities of support under the NATO Science Programme was made to representatives of Moroccan universities by the Programme Director.<br /><br />The scientific community of Morocco ranks third among the African countries in those publishing in international journals, behind South Africa and Egypt. In 2001 the number of academic scientists was 14,278 and the investment in R&D activities was 0.7% of GDP, which was a 133% increase over the 1998 figure of 0.3%.<br /><br />Tunisia<br />-------<br />The Advisory Panel on Environmental and Earth Science and Technology met in Tunis in May, on the occasion of an Earth Sciences Advanced Research Workshop. A meeting was arranged with the Director of Planning, Evaluation and Cooperation at the Ministry of Scientific and Technological Research, Prof. Ali Abaab.<br /><br />Prof. Abaab explained that restructuring of research is underway in Tunisia with an increase in government budget allocation to research of up to 1% of GDP, with a goal in the near future of 60% state funding, 30% private funding and 10% international funding. Institutes were now under strict assessment of results, and priority is given to applied research and innovation, while mobility of researchers to private enterprises is encouraged, and techno-parks are being developed. The Panel also had the opportunity to visit the laboratory complex of the National Institute for Scientific and Technical Research at Hammam-Lif, south of Tunis, where members were briefed by the General Director, Prof. Raouf Bennaceur.<br />***********************<br /><br />New Science Committee member for the Netherlands<br />===============================================<br />Professor Charles H.C.M. Buys has been appointed Science Committee member for the Netherlands, replacing Dr. R.J. van Duynen, who had served on the Committee since 1995.<br /><br />Professor Buys was born in the Netherlands in 1942. His academic and research training was first at the University of Utrecht, where he obtained successively a B.Sc. in Biology and an M.Sc. in Biochemistry, and then at the University of Groningen, where he obtained his Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 1976. He became Assistant Professor (1976-1982), and then Associate Professor of Cytogenetics (1983-1987) at the University of Groningen, where he became Professor of Human Genetics and Chairman of the Department of Medical Genetics in 1997 until the present. He was appointed Head of the Department of Clinical Genetics at the Academic Hospital of Groningen in 2001.<br /><br />Charles Buys has served as a member of numerous scholarly and professional bodies and committees, both national and international, including as President of the Dutch Society of Human Genetics (1988-1993); Chairman Programme Committee Gene Environment Interactions of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (1996 - present); Director HUGO Travel Awards Program (1993-1997); Chairman of the Review Board of the Biomedical Research Programme of the European Union (1997-2000); and Chairman of BIOMED2 Programme Evaluation Board, European Union (2001-present). Professor Buys was a member of the NATO Science Committee's then Advisory Panel on Collaborative Research Grants, from 1997-1998, and Chairman of the Life Science and Technology Panel from 1999-2000.<br />***********************<br /><br />Government appointment for Hungarian Science Committee member<br />=========================================================<br />Dr. András Siegler, Science Committee member for Hungary, has been appointed State Undersecretary of Research and Development in the Ministry of Education of Hungary. Dr. Siegler was named first Hungarian member of the Science Committee following Hungary's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty in March 1999.<br />***********************<br /><br />Upcoming Events<br />==============<br />* 19 Advanced Study Institutes (ASIs) will take place in June, July and August, in Physics, Environmental Sciences and Life Sciences. ASIs are tutorial events where advanced-level participants can learn of the latest developments in their area from international experts of renown. Details of these and other upcoming scientific meetings may be found in the Calendar of Meetings at the web site (http://www.nato.int/science).<br />* A second CCMS workshop on the Implementation of Environmental Management Systems in the Military Sector will be held in the Czech Republic at the end of September, as a follow-up event to the workshop held in January on a similar topic.<br />* The Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society (CCMS) will hold its next meeting in Vienna, Austria, in October.<br />* Preparations will continue for the "Grand Gathering" of the Science Committee in EAPC session with all Advisory Panels, to be held in October.<br />***********************<br /><br />Some recent additions to the Science and CCMS web sites<br />================================================<br />Science (http://www.nato.int/science)<br />-----------------------------------<br />Visit of members of the Science for Peace Steering Group visit to ongoing projects in Russia, Romania, Hungary and Poland during the month of June.<br /><br />Report of Computer Networking Panel held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from 20-23 June.<br /><br />Science and Technology Policy Workshop in Central Asian Republics<br /><br />Meeting of NATO-Ukraine Joint Working Group on Science and Environment<br /><br />NATO-Russia Scientific Cooperation to Combat Terrorism<br /><br />NATO-Russia Workshop on Social and Psychological Consequences of Chemical, Biological and Radiological Terrorism<br /><br />CCMS (http://www.nato.int/ccms)<br />----------------------------<br />Workshop examines problems of the Caspian Sea<br /><br />March meeting of EAPC CCMS<br /><br />The Pilot Study "Sustainable Buildings" online<br />***********************<br /><br />NATO Science and Society<br />========================<br />* The Science Committee<br />-----------------------<br />directs the Science Programme, which contributes to stability and solidarity in the Euro-Atlantic area by providing funding to working scientists in Partner- and NATO-countries for collaboration on common research projects on topics they select.<br /><br />* The Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society - CCMS<br />---------------------------------------------------<br />oversees the environment and society programme, which promotes voluntary participation of NATO and Partner countries who fund their governmental experts to work together in long-term networks dealing with topics of common interest.<br />***********************<br /><br />Feedback: We will be happy to receive feedback from our readers. If you have comments, suggestions or ideas to make this Newsletter more effective, we would be happy to hear from you. Comments should be sent by e-mail to e.austin@hq.nato.int, or by post to the address below.<br /><br />******************************************************************<br />This Newsletter is published by the NATO Scientific Affairs Division, Brussels<br /><br />Any article of the NEWSLETTER may be reproduced with proper acknowledgement<br /><br />Managing Editor: Jean Fournet<br />Editor: Enid I. Austin<br /><br />NATO, Scientific and Environmental Affairs Division,<br />Boulevard Leopold III, B-1110 Brussels, Belgium<br />*******************************************************************