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WCLM 2003

15 August 2003 - Ottawa, Canada


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Selected Findings from WCLM 2001, Brisbane, Australia

  1. The tendency of students from developing countries to remain in developed countries after finishing an advanced degree program is a significant problem (Brain Drain). The fundamental solution to this problem is an improvement of working conditions for young researchers in developing countries. Steps that can be taken to ameliorate this problem are programs to keep students in touch with their home countries; short postdoctoral fellowships; more emphasis on training in countries outside North America, Japan, and Europe; and more specialized training opportunities in developing countries provided by institutions in developed countries.

  2. Free or low cost access to online resources-especially to major journals and databases-is vital to scientists in developing countries.

  3. Information technology-especially access to computers and the internet-is vital to the participation of scientists in developing countries in the global scientific community.

  4. Government regulations in some developing countries need to be changed to facilitate donations of equipment.

  5. Donations should be made to institutions that can utilize the donated material. Chemical societies and industry trade associations in developing countries should help guide donors to locate suitable institutions to receive donations.

  6. IUPAC should provide a central, online resource to collect information about programs operated by chemical societies and the industry in developed countries and about the capabilities of institutions in developing countries.

  7. Exchange programs for young scientists are important as are twinning programs, especially between departments, rather than between institutions.

  8. Industry should participate in exchange and training of scientists from developing countries. This relationship can be facilitated by the chemical societies in the developed countries.

  9. Major scientific conferences and training events should be held in developing countries to help scientists from those countries to participate in the global chemistry enterprise.

  10. Areas of fruitful cooperation were identified, such as Green Chemistry and drug discovery based on local bioresources.

  11. The public image of science is a problem shared by developed and developing countries, industry and academe. Information about programs to address this problem should be shared so that chemical societies and trade associations can learn from each other.

  12. Education of primary and secondary students should emphasize the enjoyable aspects of science rather than rote learning.

  13. Mutual recognition of degree programs and the certification of chemists are necessary to permit the free flow of scientists.

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