The second group of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) science fellowships was announced by the ASEAN Committee onScience and Technology on May 4.

The goal is to further promotepolicymaking and data-based resolutions to address some of the region’smost challenging development issues.

Some 14 early-careerscientists from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,Thailand and Vietnam were selected through a highly competitiveprocess. The programme has been supported by the US Agency forInternational Development (USAID) for the second consecutive year.

Accordingto US Ambassador to ASEAN Nina Hachigian, the fellowship providesunparalleled opportunities for scientists to explore applying science inpolicymaking. Science and technology are critical to solving policyproblems, she added.

Director of the Cross-Sector CooperationDirectorate and ASEAN Secretariat Larry Maramis said the ASEAN isinterested in strengthening and promoting the use of science inpolicymaking across food and energy security, biodiversity, climatechange and disaster management.

She noted the fellowship canbuild scientist capacity within the region to take a more prominent rolein their respective country’s integration into the ASEAN Community.

Startingnext week, the fellows will be placed in host ministries in their owncountries for one year to contribute their expertise in the fields ofbiodiversity, energy security and fisheries and coastal management.

Theprogramme’s long term goal is to create a network of scientists acrossthe bloc who will not only serve as champions for greater interactionbetween scientists and policymakers, but also contribute to thedevelopment of policies that positively impact the lives of ASEANcitizens.-VNA