| International Collaborations | |||||||||||||||||||||
| NASTEC has continued to function as Sri Lanka's focal point for the NAM S&T Centre (Centre for Science and Technology of Non-Aligned and Other developing Countries) and the Technology Sector of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technology and Economic Cooperation). Through these alliances NASTEC has been able to obtain much needed training, research, expert-exchange and technology transfer opportunities to a number of Scientists and Technologists of the country. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| NAM-Science and Technology Centre | |||||||||||||||||||||
| In March 2002, the Ministry for Economic Reform Science and Technology designated NASTEC as the National Focal Point for the Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre).
The NAM S&T Centre is an inter-governmental organization with a membership of 40 countries spread over Asia, Africa, Middle East and Latin America. The Centre was set up in 1989 in New Delhi (India) in pursuance of recommendations of various NAM Summit meetings for promotion of science and technology among developing countries. The Centre has identified a number of priority areas around which it is engaged in implementing a variety of programmes, including workshops and meetings, training programmes, courses and collaborative projects and bringing out scientific publications. These activities provide for an opportunity for scientist-to-scientist contact and interaction, familiarize participants on the latest developments and techniques in the subject areas, identification of training requirements or expert assistance, identification of technologies for transfer between member countries, etc. In collaboration with NAM Centre NASTEC organized a Workshop on the Technology of Application of Pesticides from 23-26 June, 2003at the Plant Genetic Resources Centre of the Department of Agriculture, Peradeniya. A number of S&T Institutions including the Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture and the Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Council for Agriculture Research Policy, ITI and the Ministry of Health collaborated with NASTEC in this national endeavor. The workshop covered the following areas. 1. Technologies of application of pesticides in developing countries including latest developments 2. Alternative technologies (such as Biopesticides) 3. Impact of pesticide application on the environment 4. Impact of pesticide application on health in relation to the food chain 5. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and application of pesticides 6. Implementation of Pesticide Management Plans in developing countries 7. Development and evaluation of Best Management Practices for preventing off-site movement of pesticides At the end of the workshop the participants prepared recommendations for the future and unanimously adopted a Kandy Declaration. The Recommendations arising from the workshop will be utilized towards the formulation of a national policy pertaining to pesticides and its application, especially in relation to agriculture. |
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| Click here to view the Final Report and the Kandy Declaration | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Activities of NASTEC-NAM S&T Centre � 2004 & 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| As the Focal Point of the NAM S&T Centre, NASTEC organized the Second Bureau Meeting of the 10th Governing Council on 17th September 2004 in Colombo in the premises of the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). The Bureau members, who were present for this meeting to coincide with BICOST-III, presented the status and development of S&T in their respective countries.
In addition, NASTEC nominated scientists for two workshops that the Centre conducted during 2004. They were �Mineral Resources and Development � 1-4 July, Kerman, Iran,� and �The changing Role of Science Centres and Museums in Developing Countries � 20-22 October, Hanoi, Vietnam.� These workshops were attended by Mr. Athula Mudalige of the GSMB and Mr. Aruna hennadige Piyasiri of the NERD Centre respectively. Dr. Chandima Gomes, Senior Lecturer of the University of Colombo (Chairperson, YSF), was awarded the �Young Scientist Lectureship Award� by the Centre. In this respect, he visited Colombia during September and conducted a workshop on lightning Protection and Electromagnetic Compatibility. He also conducted a series of lectures at the National University of Colombia, Bogota on the said subject and further initiated a lightning Physics Research Group. Based on the presentations made during the International Workshop on Technology of Application of Pesticides, conducted in Kandy, Sri Lanka, The NAM S&T Centre has brought out a publication in collaboration with the NASTEC on the Technology of Application of Pesticides. International Symposium on Herbal Medicine, Phytopharmaceuticals and other natural products: trends and advances Considering the rich biodiversities of Asia, Africa and some American countries and the rich history in utilizing medicinal plants, an International Symposium on Herbal Medicine, Phytopharmaceuticals and other natural products: trends and advances, was held jointly by NASTEC and the Centre for Science & Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre) in association with the Institute of Chemistry during 15th to 17th June 2005 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. The symposium brought together industrialists, entrepreneurs, academics, scientists and other specialists involved in research in herbal medicines, medicinal plants, aromatic plants, marine natural products, biopesticides and other natural products to study the importance of medicinal plants in healthcare, the increasing and unacceptable loss of these plants due to habitat destruction, the unsustainable harvesting practices, the significant economic value of medicinal plants and the great potential of the plant kingdom to provide new drugs, biopesticides, nutraceuticals and cosmaceuticals. The symposium was ceremonially inaugurated by Professor Lesley Gunatilaka, Director, Center for Natural Products Research, University of Arizona, USA. The Conference Programme began on 16th June 2005 with the address by the Honorable Minister for S&T, Professor Tissa Vitarana. The Keynote address was delivered by Dr. R.O.B. Wijesekera. Following the first session, country papers from Egypt, India, Cuba, Syria, Kenya, Zambia, Bulgaria, Ghana, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Vietnam, United Kingdom, New Zealand were read and presented. In addition many Sri Lankan Scientists &Technologists, well versed in the subject, Presented papers. The symposium concluded on 17th June 2006. |
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| The Recommendations are as follows: | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technology and Economic Cooperation [BIMSTEC] | |||||||||||||||||||||
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NASTEC is the National Focal Point for the Technology Sector of BIMST-EC [Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand Economic Cooperation], a regional grouping established in 1997 because of their proximity and direct access to the Bay of Bengal. The purpose of this regional grouping was to provide trade and technological co-operation among the member countries in the areas of trade and investment, tourism, transport and commerce, technology, energy and fisheries. The former BIMST-EC � Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand Economic Cooperation � has now been termed Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technology and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
However, based on the pre-BIMST-EC Workshop held in July 2002 to identify the supply and demand in the transfer of agricultural technologies, and with a view to supporting the local agro-based industries and encouraging technology co-operation amongst BIMSTEC countries, NASTEC has prepared a Technology Catalogue with illustrations of available agriculture based technologies such as Agricultural Technology, Biotechnology, Food technology, Herbal Drugs and Aromatic Plants and Post-Harvest Technology. The Catalogue was presented to the Hon. Minister of Science and Technology in May 2004 and is considered to be useful in promoting SME�s in the rural sector. A translation in Sinhala and Tamil languages are also envisaged. |
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| Click here more details on BIMST-EC Series | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other International Training Programmes/Workshops
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