Notice

Expert Workshop on Understanding the Gender Dimensions of Biotechnology Research and Application in the Asia-Pacific.

Thanks to Ruth Lechte, QLD WISENET for forwarding the following.

Call for Applications: Expert Workshop on Understanding the Gender Dimensions of Biotechnology Research and Application in Asia-Pacific

The Gender Advisory Board of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development and the Biotechnology Commission of Pakistan are organising an Expert Workshop on Understanding the Gender Dimensions of Biotechnology Research and Application in Asia-Pacific, to be held in Islamabad on November 23-24, 2004. The purpose of the workshop is to address the gender dimensions of research, policy and application of new biotechnologies in the region. The workshop is intended to identify the critical sets of research questions in these regions, identify priority or niche areas for research, programming, and capacity building; and identify important areas in which policy can be developed and/or where research needs to be done in order to develop policy. The areas of focus will include the use of biotechnology in agriculture and food production, supporting small-scale farmers, intellectual property issues, effects on biodiversity, health, nanotechnology, and planet genetics.

The workshop will be small (15-20 participants) and discussion- rather than presentation-based. Experts will be expected to contribute to a consultative dialogue based on their experience and expertise in the area.

Applications for participation in the workshop are solicited. Applicants should provide a summary of no more than 500 words stating their view of the critical issues around how biotechnology policy, research and application can benefit women in the region; and what the participant would bring to the meeting in terms of experience, expertise and critical reflection.

Applications should be sent to Sophia Huyer, Senior Research Advisor, GAB-UNCSTD at shuyer@wigsat.org. Applicants may want to read the paper commissioned for the workshop, “Critical Issues Pertaining to the Gender Dimensions of Biotechnology Policy” by Sandy Thomas, which is available at the GAB web site, http://GAB.wigsat.org. Deadline for applications is September 24, 2004. Five participants will be chosen. Travel and local accommodation costs of the five selected participants will be paid for by the organisers.

Both the Expert Workshop and the background paper were made possible through funding from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

Sophia Huyer
Senior Research Advisor
Gender Advisory Board, UNCSTD
204 Ventress Road
Brighton, Ontario K0K 1H0 Canada
shuyer@wigsat.org
http://GAB.wigsat.org
http://GSTGateway.wigsat.org