The focus of the programme will be on fields relevant to the research areas of UNU Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU/IAS) and UNU Centre. These include (1) Biotechnology, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development; (2) Science and Technology Pathways to Development; (3) Information Technology for the Environment; (4) Ecosystems and Socio-Economic Dimensions; (5) Urban Ecosystems; (6) Multilateralism and the Global Ecosystems; (7) Peace and Governance; and (8) Environment and Sustainable Development.

JSPS-UNU Fellowships will be awarded for a period of 12 to 24 months, and will include a monthly maintenance allowance (392,000 yen) as well as a settling-in allowance (200,000 yen) and round-trip air ticket. Fellowship recipients must have a doctoral degree, received within six years prior to April 1 of the year in which the Fellowship commences. Completed applications for the next round of fellowships (beginning 1 November 2002) must reach UNU/IAS by 15 May 2002. More information about the JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellowships Programme is available from UNU/IAS website (http://www.ias.unu.edu) from 28 February.

UNU will act as nominating authority of the programme, with UNU/IAS administering the programme on behalf of UNU in the nominating process. The final fellowship award decision will be made by JSPS, which will also issue Awards Letters will to the fellowship awardees. For the period of research in Japan, an adviser for each fellowship recipient will be selected from among the UNU (UNU/IAS) faculty after consultation with the host researcher.

The official Signing Ceremony inaugurating the JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 27 February 2002, at UNU Centre. Media representatives are cordially invited to attend.

Please contact the UNU Public Affairs Section to confirm your attendance.