To this end, since 2000 the UNU has been awarding Akino Memorial Research Fellowships under the broad theme of "Peace and Environment in Central Asia." Ph.D. candidates or post-doctoral fellows who plan to conduct field research on the political, economic or social factors affecting the prospects of peace and stability in Central Asian countries, or on environmental issues endemic to the region, are invited to apply. The deadline for application for a 2003 UNU-Akino Research Fellowship is 31 October 2002.

The Akino Research Fellowship Selection Committee will review the applications with particular emphasis on academic quality, relevance of the proposed research to the overall theme of the programme, originality, and suitability of the proposed work schedule. Based on the committee's recommendations, the UNU will award up to five scholarships of up to Yen 1.2 million each for the field research components of the proposed projects. Successful candidates will be notified in mid-December 2002.

The 2003 UNU-Akino Research Fellows will start their field research in Central Asia after an introductory seminar in January 2003. In addition to submitting written reports on the progress of their research projects, Akino Research Fellows are expected to contribute to research seminars on Central Asia organized by the UNU, which will give them an opportunity to present and discuss their research results with experts from Japan and abroad.

Further information about the UNU-Akino Research Fellowship programme and application forms are available from the UNU website at http://archive.unu.edu/akino/announce.html.