UNU Update: Issue 26

ISSUE 26: JULY-AUGUST 2003

NEW TECHNOLOGIES
INTECH innovation
project generates
spin-offs worldwide
A new training programme is helping policy-makers to evaluate the effectiveness of national innovation policies. MORE

Global study of wine
technology launched
UNU-INTECH is conducting a unique global study of innovations in the wine industry. MORE

WATER, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH
Grant marks 'coming
of age' for UNU-INWEH
UNU International Network on Water, Environment and Health has received a C$3 million grant to finance its core operations through 2006. MORE

NEW FROM UNU PRESS
Refugees
and Forced Displacement
. . . argues that managing refugee movements and protecting displaced people should be an integral part of security policy and conflict management.

Regional Peacekeepers:
The Paradox of Russian
Peacekeeping
. . . probes Russian military activities in former Soviet territory to see whether these forces are preserving peace or Russian strategic interests.

CENTRAL ASIA STUDY PROGRAMME
Applications open for Akino
research fellowships
UNU is again inviting applications for the Akino Memorial Research Fellowships under the theme of Human Security and Sustainable Development in Central Asia. MORE

UNU-UNESCO CONFERENCE
Wanted: Globalization
that benefits everyone

Making globalization work for the benefit of all humankind – that's the challenge facing experts about to gather at UNU Centre for a two-day international conference. MORE

REGIONAL INTEGRATION STUDIES
Conference to study forces
shaping Information Society
The global and regional forces shaping the information society will be examined at an international conference (UNU-CRIS) to be held in Bruges October 9-10. MORE

Calendar
of events
& meetings
in 2003

WATER AND US
Essay contest to mark
Year of Freshwater
UN University is marking International Year of Freshwater 2003 by organising a children's essay contest to encourage young people to think about freshwater issues. MORE

BUSINESS PROFILE
EuroNews to broadcast
feature on UNU
A business profile of UN University will be broadcast on EuroNews on Monday July 21 between 11pm and 11:30pm Central European time. MORE

NEW TECHNOLOGIES

South must
be part of
hydrogen fuel future – Mytelka
Developing countries should move quickly to position themselves to capitalise on the emerging hydrogen fuel cell technology, says Lynn Mytelka, Director of UNU Institute for New Technologies. MORE

PYONGYANG STANDOFF
Accident is N. Korea's big
nuclear threat – expert
A UNU expert has warned that poverty and a low level of technology in North Korea make a nuclear accident a more imminent threat than a deliberate missile attack. MORE

PEACE AND GOVERNANCE
Throwing out rule book
not enough – Thakur
Countries that challenge the world order must indicate their alternative system of rules, including dispute resolution, says UNU Vice Rector Ramesh Thakur. MORE

EDUCATION FOR INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING
UNU forges link with
Japanese high school
UNU and Kanagawa Prefectural Senior High School are undertaking a pilot programme to enhance cooperation with high schools in Japan. MORE

ASYLUM UNDER THREAT

Refugees turning to
human smugglers – report
The institution of asylum is "under grave threat" as nations erect higher walls during the war on terrorism, according to a new UN University analysis. MORE

CONFLICT RESEARCH
UNU Press book
wins ALA award
The UNU Press book Beyond Violence: Conflict Resolution Process in Northern Ireland has won an American Library Association award. MORE

GLOBAL SEMINAR SERIES
First Seoul seminar puts
N.E. Asia in spotlight
Around 100 students and young professionals from Korea, Japan, China and Mongolia attended the inaugural UNU Global Seminar – Seoul Session. MORE

ECONOMIES IN TRANSITION
WIDER study debunks
'fairy tale' of SME boom
Reports of a small-business boom sweeping post-communist central and eastern Europe were greatly exaggerated, says a new study by UNU-WIDER. MORE

COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
Academic freedom more
important than ever – Rector
University autonomy and academic freedom will be crucial in preparing current and future generations for the new globalized world, said UNU Rector Hans van Ginkel. MORE

K.CHARNUNDEESWARI & M.TAEB
Time to build a biotechnology culture
The major challenge for biotechnology in the 21st century is accommodating all the social, ethical and legal concerns of the international community. MORE

RAMESH THAKUR
Politics of human migrations
The growing incidence of population flows in and between countries is creating problems for countries of origin, transit and destination.
MORE

RAMESH THAKUR
UN approval of force 'optional'
The United States is most unlikely to accept a UN Security Council resolution as a mandatory requirement for the use of military force overseas. MORE