On the occasion of the 17th TWAS General Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, TWAS released a new book today celebrating 40 years of supporting science in the developing world.
The book, titled “TWAS in the New Millennium: Building scientific capacity in a time of promise and peril”, was written by former TWAS Public Information Officer Daniel Schaffer with the support of the current TWAS Public Information Unit and tells the story of TWAS since its founding in 1983, when the idea was made reality by TWAS Founder Nobel-winning Pakistani physicist Abdus Salam and his colleagues at the time. It then travels to the current day, when TWAS is an established, dynamic organization providing developing world scientists with the resources they need to thrive, and help others thrive too.
A digital version of the book can be found here. What follows is the foreword of the book by TWAS President Quarraisha Abdool Karim:
Foreword: Celebrating 40 Years of Scientific Solidarity and Impact
As we mark the 40th anniversary of the launch of The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries (TWAS), we do so at a time of profound global transformation. From climate change, to biodiversity loss, displacement, and deepening inequality, the world is facing a convergence of crises that demand urgent, coordinated, and science-based responses. And yet, within these challenges lies an extraordinary opportunity: To reaffirm the power of science as a force for equity, resilience, and sustainable development.
This publication is a tribute to the thousands of scientists, partners, and institutions who have contributed to the TWAS mission. It reflects on four decades of progress: from building scientific capacity in the least developed countries, to supporting displaced researchers, to training the next generation of science diplomats and climate scientists. It also highlights the Academy’s evolving role in amplifying voices from the global South in international fora, and in ensuring that science communication is inclusive, accessible, and impactful.
Since the 1980s, TWAS has grown into an internationally recognized force for science, policy, and diplomacy. With its partners, TWAS has supported over 1,230 PhD graduates, awarded more than 2,300 postdoctoral fellowships, bestowed over 1,200 prizes, and funded over 2,800 research grants. It has trained more than 750 individuals in science diplomacy and facilitated over 1,400 scientific exchange visits. These numbers reflect a deep and sustained commitment to building scientific excellence and leadership in the global South.
TWAS has become a global network of over 1,400 Fellows and more than 400 Young Affiliates, spanning disciplines and continents. Together, they form a vibrant community committed to advancing science for the common good. Through fellowships, research grants, policy engagement, and strategic partnerships, TWAS continues to bridge divides between nations, between generations, and between science and society.
The 40th anniversary celebrations, launched in 2023, spanned three years to reflect the process that led to the Academy’s founding in 1983 and inauguration in 1985, and culminated with the 17th TWAS General Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in September 2025, organized in partnership with the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and TWAS, under the theme ‘Building a Sustainable Future: The role of science, technology, and innovation for global development’.
But this anniversary is not just a moment of reflection. It is a call to action. The next 40 years will require even greater resolve to confront the structural inequalities that limit scientific opportunity and impact. We must continue to invest in people, institutions, and platforms that enable scientists in the global South to thrive. We must ensure that science informs policy, that innovation is inclusive, and that no one is left behind in the pursuit of knowledge.
As we look ahead, let us draw strength from our shared history and recommit to the values that have guided TWAS since its inception: excellence, equity, collaboration, and service to humanity. The challenges are great, but so too is the potential for science to shape a more just, sustainable, and hopeful future for all.