NATO Science Fellowship

Representatives from 14 NATO countries met in Lisbon from 19 to 21 June to coordinate plans for the NATO Science Fellowships Programme. Some 1300 fellows from both NATO member States and cooperation partner (CP) countries in Central and Eastern Europe will be selected for NATO fellowships in 1996.

The NATO Science Fellowships Programme provides opportunities for scientists to pursue their work or to continue their training at the most prestigious institutions in NATO as well as Cooperation Partner countries. Last year, the programme supported 1,256 fellows from all NATO countries and from 20 CP countries. Of these, 253 fellows from CP countries were selected to conduct research or lecture at institutions in NATO countries; 33 NATO member fellows visited CP institutions.

While centrally coordinated by the NATO Scientific Affairs Division, agencies in each NATO country administer the NATO Science Fellowships Programme. This system permits each country to establish and direct priority support towards its chosen age range, scientific fields and professions, as well as to select the most appropriate level of financial support for fellows. Thus, while four types of fellowships are supported, each country selects the type(s) of fellowships it wishes to make available.

Basic Fellowships are awarded to individuals who have a first university degree and who wish to further their education by following a higher degree course in another country. Advanced Fellowships are awarded to scientists who have a Ph.D or an equivalent degree and/or sufficient research experience to enable them to conduct independent research in foreign institutions in NATO or CP countries. Senior Fellowships are awarded to scientists of high professional standing who wish to lecture and/or research in institutions in NATO or CP countries. Senior Guest Fellowships are awarded for the purpose of inviting scientists of high professional standing to lecture and/or carry out research in the NATO country awarding the fellowship; applications for this type of fellowship are submitted by the inviting scientist or institution, and not by the guest scientist.

The duration of the fellowships, like the level of support, varies by type and from country to country. However, a typical length of basic fellowships is one year, with a renewal in certain cases; the minimum duration for advanced fellowships is usually six months, for senior fellowships, three months, and for senior guest fellowships, three weeks.

Applications and requests for further information should be addressed to the relevant National Administrator, at annex. NATO member scientists should consult the national administrator for their country of citizenship. Cooperation Partner scientists should consult the administrator for the country in which they wish to lecture or conduct research.

For further information, please contact Nancy Schulte, Programme Director, NATO Science Fellowships, fax: int l 32 2 707 4231.

NATO Science Fellowships Programme National Administrators