Final Report Summary - LAEL (Latin America and Europe Liaison)
Europe and Latin America have a very similar cultural background and share a common historical heritage. The present project aimed at strengthening scientific collaborations and research partnerships between research institutions in Europe and in Latin America in key emerging fields of contemporary science and in particular in Neuroscience, Biophysics and Molecular Neurobiology, Bionanotechnology and Genomics.
LAEL gathered well-known Institutes in Latin America and Europe with distinct but complementary scientific interests and experience. These scientific exchanges and collaborations were expected to develop more open-minded scientists, able to carry out at the same time original and competitive studies and to participate with success in the development of research and high standard training in underdeveloped areas. The institutions participating in this project were able to offer a panel of understanding, know-how, specific experience, technology and interactions with external entities – many of which of biotechnological nature – in Europe and Latin America. LAEL intended to cover broad areas in the above disciplines and was designed to give young researchers and students in the early stages of their career, common, general and advanced background training, as well as opportunities to pursue specific projects in the areas they aspire to specialize in during their subsequent professional life. All this was to be achieved enriching their experiences between Latin America and Europe.
Unfortunately, during these four years of LAEL, the financial problems of the Latin American countries involved, the delays in starting the project and the progressive lack of confidence in the actual benefits of this IRSES program did not allow these exchanges and activities to be carried out as expected.
Nevertheless, some exchanges did take place – a few, in fact - , some conferences and meetings were organized and also a yearly appointment with the Neurobiology Summer School at SISSA and the SCoNe Summer School in Cognitive Social Sciences can prove that not everything went wrong.
So, despite all the difficulties, this project was kept alive since there was always the hope for some improvement before the end of its natural life.
LAEL gathered well-known Institutes in Latin America and Europe with distinct but complementary scientific interests and experience. These scientific exchanges and collaborations were expected to develop more open-minded scientists, able to carry out at the same time original and competitive studies and to participate with success in the development of research and high standard training in underdeveloped areas. The institutions participating in this project were able to offer a panel of understanding, know-how, specific experience, technology and interactions with external entities – many of which of biotechnological nature – in Europe and Latin America. LAEL intended to cover broad areas in the above disciplines and was designed to give young researchers and students in the early stages of their career, common, general and advanced background training, as well as opportunities to pursue specific projects in the areas they aspire to specialize in during their subsequent professional life. All this was to be achieved enriching their experiences between Latin America and Europe.
Unfortunately, during these four years of LAEL, the financial problems of the Latin American countries involved, the delays in starting the project and the progressive lack of confidence in the actual benefits of this IRSES program did not allow these exchanges and activities to be carried out as expected.
Nevertheless, some exchanges did take place – a few, in fact - , some conferences and meetings were organized and also a yearly appointment with the Neurobiology Summer School at SISSA and the SCoNe Summer School in Cognitive Social Sciences can prove that not everything went wrong.
So, despite all the difficulties, this project was kept alive since there was always the hope for some improvement before the end of its natural life.