April 17th marked the start of another year of FAR’s Armenian National Science and Education Fund (ANSEF). The awards ceremony, which was held at the National Academy of Science, brought together 88 scientists from 27 different research groups who will either begin or continue their research during 2019 in the fields of biology, biotechnology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, agriculture, archeology and history, etc., with the help of an ANSEF grant.
“ANSEF is a unique diaspora initiative. It promotes the development of science, as well as gives young scientists an opportunity to acquire their first research experience and to advance their innovative ideas,” said FAR Education and Science Programs Manager Eduard Karapetyan during the awards.
The program, which aims to empower researchers to stay in their home country, was launched 19 years ago. Since then, more than USD 2.4 million has been invested in 488 grants, which have been given to 1,735 scientists. The support has fueled a community of researchers and scientists who are now taking the lead in advocating for further scientific development in Armenia.
Three of this year’s 27 ANSEF grants are sponsored through cooperation with the Young Scientists Support Program and the Youth Foundation of Armenia. FAR’s collaboration with the Young Scientists, which started in 2013, has already made it possible to fund a total of 23 ANSEF grants.
This year, 218 groups applied for the program. Winners receive a grant of USD 5,000. Thirteen out of 27 of this year’s group leaders are young researchers under the age of 35, and 12 of them are women.