Prof. Romain Murenzi, new executive director of The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS), visited IAP on July 19th, 2011.

Vice director of IAP, Prof. Jiang Zhu hosted the meeting and made a brief introduction on IAP’s history and research status focus; Prof. Murenzi made a speech entitled “TWAS and Importance of Science, Technology and Innovation for Development”. Over 50 IAP faculties attended the meeting, including CAS & TWAS Academician Prof. Qingcun Zeng, Director of ICCES, Prof. Zhaohui Lin, TWAS fellow Prof. Xiaodong Zeng.

After meeting, Prof. Murenzi visited IAP International Center for Climate and Environment Sciences (ICCES) and Information Center. Prof. Lin introduced Prof. Murenzi the proceeding of the 10th CAS-TWAS-WMO Forum, to be held on 26-29 September, 2011, in Beijing. Prof. Murenzi expressed his willingness to participate in the future CTWF activities.

Prof. Murenzi was appointed as the new executive director of TWAS in this February, he is also a member of the board of the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) and of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. Meanwhile, he is on the advisory board of the science and development organisation Scientists Without Borders, and the scientific board of UNESCO's International Basic Science Programme.