The Advisory Panel of the ISA Endowment Fund will hold its 11th meeting in Kingston today.

The 7-member Panel, appointed by the Secretary-General includes permanent representatives of the Authority, educational institutions, international organisations and invidividuals closely associated with the work of the Authority evaluates all applications for assistance from the Fund.

The Panel is expected to discuss the financial report on the status of the Fund, select candidates for the International Cooperative Study on the Hydrothermal System at Ultraslow Spreading Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) training programme and review and consider new applications

The Endowment Fund promotes and encourages the conduct of marine scientific research in the Area in particular by supporting participation of qualified scientists and technical personnel from developing countries in marine scientific research programmes through  training, technical assistance and scientific cooperation programmes.

The Fund has made two awards - US$45,000 to InterRidge to contribute to the funding of three marine science fellowships each year for the period from 2012 to 2014 and US$30,000 to the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy to help fund a number of fellowships for students from developing countries and to expand the Academy’s training programme to cover issues relating to deep seabed marine science.

It has also provided financial support to a total of 30 scientists from the following developing countries: Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritania, Nigeria, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago and Viet Nam. Each of the recipients has been able to participate in international training programmes or in research projects, which would not have been possible without the assistance of the Fund.