The Scientific Writing Competition for Young Scholars and the Granting Project for the Publication of Scientific Books for the professors of universities and researchers, were launched last week at the Marriott Hotel in the presence of Meniol Jeune, Director General of the Ministry of Education, Paul Gomis, Resident Representative of the UNESCO Office in Haiti, Rectors of public universities in the regions, deans and directors of private higher education institutions and technical directors of the Ministry.

Meniol Jeune underlined that the Ministry is encouraging students to develop their critical thinking skills and encouraging students to promote research and dissemination of scientific works and the renewal of knowledge in certain fields, particularly in education.

For Paul Yves Fausner, Director of the Department of Higher Education and Scientific Research (DESRS) of the Ministry of Education, which is leading this initiative supported by UNESCO, these two major activities are aiming at encouraging research and scientific production in Haiti.

He specified for the scientific writing competition that the applicant's text should be original, clear, relevant, well written and structured with: an introduction setting out the scientific relevance of the work, a development setting out the object of the research and a conclusion expressing the personal position of the applicant on the basis of a solid and convincing argument. The text should not exceed 10 pages in double spaced.

Registration at the Ministry of Education on the Babiole Street, will begin on Monday 16 October and will end on 16 November. Applicants may visit the DESRS to obtain the terms and conditions of the contest.

The authors of the top five scientific papers will be rewarded: The first will receive a laptop and 1,000 US dollars, the second will receive a laptop and 500 dollars, the third will receive a laptop and 250 dollars; the 4th and 5th will have a laptop and $100 each.

SL/ HaitiLibre