Hellenic Bioscientific Association in the USA
HBA-USA
HBA-USA
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1. Generation of statute governing all HBA-USA activities.
2. Registration with the Massachussetts Attorney General office as a pan-american organization.
3. Tax exempt status. The HBA-USA was approved as non-profit tax exempt organization under the section 501(c)(3) of the IRS
code. This allows the receipt of donations from governmental institutions and private companies.
4. Representation in the executive council of the World Hellenic Biomedical Association and cooperation (HBA-USA will
organize its own session) towards the organization of an international meeting that will be held in Cyprus in summer 2008.
5. Organization of a pilot student transfer program applying to exceptional graduate students from Greek universities.
Graduate student research positions were posted by HBA-USA members (50% of the positions were funded by the scientists who
offered them).
6. Preparation for the organization of a US-based faculty short-term educational cooperation with Greek and possibly
other European universities. This program will apply to US based faculty that will be interested in visiting Greek/European
universities and participate in teaching of undergraduate and graduate courses. In the context of this program's preparation, there
are two signed agreements with the Department of Biology (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) and the Department of
Biological Applications and Biotechnologies (University of Ioannina) that have been approved by the General Assemblies
of the respective departments and will be used in applications for funding from the European Union (transatlantic cooperation) and
other sources. This activity will hopefully be organized by the next Board of Directors upon finding of necessary funding.
7. Affiliation with the International Center for Hellenic Research (ICHR-France) and the European Institute of Law,
Science & Technology. In coordination with the ICHR and other entities we are preparing a proposal that will be submitted to
the European Union and aims to pinpoint the contribution of Greek scientists in the advancement of their scientific
disciplines over the previous 30 years and the consequences of the brain drain for the EU.
8. Dynamic web-page updated frequently with the HBA-USA latest news and research/faculty positions available in the USA ,
Greece and Europe . On-line members’ directory based on geographical distribution as well as on research interests. It is
remarkable that the web-page has approximately 7,500 visits during the previous 2 years.
9. Interaction with local communities of the HBA-USA's members. In this context, two social events were organized for the
celebration of our 1st and 2nd anniversary for the HBA-USA establishment along with the New Year's Pie events (Boston in 2006,
New York City in 2007).
10. Participation in the organizing committee of the meeting "Biosciences in the 21st Century" that was presided over by
Prof. F. Kafatos and was organized by the Hellenic Association of Bioscientists.
11. Meetings with the following representatives for presentation, discussion and possible cooperation regarding present and
future activities of the HBA-USA:
- M. Yiannakou (Minister of Education of Greece).
- Prof. Ioannis Tsoukalas (General Secretary for Research & Technology-Hellenic Ministry of Development).
- Dr I. Efthimiopoulos (Director of the office for Hellenic education issues of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America).
- Consul General of Chicago.
- Consul General of Boston.
- Andrew Athens (Former President of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad - SAE).
- Christos Tomaras (President of the Hellenic Scholarship Foundation).
- Dr P. Groumpos (Director of the Patras Science Park - PSP) for the organization of an electronic database that the PSP
intends to establish and include Greek scientists from the US.
- Board of the HELMSIC (Hellenic Medical Students International Committee) for update of the Medical students of the Univ
of Athens regarding the student transfer program and educational opportunities they may explore in the USA before and after their
graduation.
12. Press releases:
- Sunday VIMA - Section about science (information about the student transfer program)
- Municipal Radio Station of Xanthi (general information of the Thrace community about the student transfer program and the
role of the HBA-USA as a link for people who want to work or study in the US universities).
- Journal BIO (Bionova - Greece).
- www.alfavita.gr
- www.biology4u.gr
| Update on HBA-USA activities for the period Jan 2006-Dec 2007 |