Elsevier Foundation Announces Grants for Innova...

NEW YORK, February 13 /PRNewswire/ --

    - Awardees Set Example for Innovation in Developing Countries and the 
Academic Workplace



    The Elsevier Foundation has announced today that it has committed a total
of US$594,000 in grants to thirteen institutions from around the world in
support of initiatives that promote the work of libraries and scholars in
science, technology and medicine. The recipient programs were selected from
over 150 applicants worldwide for their innovation and potential for impact
in the developing world and the academic workplace.



    Six grants have been awarded under the Elsevier Foundation's program for
Innovative Libraries in Developing Countries, which helps libraries build
their capacity to use scientific, technical and medical information to
promote health and economic advancement in the developing world. This year's
awardees include institutions working in Africa, Latin America and Asia to
improve access to scientific information, develop information resources, and
train librarians and researchers on how to use and deploy information for
patient care, health research, HIV/AIDS, disaster preparedness, and
agricultural development.



    Under its New Scholars program, the Elsevier Foundation has awarded seven
grants in support of initiatives that help scholars balance childcare and
family responsibilities during the early stages of their demanding careers in
science and technology. The awardees represent a range of institutions that
are pioneering new approaches to childcare, mentoring, networking and
participation in scholarly meetings.



    "The Elsevier Foundation is always seeking out new ideas and models to
advance the role of science, technology and medicine in addressing critical
human needs," said Y.S. Chi, Vice Chairman of Elsevier. "Whether they are
working to put essential scientific information to work in the developing
world or helping to encourage and support a new generation of scholars, we
are fortunate to have the opportunity to help these committed institutions to
create new solutions to some of the world's most important challenges."



    The Elsevier Foundation provides grants to institutions around the world,
with a focus on support for the world's libraries and for scholars in the
early stages of their careers. Since its inception, the Foundation has
awarded more than 50 grants worth over a million dollars to non-profit
organizations working in these fields. Through gift-matching, the Foundation
also supports the efforts of Elsevier employees to play a positive role in
their local and global communities. The Elsevier Foundation is funded by
Elsevier, a leading global publisher of scientific, technical and medical
information products and services.



About Elsevier

    Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and 
medical information products and services. Working in partnership with the 
global science and health communities, Elsevier's 7,000 employees in over 70 
offices worldwide publish more than 2,000 journals and 1,900 new books per 
year, in addition to offering a suite of innovative electronic products, such 
as ScienceDirect (http://www.sciencedirect.com/), MD Consult 
(http://www.mdconsult.com/), Scopus (http://www.info.scopus.com/),
bibliographic databases, and online reference works.



    Elsevier (http://www.elsevier.com/) is a global business headquartered in
Amsterdam, The Netherlands and has offices worldwide. Elsevier is part of
Reed Elsevier Group plc (http://www.reedelsevier.com/), a world-leading
publisher and information provider. Operating in the science and medical,
legal, education and business-to-business sectors, Reed Elsevier provides
high-quality and flexible information solutions to users, with increasing
emphasis on the Internet as a means of delivery. Reed Elsevier's ticker
symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and
ENL (New York Stock Exchange).



    
    For more information please visit http://www.elsevierfoundation.org
    Or contact:
    
    Anna Hogrebe,
    Corporate Relations, Elsevier,
    [phone],
    [e-mail].