Undoubtedly, it would be difficult to make a definite assessment of NFSAT's activities at this early date, for only the future can be the unbiased judge. Nevertheless, with regard to its declared goal of securing a place for Armenian science in the international arena, and with the results achieved to this day, it seems we can nonetheless speak of some success. NFSAT's effectiveness, which you can judge by the contents of this website, is derived from the fact that our support is based exclusively on the scientific merit of projects, and from three guiding principles of our work -legality, transparency and equality.

ARMENIA BUCKS TREND

While Russia's competitive grants agencies are struggling (see p. 319), one former Soviet republic seems to be on the right track: Armenia is taking its baby steps in peer-reviewed research. Next month, a new outfit, the National Foundation of Science and Advanced Technologies (NFSAT), will award 10 15-month grants to Armenian-U.S. projects in areas such as biosensors and cocaine antagonists. NFSAT's $300,000 endowment, from the U.S. Agency for International Development, will see it through the end of 1999. "Crucial for the future," says NFSAT chair Harutyun Karapetyan, will be donations from the active community of Armenians living abroad.

Contributors: Nigel Williams, Richard Stone