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An Introduction to

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Behzad Ghareyazie, President of Biosafety Society of Iran & Executive Director of IRBIC (

ghareyazie@yahoo.com) and

Naghmeh Abiri, IRBIC Webmaster

Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

The Fertile Crescent, 9000-4500 BCE

Every thing started in here: Center for Civilization!

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Improvement of animals and plants can be traced back to several thousands years ago. This is sketch of a clay tablet from Ilam (Iran, close to Kuwait), dating from about 5000 years ago, and appears to show a breeding record of domesticated donkeys. Notice the various types of mane.

Progressive Science: Book 3 (1970). Perry GA and Hirons MJD. Blandford Press. London. 4

Iran’s “Mandy and Funny”: Shangool and Mangool the first two genetically engineered domestic animals in Iran.

The two of the three characters of the famous Iranian popular folk story “Shangool, Mangool and Habbe-ye angoor”.

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IRBIC at a Glance Set up in August 2010 The fund for the establishment of IRBIC came

from COMSTEC through PABIC IRBIC’s aim: Generating closer relationship

among various stakeholders for the exchange of information on biotechnology

The ultimate objective: Facilitating the access and application of “Modern Biotechnology” for Iran & developing countries

Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

www.irbic.ir

Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

Establishment and launching IRBIC website

A bilingual website ( Persian & English )

The strength of IRBIC website is in its Persian website

Collaborators: Islamic Azad University, Biotechnology Society of Iran, Biosafety Society of Iran

More request for collaborationGhareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

IRBIC Persian website

Meeting with High Ranking Officials

Aim: attracting the support of high ranking officials Deputy President of Azad Islamic

University Parliament members Executive Director of Farmers' House Government officials

Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

Meeting with His Excellency Hashemi Rafsanjani, Head of the Expediency Council

Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani: Biotechnology requires a strong public awareness.

Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

Publishing Biosafety Newsletters (in Persian)

Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

Three monthly newsletters were published in collaboration with Biosafety Society of Iran.

The printed version is sent to all PMs, & high ranking officials

Translation of ISAAA Publications

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Conducting Workshops for the Public (with Emphasis on Educational Institutes)

Workshops were conducted for different groups of the public. One example is the organizing of a one day workshop for high school girls at Sama High school in Karaj.

More than 100 students attended and responded to this workshop.

Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

Art of Communicating Science and Biotechnology with Public

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Visiting to Transgenic Facilities of the Malaysa University

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Participation in MyBiotechnology Carnival

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Our Sources

BICs and CBU ISAAA Self produced news, views and interviews Students, Researchers, Faculty Members and

Members of Scientific Societies IRBIC reporter

Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

Big Events in 2011

Official inauguration of IRBIC

Third Biosafety and Genetic Engineering Congress

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Genetic Engineering: Food Security & Sustainable Development

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Acknowledgment

Government of The Islamic Republic of Iran

ISAAA, PABIC, MABIC Maha, Dr. Iqbal, Chel, Olah, Sammer, Dr. Teng and Dr. Randy You for your attention

Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore