AWARD LAUREATES | Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC)
Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC)
Scientific Research Institute
Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC) is a scientific research institute and graduate training centre located in Venezuela. It is the largest of the agencies attached to the Ministry of Popular Power for Science and Technology. The original institute, named the Venezuelan Institute for Neurological Research (IVNIC), was originally founded by Dr Humberto Fernandez Moran in 1955. The IVNIC institute operated between 1956 and 1959 before it was decided that the mission and vision of the institute needed to be expanded. This led to the creation of the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research. The institute now focuses on research, technological developments and training as well as providing advice and external services. The research conducted is done in a variety of fields including medicine, biology, chemistry and physics. The headquarters also houses many departments who focus on the areas of anthropology, ecology, microbiology, cell biology and nuclear technology. The ‘Marcel Roche Library’ has over 160,000 volumes and its catalogue of specialised periodicals exceeds 8300 titles. Due to this UNESCO, in 1996, named the Marcel Roche Library the ‘best regional library for science and technology’. The institute plays an important role in educating and conducting research that will affect the future of science and technology.