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2. An Introduction to 2 Behzad Ghareyazie, President of Biosafety Society of Iran & Executive Director of IRBIC (ghareyazie@yahoo.com)ghareyazie@yahoo.com and Naghmeh Abiri, IRBIC Webmaster Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

3. to the top The Fertile Crescent, 9000-4500 BCE Every thing started in here: Center for Civilization! 3

4. 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

5. 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”. 5

6.  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

7. www.irbic.ir Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

8. 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 collaboration Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

9. IRBIC Persian website

10. 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

11. Meeting with His Excellency Hashemi Rafsanjani, Head of the Expediency Council Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

12. Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani: Biotechnology requires a strong public awareness. Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

13. 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

14. Translation of ISAAA Publications 14 Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

15. 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

16. Art of Communicating Science and Biotechnology with Public 16 Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

17. Visiting to Transgenic Facilities of the Malaysa University 17 Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

18. Participation in MyBiotechnology Carnival 18 Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore

19. 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

20. Big Events in 2011  Official inauguration of IRBIC  Third Biosafety and Genetic Engineering Congress 20 Ghareyazie and Abiri, April 4, 2011, Singapore Genetic Engineering: Food Security & Sustainable Development

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23. 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