The Philippines' Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture-Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA BIC) and Thailand's Biotechnology and Biosafety Information Center (BBIC) took part in the Cornell Alliance for Science Asia Leadership Course on Strategic Planning and Effective Grassroots Organizing held at Dusit Thani Hotel in Hua Hin, Thailand, on January 18-26, 2016.

The leadership course trained the participants in developing forward-facing communication plans to promote access to innovation in their respective countries. Staff of the Philippine and Thailand BICs were among the 48 participants who were taught to formulate strategic frameworks, plan for grassroots campaign and empowerment, and organize grassroots events, among others. Participants shared common challenges, solutions, and experiences from their own countries. Other participants came from Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, United States, and Vietnam.

The Cornell Alliance for Science is an initiative based at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, USA. It seeks to promote access to scientific innovation as a means of enhancing food security, improving environmental sustainability, and raising the quality of life globally. For more information, visit the Cornell Alliance for Science website.