In the media - 2007

• Algeria increases science spending
  21 December 2007, SciDev.Net
  Algerian science has received a boost with an increase in government research spending.
  
  
• Brussels sees scramble to do science with Africa
  18 December 2007, Research Africa
  As Europe and Africa prepare to work more closely on science and technology, an initiative to boost research collaboration between the two continents has been coolly received by European Union bureaucrats who fear it may hamper their own science linkages.
  
  
• ADB funds $200m skills programme
  18 December 2007, Research Africa
  The African Development Bank (ADB) is preparing to disburse $192.4 million to build skills on the continent. The funds are likely to be released to six countries and two regional bodies next year.³The aim is to build science and technology skills for the competitiveness of African economies,² an ADB official said.
  
  
• New initiative seeks to strengthen African research
  17 December 2007, SciDev.Net
  A UK-based medical charity is seeking funding proposals for a new initiative to boost African research and strengthen research networks.
  
  
• European collaboration to support African science
  7 December 2007, SciDev.Net
  The European Union's 'Science With Africa' initiative paves the way for discussions at this weekend's summit in Lisbon.
  
  
• US$13 million grant boosts women in agriculture
  6 December 2007, SciDev.Net
  The Gates Foundation has given US$13 million to a scheme aiming to increase the number of African women in agricultural science.
  
  
• Now it's up to Africa
  29 November 2007, SciDev.Net
  Delay in the implementation of Africa's plan of action for science and technology suggests commitment to act does not yet go deep enough.
  
  
• Amcost rejects education in continental science fund remit
  20 November 2007, Research Africa
  The African Ministerial Council for Science and Technology (Amcost) has unanimously rejected the inclusion of education in the forthcoming African Science and Innovation Fund, Asif.
  
  
• AU and Nepad fall out over science indicators
  20 November 2007, Research Africa
  A flagship project to measure the quality and quantity of science in Africa could be shelved after a row erupted between the two main science policymaking bodies on the continent.
  
  
• AU-Wipo award shunned by applicants, may be scrapped
  20 November 2007, Research Africa
  A cloud of uncertainty hangs over the future of the African Union World Intellectual Property Organisation (Wipo) science awards owing to poor submission of nominations by member states, Research Africa heard last week.
  
  
• Eastern promise
  20 November 2007, Research Africa
  East Africa is once again eyeing the possibility of creating a super-nation to increase its economic and political clout. Deborah-Fay Ndlovu asks what effect it would have on the region¹s researchers.
  
  
• African ministerial council outlines scientific targets
  16 November 2007, SciDev.Net
  The African Ministerial Council on Science and Technology has suggested guidelines for furthering science, technology and innovation.
  
  
• Policy advice 'poses challenge' for Africa academies
  15 November 2007, SciDev.Net
  Africa's science academies are improving their engagement with policymakers, but anticipate further challenges ahead.
  
  
• African leaders endorse ICT to cut poverty
  30 October 2007, SciDev.Net
  Leaders at a summit in Rwanda have agreed to implement ICT initiatives to cut poverty and stimulate development.
  
  
• New Amcost chief sets sights on 1% S&T target
  23 October 2007, Research Africa
  Kenya's science minister Noah Wekesa intends to push African governments towards the continent's goal of allocating one percent of gross domestic product to science when he takes over leadership of the African Ministerial Conference of Science and Technology (Amcost) in November.
  
  
• Slim science budget for Malawi
  23 October 2007, Research Africa
  Malawi's department of science and technology has received a rather small amount of money in the government's national budget allocations, announced in September. This has limited the number of programmes it can undertake, says director for science and technology, Alfred Maluwa.
  
  
• More than numbers
  23 October 2007, Research Africa
  Following news that only 20 out of 53 African countries have dedicated science ministries, science and technology scholar Frank Teng-Zeng asks in an opinion piece whether numbers is all that counts. "What matters most in the debate is not how many African countries have substantive science ministries, but how many are functional," he writes.
  
  
• Malawi endorses ethanol-fuelled cars
  17 October 2007, SciDev.Net
  The Malawi government is promoting ethanol-fuelled cars to make use of its abundant ethanol and reduce petrol imports.
  
  
• Science education key to ending poverty in Africa
  17 October 2007, SciDev.Net
  Africans need widespread science education to 'shake off the yoke of poverty', says a leading African thinker.
  
  
• Nigeria: no scientific success without mathematics
  15 October 2007, SciDev.Net
  Nigerian mathematicians are urging their government to invest in mathematics education as an essential component of a growing economy.
  
  
• African countries join the patent game
  10 October 2007, SciDev.Net
  A scheme in Africa allowing countries to cooperate on patent applications means researchers can protect their intellectual property.
  
  
• African rice centre welcomes new members
  9 October 2007, SciDev.Net
  Four central and eastern African countries have joined the Africa Rice Center with the aim of strengthening rice research capacity.
  
  
• Trade ministers moot scheme to harness technology in Africa
  5 October 2007, Research Africa
  Africa is seeking to boost the growth of its industry through a 250 million euro (US$350m) initiative using technology to bolster production. The scheme, named the African Technology and Innovation Initiative (ATII) has already been adopted by the continental conference of ministers of industry and should take off once heads of state give their nod of approval at a summit next January.
  
  
• South Africa weighs up ten-year science plan
  4 October 2007, SciDev.Net
  South Africa hopes to transform its economy in ten years by investing in science and technology via public-private partnerships.
  
  
• Space technology 'invaluable for development'
  28 September 2007, SciDev.Net
  Space technology has enormous potential to help developing countries progress, an international meeting has been told.
  
  
• Equipping universities to join the war against poverty
  28 September 2007, SciDev.Net
  Universities in developing countries should ditch the 'ivory tower' legacy of colonialism and enhance their links with the world outside.
  
  
• Spain boosts Algerian S&T
  25 September 2007, SciDev.Net
  Science and technology in Algeria received a boost last week, when a joint project aiming to increase research capacity was launched.
  
  
• Committee sets criteria for African innovation survey
  25 September 2007, Research Africa
  The African intergovernmental committee on science, technology and innovation indicators met for the first time this month to set guidelines for a landmark process to measure and assess the impact of science on the continent. The two-day gathering in Maputo, Mozambique ended on 18 September.
  
  
• African alliance funds next cohort of crop breeders
  19 September 2007, SciDev.Net
  The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa will fund doctoral and post-doctoral research to boost regional food security.
  
  
• African S&T institutions 'need focus and structure'
  18 September 2007, SciDev.Net
  Science and technology will not produce economic growth without changes to institutional practice and focus, a meeting has heard.
  
  
• African attitudes to S&T 'must change'
  17 September 2007, SciDev.Net
  Social and business attitudes to science and technology are preventing African countries from reaping the benefits of research, say experts.
  
  
• 33 African states lack science ministries
  4 September 2007, Research Africa
  Only 20 out of Africa's 53 countries have set up science ministries - a situation that is impacting negatively on the continent¹s ability to effectively reduce poverty, according to an official from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Uneca).
  
  
• Traditional medicine for HIV to go on trial
  4 September 2007, SciDev.Net
  Clinical trials of a traditional medicine to treat HIV are set to begin this month in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.
  
  
• African database will 'tap global knowledge'
  30 August 2007, SciDev.Net
  A new scheme will help African scientists and students find out where to access scientific information on the Internet.
  
  
• Development Bank pledges $12m for AIST
  28 August 2007, Research Africa
  The African Development Bank and the Economic Community for West African Countries have signed an aide mémoire that will see the former providing a US$12 million grant for the construction of an African Institute of Science and Technology campus in Abuja.
  
  
• South Africa looks 10 yrs ahead
  28 August 2007, Research Africa
  The South African government has published a 10-year plan for science and innovation. The plan, adopted by the cabinet in July but not yet formally launched, sets out how the country will go from being a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy.
  
  
• Liberia launches crisis plan for education
  28 August 2007, Research Africa
  Liberia has announced a cocktail of measures to rescue the country's ailing education sector. The measures include the creation three extra universities.
  
  
• Africa must commit to biosecurity measures
  16 August 2007, SciDev.Net
  The threat of biotechnology misuse has implications for the development of science and technology in Africa, argue Chandre Gould and colleagues.
  
  
• African cable project gains interest
  16 August 2007, SciDev.Net
  A new undersea communications cable project, aiming to provide cheap access to communications in Africa, is choosing investors.
  
  
• World Bank boosts Ugandan agricultural research
  15 August 2007, SciDev.Net
  The World Bank has provided Uganda with a US$12 million loan to expand agricultural research activities and enhance food security.
  
  
• World rice research centres unite for Africa
  9 August 2007, SciDev.Net
  Three international rice research centres will combine forces to boost rice production in Africa.
  
  
• Africa needs better data to combat global warming
  1 August 2007, SciDev.Net
  Effective adaptation strategies will require reliable scientific data both on the nature of climate change and on its potential impact.
  
  
• SADC members sign science protocol
  31 July 2007, IOL
  Twelve science and technology ministers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) signed a protocol in Pretoria to improve science and technology co-operation on the continent.
  
  
• African researchers test new TB vaccine
  30 July 2007, SciDev.Net
  Trials have begun in Africa for a TB vaccine, which researchers hope will last longer than the old vaccine, and protect HIV-infected people.
  
  
• African mapping highlights risk of drought and flood
  27 July 2007, SciDev.Net
  Soil moisture maps of southern Africa will help predict floods and droughts in the region, say scientists.
  
  
• Technology predicts African food shortages
  27 July 2007, SciDev.Net
  A computer model that forecasts future grain prices can help manage food shortages in Africa, says a NASA researcher.
  
  
• AU recruits women, youths for science
  6 July 2007, Research Africa
  The African Union is putting into place strategies to increase the number of women and youth in science and technology.
  
  
• Industry’s bottom line on African innovation
  26 June 2007, Research Africa
  Kenya, South Africa and Tunisia have the best innovation climates in Africa, say business leaders. But despite a steady upward trend in economic growth, the continent still does not cut the mustard to attract significant R&D investment from industry. Data to this effect comes from a survey published at the World Economic Forum “Davos for Africa” meeting in Cape Town from 13 to 15 June.
  
  
• Longed-for statistics reform could smooth way for research
  26 June 2007, Research Africa
  African statistics-gathering systems are set for an overhaul, with a continental fund and strategy to harmonise national frameworks due to emerge soon. However, progress has been long in coming and the absence of an effective statistical system has been a perennial obstacle to researchers, who have been forced to be innovative in accessing data, in some cases ignoring countries in their studies purely because of the paucity of data.
  
  
• A champion of words
  26 June 2007, Research Africa
  As Tony Blair steps down this month, Myles Wickstead - the head of secretariat to the British premier's Commission for Africa and former ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti - considers the British premier’s legacy for science in Africa.
  
  
• Developing nations embrace renewable energy
  21 June 2007, SciDev.Net
  Investment in renewable energy in developing countries has risen from 15 to 21 per cent of the world's total in two years.
  
  
• Kenya kick starts innovation fund
  20 June 2007, SciDev.Net
  Kenya has committed US$2.9 million to kick start a new public-private fund for science, technology and innovation research.
  
  
• Nepad Science and Technology Program Needs Political Capital
  15 June 2007, African Development Bank Press
  Interview of Dr John Mugabe, Director of the NEPAD Office of Science and Technology.
  
  
• African Union holds G8 to account
  15 June 2007, SciDev.Net
  The African Union has called for an independent body to hold the G8 to account for funding promised to Africa.
  
  
• Africa must create its own biotechnology agenda
  12 June 2007, SciDev.Net
  Building public support for genetically modified crops in sub-Saharan Africa means developing a homegrown solution to the region's own needs.
  
  
• AU: African ICT policies must match regional needs
  6 June 2007, SciDev.Net
  Information and communication policies must match regional needs if inter-country projects are to succeed, says the African Union.
  
  
• Kenya creates 'poverty map'
  1 June 2007, SciDev.Net
  A new Kenyan atlas provides insight into the links between poverty and environmental factors.
  
  
• In with the new: Nigeria's 'science' president
  29 May 2007, SciDev.Net
  Nigerian scientists are hoping that the new president's science background will prioritise science for development. Semiu Babalola reports.
  
  
• Government shake ups should prioritise S&T for Africa
  24 May 2007, Business Daily Africa
  Calestous Juma argues for the reorganisation of African governments to put science and technology at the heart of economies.
  
  
• Heiligendamm G8 urged to boost African science
  22 May 2007, Research Africa
  Next month's meeting of the leaders of the wealthy Group of Eight countries will have Africa as one of its focal points. But those expecting large cash windfalls to emerge for African science and technology may be waiting in vain—despite many recent pleas for support from senior scientists and policymakers.
  
  
• Satellite launches boost African communications
  18 May 2007, SciDev.Net
  Nigeria launched its Chinese-built communication satellite this week, with South Africa to follow with its own launch next month.
  
  
• Scientists demand G8 action on climate change
  16 May 2007, SciDev.Net
  Scientists from both the developing and the developed world insist that the G8 must act on climate change.
  
  
• African ecologists unite for environment
  10 May 2007, SciDev.Net
  East African ecologists have formed a new society to address escalating threats to the region's environment.
  
  
• Zimbabwean science must fight many battles
  8 May 2007, Science
  Scientists in Zimbabwe are finding ways to continue their work despite "extremely difficult" research conditions, such as budgetary hardships, minimal government support and emigration of colleagues and talented students, says this Science article.
  
  
• African fund will advance science on the continent
  1 May 2007, SciDev.Net
  Supporting the African Science and Innovation Fund is essential to improving science and technology on the continent, argues John Mugabe.
  
  
• East Africa establishes climate monitoring centre
  25 April 2007, SciDev.Net
  A new regional climate monitoring centre will enable East African countries to better predict climate-related disasters.
  
  
• Egypt and Sudan strengthen scientific ties
  25 April 2007, SciDev.Net
  Egypt and Sudan have agreed to exchange skills and scientific knowledge, and set up organisations to promote science for development.
  
  
• East, West and South agree biotech plans
  24 April 2007, Research Africa
  Eastern, Western and Southern Africa are all one step closer to agreeing regional strategies for biosafety and biotechnology. Plans adopted at ministerial meetings at the end of last month represent a vote of confidence in the potential of biotechnology to solve the continent’s food security problems, but have caused consternation among pro-environment groups.
  
  
• Nigerian president built solid science agenda
  20 April 2007, Nature
  Nigeria's outgoing president, Olusegun Obasanjo, leaves behind a solid agenda for science and development, says a Nature editorial.
  
  
• Harnessing science and technology for progress
  17 April 2007, Business Day
  Dr John Mugabe comments that African nations must channel more funds towards research.
  
  
• African bank adopts 'landmark' science strategy
  16 April 2007, SciDev.Net
  The African Development Bank's member countries have adopted a strategy for education, science and technology in development.
  
  
• Collaboration can boost science, technology growth in Africa
  10 April 2007, Business Day
  Dr John Mugabe writes that the challenge for the continent is to invest in creating scientists who will be able to work with counterparts abroad.
  
  
• Report sees 'climate divide' between rich and poor
  6 April 2007, SciDev.Net
  Developing countries, particularly in Africa, are likely to suffer most from the impacts of human-induced global warming, according to the latest report from an intergovernmental panel.
  
  
• West Africa to boost food crops with biotechnology
  4 April 2007, SciDev.Net
  Members of the Economic Community of West African States have agreed to embrace biotechnology, and have adopted a regional action plan.
  
  
• Zambian ICT policy 'fails to address key issues'
  4 April 2007, SciDev.Net
  The new information and communication technology policy could benefit some farmers but fails to involve the private sector, say critics.
  
  
• Africa: Continent Develops Common Science And Technology Action Plan
  29 March 2007, allAfrica
  Africa has developed a consolidated action plan on science and technology that integrates the programmes and projects of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) into the structures of the African Union.
  
  
• Zambia welcomes first private science university
  23 March 2007, SciDev.net
  Zambia's first private science and technology university is to open in the summer — while its state-run counterpart faces problems.
  
  
• Malawi to roll out 'fertiliser trees' project
  23 March 2007, SciDev.net
  Malawi will implement a 'fertiliser trees' project later this year, supplying free tree seeds and training for farmers to increase crop productivity.
  
  
• Nigerian minister calls for ICT for 'every African'
  22 March 2007, SciDev.net
  A Nigerian minister has called for better access to ICTs in Africa, but his country's own scheme is suffering from inadequate support.
  
  
• Think small for water management, say scientists
  22 March 2007, SciDev.net
  Improving water management for small-scale farmers could help water scarcity and food shortages in developing countries, scientists say.
  
  
• Task force proposes ICT projects for African health
  21 March 2007, SciDev.net
  A global task force has proposed projects to deliver information and communication technology for health systems in sub-Saharan Africa.
  
  
• Development bank sets sights on universities
  20 March 2007, Research Africa
  In an unprecedented move to harness innovation for economic growth on the continent, the African Development Bank (AfDB) is building up a pipeline of projects to strengthen science and technology capacity in universities, Research Africa reports this month. In July this year, the AfDB is expected to adopt a vision to lead investments in African higher education infrastructure. It will also position the bank as a catalyst for linking academics and the private sector, and as as an instigator of innovation policy reform.
  
  
• Regional integration remains elusive despite aspirations
  13 March 2007, Business Daily
  Regionalism - the process of opening up and integration of national socio-economic and political systems - is receiving renewed interest in many African counties.
  
  
• Africa seeks to foster US science collaboration
  13 March 2007, SciDev.net
  African ambassadors are moving to cement new ties with the United States using science and technology.
  
  
• NEPAD joins forces with Africa's agriculture forum
  1 March 2007, SciDev.net
  The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the Forum on African Research in Agriculture (FARA) will combine their strengths, in order to bring new agricultural technologies to farmers.
  
  
• Shortfall in science spending cripples Malawi's plans
  23 February 2007, SciDev.net
  The government is failing to deliver funds allocated for science, halting a number of initiatives, according to a report.
  
  
• South Africa announces 'visionary' science budget
  22 February 2007, SciDev.net
  South Africa has announced a massive increase in science and education spending.
  
  
• Nigeria initiates Africa's institute of science
  21 February 2007, SciDev.net
  Construction of the first site of the African Institute of Science and Technology has begun in Nigeria.
  
  
• First African innovation survey gets go-ahead
  20 February 2007, Research Africa
  Swedish funders urge universal backing for Nepad-led study - The most comprehensive study to date of African science and innovation took off this month. Fifteen to 20 African states will take part in a Swedish-funded round of national surveys that will lay the foundations for the first African Innovation Outlook (AIO) in 2009.
  
  
• In depth: AU Summit - The subtle shift
  20 February 2007, Research Africa
  The real news at the leaders' summit last month was the move from talking about science as a 'silver bullet' to focusing on how to translate it into solutions, Linda Nordling reports.
  
  
• African leaders set guidelines for scientific growth
  5 February 2007, SciDev.net
  The final declaration of the AU summit commits countries to a series of steps to promote science and technology across the continent.
  
  
• Africa's scientific revolution must start at the roots
  1 February 2007, SciDev.net
  If Africa is to build a sustainable science and technology infrastructure, it needs more than enthusiastic promises from heads of state.
  
  
• Science at the African summit
  February 2007, SciDev.net
  As African leaders meet to discuss the role of science and technology in development, read SciDev.net's exclusive news coverage of their debates and other relevant material.
  
  
• AU endorses biotechnology plan, but not science fund
  31 January 2007, SciDev.net
  Heads of state at the AU summit have endorsed a 20-year biotechnology action plan, but failed to reach agreement on an African science fund.
  
  
• Pan-African parliament scheduled to talk science
  30 January 2007, SciDev.net
  Science and technology has been identified as a key issue for discussion by the Pan-African parliament when it reconvenes in March.
  
  
• AU backs 'diplomatic passports for scientists'
  30 January 2007, SciDev.net
  The African Union has backed a proposal to give scientists diplomatic passports, facilitating research collaboration on the continent.
  
  
• 2007 to be Africa's 'scientific innovations year'
  30 January 2007, SciDev.net
  African leaders have declared 2007 the 'year for scientific innovations', in a bid to raise the profile of Africa's innovative capacity.
  
  
• African presidents urged to boost science
  29 January 2007, SciDev.net
  African leaders have been urged to use their influence to promote the growth of innovation, science and technology on the continent.
  
  
• AU seeks greater engagement from science ministers
  29 January 2007, SciDev.net
  The African Union has agreed to increase the number of ministers required to vote on binding resolutions for science and technology.
  
  
• UN official urges Africa to ramp up science capacity
  26 January 2007, SciDev.net
  The UN Economic Commission for Africa has called for a major training initiative to tackle the decline in African science and technology.
  
  
• Africa creates awards to encourage scientists
  24 January 2007, SciDev.net
  Africa hopes to boost its scientific capacity with a range of new awards and scholarships announced at the AU summit.
  
  
• Demystifying biotech: a transcontinental quest
  23 January 2007, Research Africa
  As policymakers seem to lay their fear of biotechnology to one side, the continent’s scientists are picking up the baton of caution. Decisionmakers, they say, risk underestimating the challenges that remain to make the technology acceptable to a largely sceptical public.
  
  
• Science, a tool for peace
  23 January 2007, Research Africa
  As African leaders gear up to discuss science this month next to a conflict zone, science has an important role to play in stabilising the continent’s wartorn regions, argues Vaughan Turekian.
  
  
• Model for regional cooperation starts up
  23 January 2007, Research Africa
  As Africa's leaders prepare to boost science and technology capacity later this month, a Southern African biotech initiative is providing a blueprint for new forms of regional collaboration that strengthen research capacity, improve regulatory frameworks and help ordinary Africans.
  
  
• Zambia's plans for science get recognition
  23 January 2007, SciDev.net
  The African Development Bank has approved a loan that will help Zambia train researchers and improve working conditions for scientists.
  
  
• Africa 'spearheading' solutions to climate change
  18 January 2007, SciDev.net
  African countries are spearheading ways to tackle climate change, according to a new report.
  
  
• Malawi science plan suffers serious shortfall
  17 January 2007, SciDev.net
  The plight of Malawi's science ambitions provides a sobering reminder of financial realities ahead of the AU science summit.
  
  
• Technology transfer for the poor
  16 January 2007, SciDev.net
  Developing countries must adopt effective policies on technology transfer that meet the needs of all social classes, including the poorest.
  
  
• Kenya: African states, not donors, must fund science
  16 January 2007, SciDev.net
  Kenya hopes that any science declarations made at the forthcoming AU summit will be funded through local sources.