SciDev.Net

African nations must not only bring industry and activists to the table, but also follow up on their report, says an editorial in Nature.

Mobile phones can improve health services and provide help for displaced patients during political crises, say Richard Lester and Sarah Karanja.

Other countries could learn from Vietnam's progress on communicating science and risk, says Son Kim Phan.

China is making good progress on intellectual property rights, says chairman of the UK Intellectual Property Institute, Ian Harvey.

Last year's row between two pan-African policy bodies is feeding a split between regional and federal approaches to science, says Linda Nordling.

Michael Greene reviews the ways in which regional scientific cooperation could promote peace in the Middle East.

Understanding how neglected tropical diseases affect chronic diseases can help inform health policies, say Peter Hotez and Abdallah Daar.

FDA priority review vouchers will not necessarily encourage research into tropical diseases, argues Aaron Kesselheim.

Many people suffer or die from foodborne disease each year — but how many? Arie Havelaar believes a WHO initiative will find out.

Technology transfer is central to translating nanotechnology research into benefits for society, says Bai Chunli.

Biotechnology holds great promise for developing countries, but only if they build up their scientific capacity, says TWAS fellow Indira Nath.

Physics is important for sustainable economic growth, says physicist Reza Mansouri.

Over 25 years, TWAS has fostered and celebrated science in the South. Jacob Palis looks back — and forward to the challenges ahead.

Dryland farmers deserve more support from governments, says ICRISAT director-general William Dar.

Films and television programmes about climate change should be made freely available beyond their initial broadcast, argues Nalaka Gunawardene.

China will use science and technology to promote economic and social development, says the country's premier Wen Jiabao.

A change in political outlook is needed to improve health research and translate policies into action, says an editorial in The Lancet.

The White House science office must boost science and technology for international cooperation on many fronts, says Rodney W. Nichols.

Science and innovation continue to grow in developing countries, despite the current economic climate, says an editorial in Nature.

A bottom-up approach is making locally-appropriate pesticides available to India's poorer farmers, explains Daniel Puente-Rodríguez.