Technological innovation can't be imposed on poor people — they must be engaged to select ideas that suit their lives, writes Lawrence Gudza.

Countries in the region need an organised, concerted effort to strengthen scientific input into decision-making, urges Crispin Maslog.

Pakistan’s universities need to have academic freedom to excel, rather than churn out fake research papers, says Pervez Hoodbhoy.

The online encyclopaedia can fill a resource gap for students, policymakers and the public, say Samuel A. Assefa and Alex Bateman.

The developing world is not well served by traditional research publishing, but can break new ground with open access, argues Leslie Chan.

Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan of Jordan discusses how global cooperation on science can benefit a knowledge-hungry world.

Few science centres offer hands-on experience for young people in Africa. Support is needed for an expansion plan, says Graham Durant.

'Boundary organisations' offer a space away from politics for scientists to engage government officials with their research, says Scott Drimie.

To see the research they fund in action, donors should work with good local governance, not informal networks, writes Justin O. Parkhurst.

Health scientists in developing countries can use social media to tackle research priorities, argue Alexander E. T. Finlayson and colleagues.

The Islamic world needs new mechanisms that enable leaders to interact informally and share scientific knowledge, argues Athar Osama.

S&T ministerial committee must reform its Inter-Islamic Networks to promote real collaboration with clear objectives, argues Athar Osama.

Islamic nations' ministerial committee on S&T cooperation must refocus on policy leadership or risk losing relevance, says Athar Osama.

Science partnerships for development and diplomacy must put scientists at the forefront of engagement, says science diplomacy expert Ali Douraghy.

Agriculture and health experts must work together to tackle disease, poverty and malnutrition, says development expert Jeff Waage.

Social networks quickly gather data on possible disease outbreaks after natural disasters, writes biosurveillance expert James Wilson.

A team of agriculture and environment experts, led by Jeffrey Sachs, call for a global network to monitor the world's farming systems.

Scientists must re-engage with the International AIDS Conference to find a needs-based research agenda say Jessica Justman and Wafaa M. El-Sadr.

African scientists are less isolated from each other now thanks to regional networks, but they need broader scope, says Linda Nordling.

The Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development must reset research priorities, says World Food Prize winner Monty Jones.