A Tanzanian geophysicist based at Pennsylvania State University, United States, is creating a programme to boost training for geophysicists in Africa. 

Called AfricaArray, the project is a partnership between Pennsylvania State University, the South African Council for Geoscience in Pretoria and the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. It aims to address the growing demand for trained earth scientists in Africa being fuelled by increasing prices of rare minerals such as gold.

AfricaArray will combine research backed by major funding agencies such as the US National Science Foundation with training for local specialists who will remain in Africa. It hopes to raise US$2.7 million, US$600,000 of which has already been raised.

Geophysicists will discuss the programme in greater detail at a workshop in Italy on 26–27 February.

Link to full article in Nature