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Science & Innovation Policy: African science policy

Opinions

Here is a list of the latest articles

Chabayanzara follows podcast instructions to draw cattle vaccine, Zimbabwe

Successful innovation depends on engaging the grassroots

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

2 May 2012 | EN | ES | FR | 中文

Africa Analysis: Taking charge of university fundraising

Stunning fundraising success at Stellenbosch University is a model for others in Africa, but leadership is crucial, says Linda Nordling.

1 May 2012 | EN | FR

Africa Analysis: Innovating in a changing world

Africa must use this week's science forum to adapt its innovation initiatives to fit a changing world, argues Linda Nordling.

2 April 2012 | EN

Biomed Analysis: Why Africa must make its own drugs

There is a pressing need for Africa to bolster its pharmaceuticals industry, and that requires the right policy framework, argues Priya Shetty.

22 March 2012 | EN

Girl with bed net, Ethiopia

Taking life-saving innovations from lab to village

Improving health for the poor depends on nurturing local innovations — and learning how to deliver them, argue Abdallah Daar and Peter Singer.

15 March 2012 | EN | FR

Africa Analysis: Finding a niche in malaria research

Africa needs to up its game in malaria research, but by doing what it does best, not by replicating Western research, says Linda Nordling.

7 March 2012 | EN | FR

Primary school children, Kenya

Investment in ICT is no substitute for technology policy

African governments with technology policies that focus only on ICT should rethink their priorities, says Ndubuisi Ekekwe.

2 March 2012 | EN

Africa Analysis: Collaborating too far from home

Africa lags behind other developing regions in local collaboration — and in building its own scientific capacity, says Linda Nordling.

2 February 2012 | EN | FR

Sudanese university students

South Sudan must turn its back on elitist education

South Sudan's prosperity depends on more public universities serving more students — and focussing on S&T, not humanities, says John A. Akec.

1 February 2012 | EN | FR

Kenyan farmer selling vegetables

How to nurture entrepreneurs and stimulate innovation

Open innovation is key to the success of iHub and can change the working culture of any community of innovators, says Linda Kamau.

25 January 2012 | EN | FR

Urban farmer, Mali

Africa needs new organisations that support innovation

The scientific community should create new intergovernmental organisations that promote innovative science in Africa, says Calestous Juma.

Source: Science

13 December 2011 | EN

Africa Analysis: Assessing Angola's science ambition

Angola has the money, connections and political will to be a force in African science. But will it tackle inequality, asks Linda Nordling.

30 November 2011 | EN | FR

Africa Analysis: Go green for pragmatism, not profit

Pragmatism must trump profit when African leaders commit to a green development agenda, argues Linda Nordling.

4 November 2011 | EN | FR

Young girl in Exploratorium, San Francisco

Africa needs more 'hands-on' science centres

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

3 November 2011 | EN

AIDS orphan and grandmother, South Africa

Creating a 'safe' space to advance evidence-based policy

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

19 October 2011 | EN | FR

Africa Analysis: Disaster warning not just about science

The East Africa famine calls into question the wisdom of investing in early warning systems without improving take-up, writes Linda Nordling.

5 October 2011 | EN | FR

Islam Analysis: Give science a social contract

Ambitious plans for a 'desert development corridor' in Egypt could provide a concrete example of the social value of science, says Athar Osama.

11 August 2011 | EN | FR

Africa Analysis: Don't reject R&D measures too quickly

Critics looking for more from the first African Innovation Outlook should realise it is a solid base on which to work, says Linda Nordling.

4 August 2011 | EN

Nobel Prize winners Ahmed Zewail and Nicolaas Bloembergen

Egypt needs science powered by people, not big projects

Egypt's 'science city' will not build a science culture without its people empowered by academic experience abroad, argues Austin Dacey.

21 July 2011 | EN

Africa Analysis: Regional climate plan deserves support

A new southern African climate plan is impressive, but needs more funding if it is to plug the continent's data gap, writes Linda Nordling.

7 July 2011 | EN