Abdus Salam used his genius to promote science in the developing world, but his legacy remains unfulfilled, says Athar Osama.

Pakistan's 'open access instrumentation' initiative can be replicated in other developing countries, opines Atta-ur-Rahman.

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

English may be the language of science, but students learn better and contribute more when taught in their local tongue, says Giovanni Tapang.

Countries are using innovative schemes to train and retain health professionals — but they need support, says WHO expert Manuel M. Dayrit.

North-South partnerships dominate university funding in Tanzania, but they are failing to build capacity, says Johnson M. Ishengoma.

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

Public health researchers must be sensitive to resource limitations to ensure medical innovations bring real benefits, says Takunda Matose.

Science students will choose to study and work in Africa if they have access to high-quality training, says education adviser Sophie Rivière.

Support for young African scientists is critical if they are to apply their knowledge to socioeconomic challenges on the African continent, says Christopher Chetsanga.

Africa should reverse its brain drain and use good governance to ensure development, argues Nobel winner Wole Soyinka.

Indian grant schemes and networking drives to coax scientists back home can be used by other countries, argue Shuba Tole and Ronald D. Vale.

After decades of so-so attempts to harness Africa's scientific diaspora, a model for collaboration remains elusive, says Linda Nordling.

India should be inspiring science and technology graduates to stay in the sector, rather than building new institutions, says Anant Kamath.

Africa needs postgraduate programmes that focus on local priorities to improve its health systems, say Wilson Savino and colleagues.

One of the most serious problems faced by Guatemala is its increasing brain drain, says a leading scientist.

The EU's 'Blue Card' could rob Africa of its highly-skilled workers and reverse gains made in fighting poverty and poor health, says Peter Ngatia.

Doruk Ozgediz and Robert Riviello make the case for devoting more resources to easily treated surgical conditions in Africa.

Medical graduates from poor nations should be free to leave for jobs abroad — and return with new skills, argue Zarmeneh Aly and Fawad Taj.