SciDev.Net

Scientists must lobby policymakers and politicians to ensure that vital research on maternal and child health saves lives, say the authors of a report.

South African researchers have lodged an appeal against their government's rejection of a genetically modified potato.

Using sheeting impregnated with insecticide may be easier, and less toxic, than wall-spraying.

Funds have fallen and the future is "worrying", the AU's science chief told the TWAS meeting, but some countries gave confident reports.

The academy of sciences for the developing world unveiled ambitious funding hopes at its general meeting in South Africa.

Failure to secure rights over joint research data is preventing African researchers from getting ahead, a meeting has heard.

South African researchers will soon begin field trials of a variety of maize capable of withstanding extreme dehydration.

A cassava virus rampant in southern Africa could be facing annihilation, thanks to genetic research in South Africa.

A TB medication that harnesses nanotechnology to cut treatment time and eliminate side effects has won a prestigious award.

South African researchers are probing the AIDS-fighting potential of local plants, signalling a new alliance with healers.

Nigerian universities are targeting closer relationships with industry to unlock research languishing in laboratories.

Kenya has maintained second place in Sub-Saharan Africa innovation rankings while other African countries have shown improvement.

A single research institution spanning the African continent could open its first node by February 2010, education ministers have agreed.

Research cooperation with developing countries is to be cut by 20 per cent, with Latin America hardest hit.

Tanzania's commitment to raise its science budget will be put into action this year, long before the country's self-imposed deadline.

The first funds for Algeria's US$1.4 billion science and technology programme have been released.

The WHO has begun an accreditation scheme for laboratories to ensure that diagnosis on the continent improves.

African universities have been urged to lead the way in making sure agricultural research gets to the farmers that most need it.

South Africa's science minister has named the board members of a new agency that the government hopes will be the saviour of innovation.

The leaders of schemes to subsidise access to journals claim some credit for the dramatic rise in developing world research output.