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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Indian science is bureaucratic and needs to keep up with the demands of liberalisation, says M. Vijayan.

Low levels of science literacy must be tackled by improving China's science media and encouraging scientists to get involved, says Li Daguang.

Nuclear power can benefit developing countries but requires long-term planning and an educated workforce, says Michael J. Mangala.

Population forecasts may be based on unrealistic assumptions of demographic change in the developing world, warns Carl Haub.

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

The two regions have much to gain from coordinating research and enhancing scientific cooperation on solar energy, says Frank Lehner.

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

Young researchers in the developing world must get the support they need to help their countries alleviate poverty, argues Romain Murenzi.

Social media have shown the power of online collaboration — now online labs need to harness it, argues Olawale B. Akinwale.

More girls will study natural sciences if social norms are challenged — there are no innate barriers, argues Emily Ngubia Kuria.

A policy to encourage women graduates in South Africa has worked. Now we must support women scientists, says science minister Naledi Pandor.