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Science Communication: Influencing policymakers

Opinions

Here is a list of the latest articles

Students

Engage with Wikipedia to share scientific knowledge

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

22 December 2011 | EN | ES

Health science library

Unlock local research potential with open access

The developing world is not well served by traditional research publishing, but can break new ground with open access, argues Leslie Chan.

8 December 2011 | EN | ES | FR | 中文

Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan

Science: a force for the common good

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

1 December 2011 | EN | ES

Autonomy needed in Indian science

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

Source: Current Science

24 October 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

Boat ride to Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuadorian Amazon

How 'geotags' could track developing world science

Online tools reveal a lot about world science — except location. 'Geotags' can fill a knowledge gap and throw up surprises, says Nigel Pitman.

12 October 2011 | EN | ES

Taking notes at meeting in Nairobi, Kenya

Support local governance to get research into policy

To see the research they fund in action, donors should work with good local governance, not informal networks, writes Justin O. Parkhurst.

22 September 2011 | EN | 中文

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

University graduates, Malaysia

Support young science graduates

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

Source: Nature

5 July 2011 | EN | 中文

Islam Analysis: Share knowledge with informal networks

The Islamic world needs new mechanisms that enable leaders to interact informally and share scientific knowledge, argues Athar Osama.

16 June 2011 | EN

Maize farmer, Malawi

Creating a climate for policy change in Malawi

A conflict between climate adaptation and food security policies shows we must create the right conditions for change, says Blessings Chinsinga.

19 May 2011 | EN | FR

Africa Analysis: Science going social

Africa's mobile Internet boom could revolutionise the way scientists, policymakers and the public interact, says Linda Nordling.

7 April 2011 | EN | FR

Biomed Analysis logo

Biomed Analysis: Indian scientists must stand for health

India's doctors and researchers must convince politicians that health research is vital, says Priya Shetty.

20 January 2011 | EN

Ozone hole

Science advisers must open up about uncertainties

The current practice of keeping complexity out of scientific advice is misguided, inviting over-confidence and error, argues Andy Stirling.

Source: Nature

29 December 2010 | EN

Africa Analysis: When science academies should lobby

Africa's academies should take a leading role in lobbying their governments for science funding, argues Linda Nordling.

9 December 2010 | EN

BioMed analysis logo, original photo by FAO

BioMed Analysis: Mental health a forgotten problem

It is time to turn our attention to mental health in poor countries, argues Priya Shetty.

19 October 2010 | EN

Malaria community must make joint push for funds

Malaria researchers must join forces to present a clear and detailed call for the resources they need, say Ian Boulton and Steve Ward.

14 October 2010 | EN

Teaching co-researchers how to interpret aerial photographs

Rangeland management must listen to locals

South Africa must build bottom-up needs-based policies for communal livestock grazing, says agricultural researcher Monique Salomon.

2 June 2010 | EN | FR

Argentinian farmer

Citizen juries are vital for science policymaking

Listening to the public via citizen 'juries' is critical to creating sound science policies, say Alberto Diaz and Ricardo A. Ferraro.

12 May 2010 | EN | ES

Ugandan scientist at JCRC TB lab

Ugandan science needs a ministry

A Ugandan S&T ministry would provide the country's science base with the clarity, cohesion and direction it needs, says Edward Tujunirwe.

5 May 2010 | EN