Advances in forecasting and technology promise more effective early warning systems for natural hazards. What stands between disaster alert and action, and how can the impact of early warning tools be enhanced?

Human rights principles can guide efforts to ensure that everyone benefits from scientific advances. How do they intersect with science, policy and practice, and what stands in the way of a rights-based approach to S&T for development?

Innovators in developing countries are finding ingenious solutions to local problems. How can they be helped to realise their potential, make an impact on a large scale and put countries on a path to sustainability?

Developing countries rely on marine resources for survival, particularly in the Pacific. How can ocean data help sustainable management and what should governments do to ensure effective use of scientific tools?

Nuclear power is an attractive energy option in the developing world. How has the accident at Fukushima affected plans for the technology, and what do policymakers need to consider when weighing up nuclear against other sources of energy?

Developing countries need more women scientists. How wide is the gender gap? What are the obstacles preventing women and girls from advancing in scientific fields, and what can be done to overcome them?

The trade in counterfeit medicines is flourishing. How can new technologies help to detect fakes? What will it take for developing countries to thwart the trade? And are current policies targeting the right threat to patients' health?

Researchers are working on nanotechnology cures for age-old diseases, but is it affordable, what are the risks and what policies would ensure the best use of an expensive technology?

Climate change will certainly impact global and regional water resources, but the exact consequences for water security remain unclear. How well can scientists predict the problems? And what can policymakers do to prepare?

Bringing together traditional and modern medicine faces numerous challenges that stem from differences in how each is practiced, evaluated and managed. What are researchers doing to bridge the gap?

Technologies to harness solar power as a path to low-carbon energy are developing at breakneck speed. How can developing countries best make use of them to benefit the millions of rural poor who still live without electricity?

Scientists have irrefutable evidence that malnutrition, which affects one in three people, increases the risk of disease and death and reduces productivity and socioeconomic development. Can they also point to proven interventions to help?

Satellite remote sensing data can provide crucial information for managing natural disasters. How can developing countries access and make use of these data? And what must policymakers do to prepare?

Climate change may well impact insect-borne disease, but the exact consequences remain uncertain. How well can scientists predict problems both at the global and regional scale? And what can policymakers do to prepare?

In the run-up to this year's climate talks in Copenhagen, governments the world over are proposing ways to reduce forest emissions. But are they backed by scientific evidence? And how can developing countries ensure they benefit?

Researchers are busy trying to harness nanotechnology for clean water. But when can we expect results? What are the risks? And how can nano-based solutions be delivered to the millions lacking access to safe water in developing countries?

Donors are increasingly recognising that they have a key role to play in strengthening higher education in developing countries. But how should aid be delivered? And which areas need most support?

Developing countries around the Indian Ocean are particularly vulnerable to cyclones. How can they harness science and technology for better forecasts and disaster mitigation, and how can they cope with the impacts?

As disease burden shifts from infectious to chronic conditions such as cancer and heart disease, developing countries face high health and economic costs. How can they better understand the risks and meet the challenge?

Regional partnerships promise to strengthen scientific research capacity and sustainable development. What are the benefits, how well do we know what works, and what support do they need to fulfil their potential?

Antibiotic resistance is poorly documented in developing countries, even though they bear a high burden of infectious disease. What can they do to tackle the problem? And how can new drug development best be encouraged?

Cultivating crops for fuel is a growing industry. But as scientists improve methods to produce biofuels, do developing countries know enough about their potential, and how to minimise risks while reaping the benefits?

Today, Islamic states have a poor record of scientific productivity. How can they foster innovation, bridge the gap with industrialised countries and truly restore the Muslim world to its former scientific glory?

Despite limited resources for science, Himalayan countries are on a path to sustainable development using cheap, small-scale technologies. But can they reconcile past successes with future challenges such as climate change?