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.

Some Muslim countries' powerful financial incentives to make quick progress in research could backfire, cautions Athar Osama.

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.

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

China's emphasis on journal impact factors to evaluate the quality of scientific work is damaging chemistry research, says Nai-Xing Wang.

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

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.

Mentoring helps women build careers in science, and helps science get the best out of women, says social psychologist Tineke Willemsen.

Policies that help remove the stigma around childcare will help put men and women on an equal footing in science, says Mary Ann Mason.

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

Egypt has a chance to operate its science institutions as meritocracies — a difficult but critical task, says Bruce Alberts.

Partnerships that team up high-quality universities in Gulf states with talent in more populous nations can benefit everyone, says Athar Osama.

Solving Africa's problems needs not just technology, but social science — and a culture of debate, says Jonathan Harle.

Africa must put differences aside before its plans for research and education excellence can come to fruition, argues Linda Nordling.

Moroccans are receptive to science, but the country needs a much stronger communication and scientific literacy effort, says Aziz Bensalah.

Developmental universities must commit to putting knowledge at the service of social development, argue Rodrigo Arocena and Judith Sutz.

Islamic nations must regroup to put faltering science strategy back on track, says policy advisor Athar Osama.