Uncategorized – Page 6 – Next Einstein Forum

May 20, 2014

Nigerian scientists wary of anti-malarial GM mosquitoes

A vast majority of Nigeria’s scientists are sceptical about using genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes to tackle malaria in the country, a study suggests. Nearly 90 per cent of surveyed scientists were concerned that such mosquitoes could spread in an uncontrolled way beyond their release sites, while more than 94 per cent feared they could mate with other […]

May 19, 2014

Project mixes local, expert know-how to predict weather

Combining meteorology and traditional methods of weather prediction could increase uptake of weather information by local communities in rural areas of Tanzania, experts say. Scientists from Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA), Hakikazi Catalyst — a non-profit organisation in Tanzania that empowers people with information — and the UK-based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), indicate that such […]

May 16, 2014

Project releases disease-resistant cassava plantlets

About 30 million smallholder cassava farmers in East and Central Africa could benefit from a project that has mass-produced small plants of 19 varieties resistant to the crop’s two devastating viral diseases. Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) cause losses estimated at US$1 billion every year worldwide, placing farmers at risk of […]

May 15, 2014

Higher education could help solve the job crisis – Report

Graduate unemployment rates have spiralled across Sub-Saharan Africa as too few graduates gain the skills needed to find work. In many countries employers complain of a lack of basic, technical and transferable skills, says a new report by the British Council. Preparing graduates for the workplace is an enormous challenge that needs different government departments, […]

May 14, 2014

Taking stock of science communication’s big challenges

When the 10th international conference on Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST2014) opened last week in Salvador, we were reminded that the field began in earnest 25 years ago with an erstwhile paper from UNESCO. Since then, the community of practitioners and academics have called themselves different things and been subject to a shifting […]

May 13, 2014

Women’s research and innovation network launched

A network for Sudanese women researchers has been formed, to highlight the successes of women in science and to enhance their contribution to innovation and economic growth. The Sudanese women’s network for research and innovation was launched during the second Arab Women in Science and Technology for Sustainable Development conference held in the country’s capital Khartoum from […]

May 12, 2014

Argentina sets up science communication agency

For a while now, Argentina has seemed serious about science as a means for development. This week, at the 13th International Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference (PCST2014), there was fresh evidence of this. I learned that President Cristina Kirchner’s government is setting up a specialised agency within the science ministry to boost science communication in the country. This is part of the government’s strategic goals […]

May 9, 2014

Nigerian newspapers hardly cover nanotechnology

Despite nanotechnology’s huge potential to alleviate poverty, it is one of the least covered science topics in Nigerian newspapers, a study finds. The study, which is yet to be published, was presented by Herbert Batta, a communication lecturer at Nigeria’s University of Uyo, at the 13thInternational Public Communication of Science and Technology conference (PCST2014) in Brazil, this week (5-8 May). Read more […]

May 8, 2014

Earth Girl 2: The 21st century’s answer to Super Mario?

I don’t exactly love videogames, but yesterday I found myself eager to play one at a conference where I was supposed to be acting like a responsible, grown-up journalist. I just couldn’t help myself: the game was so inviting and surprising. A team of artists in Singapore have developed the game to simultaneously entertain children […]

May 8, 2014

Are local people excluded from field research agendas?

Should the local communities in developing nations have a say in setting the research agenda of foreign scientists working there? There was a resounding ‘yes’ to this question at the opening ceremony and the first plenary session of the 13th International Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference (PCST2014) in Salvador, Brazil (5-8 May). Read more […]