Uncategorized – Page 7 – Next Einstein Forum

May 7, 2014

Climate change is with us and we must take action, an expert calls

The negative consequences of climate change on agricultural production and productivity are with us and resolutions must be implemented to save West and Central Africa, said the Director General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dr Nteranya Sanginga. Addressing national and international researchers attending a conference on Biotic stresses, climate change and agricultural production in Cotonou, […]

May 6, 2014

Heart disease: Mobile Phones could be timely, prevent deaths

Although use of mobile phones can help save lives of those who suddenly get heart attacks, only 3 in ten people in developing countries such as Kenya apply the device to text medics of their heart conditions. According to the experts attending the World Congress of Cardiology in Melbourne, Australia, widespread use of mobile phones […]

May 5, 2014

Cameroon Steps Up War On Malaria Amid Worsening Floods

Cameroon is seeking ways to mobilise its citizens to support a government-led campaign against soaring malaria deaths, as worsening floods aggravate health risks. Government officials in the central-west African country say regular flooding due to erratic rains is partly responsible for the recent spike in deaths from vector-borne diseases, because standing water encourages malaria-carrying mosquitoes […]

May 2, 2014

Canada and UK’s consortia to tackle key adaptation issues in Africa and Asia

Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) announced today the Asian institutions that would be part of four new multi-partner research consortia for tackling the impacts of climate change in Africa and Asia. Funded under the Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA) program, a seven-year, […]

April 30, 2014

Africa: How Scientists Can Maximise the Impact of Their Research

Researchers mustn’t assume that the ‘comms people’ will do all the communicating, says Anna Kuznicka-Marry. Researchers working for a university or research institute may assume that because their organisation employs professional communications staff, there is no need for them to communicate their research. However, research communication is far too important to be left to communicators […]

April 29, 2014

Technology praised for assisting land tenure reform

Rapid technological changes are opening new frontiers in land tenure reform, a recent World Bank conference has heard, but some land tenure experts and community activists are sceptical about how much these technologies will help development. Geographic information, obtained from satellites, drones, databases and other sources such as traditional surveys and presented in computerised form, […]

April 28, 2014

View on Private Sector: Innovation ‘spillover’ missed

Officials from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) recently told SciDev.Net that they have found high-level policymakers from many nations have a poor understanding of how best to support innovation in firms. I recently attended an UNCTAD expert meeting on fostering private sector innovation for development. There the agency announced it was launching a programme to train policymakers […]

April 25, 2014

A role for developing nations in internet governance?

Although not controlled by one institution, the internet depends on technical standards of protocol and structure to work. The management of these standards is currently conducted by several organisations, including the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Among other things, it’s responsible for the distribution of the IP addresses that label computers or […]

April 24, 2014

The case for a global fund for science education

In today’s global economy, a workforce trained in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) is recognised as a primary driver of growth. Around the world, STEM education initiatives vary in scope, size, type, target populations and funding sources. What’s missing is a unified global mechanism for STEM education. Creating a Global STEM Fund would help support and implement effective and innovative STEM […]

April 23, 2014

A three-step strategy for African education

The world is dominated by a drive towards democratic governance, with politicians, especially in the developing world, making expansive promises when campaigning to deliver socioeconomic improvements — from potable water and food security to healthcare, employment and education. These pledges require the active involvement of smart, dynamic, patriotic, sincere and committed people. But rarely do we hear politicians in developing nations […]