Opening the doors of science discovery on African soil
IN LESS than a week, the first global forum for science on African soil will take place in Dakar, Senegal, from March 8 to 10.
The Next Einstein Forum (NEF) (http://gg2016.nef.org) has launched a global call for support for Africa’s scientific and technological emergence (www.IamEinstein.org). The video, which asks the question, “Can the next Einstein come from Africa?”, calls on game-changers from Africa and around the world to support Africa’s scientific renaissance.
The Next Einstein Forum Global Gathering 2016, Africa’s premiere global science and technology forum, is convened by the NEF, a global platform that brings together leaders in industry, policy, science and technology. The first edition of this biennial event will set the stage for a vibrant conversation on transforming Africa and the world through a renewed and increased focus on science, technology and innovation.
The NEF (www.NextEinstein.org) is an initiative of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (Aims) in partnership with the Robert Bosch Stiftung.
“With more than 700 participants from 80 countries already registered, 52 percent of them young people and 40 percent women, we are expecting a truly global forum that discusses opportunities, innovations and solutions.
“The NEF Global Gathering will unveil Africa’s global contributions to science and technology, and as the forum opens on International Women’s Day, we will specifically acknowledge the contributions and address the challenges faced by female scientists,” said Thierry Zomahoun, NEF chairperson, and president and chief executive of Aims.
The gathering will showcase the innovations and contributions of the NEF’s 15 Fellows – some of Africa’s brightest young scientists (www.NEF. org/fellows), who are on the front line of Africa’s science renaissance.
Flying under the radar, these scientists have been tackling some of the continent’s most urgent technological and development challenges – from big data and cybersecurity to hypertension, heart disease, immunology and public health. In addition, for the first time, all 54 African countries will come together to talk science and technology, each represented by NEF ambassadors (http://NEF.org/ambassadors) that will work to raise awareness about science and technology in their countries.
“A great idea can come from anywhere in the world, and there is no doubt that new and novel scientific ideas to solve global health challenges will come from Africa,” said Seema Kumar, vice-president of innovation, global health and science policy, Johnson & Johnson, and member of the NEF International Steering Committee.
“The scientific talent in Africa is outstanding, with the potential to produce the next Einstein, Pasteur or Madame Curie. The world needs the best science from across the globe to solve the medical challenges of our lifetime like HIV, TB and other infectious diseases like Ebola and Zika virus, and noncommunicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes.”
With a truly exciting programme (http://gg2016.nef.org) that focuses on advances in basic and applied science and technology, as well as an innovation pitching competition, a presidential panel with President Macky Sall of Senegal and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and other exciting sessions – like meet-and-greets with groundbreaking scientists and inventors – the NEF Global Gathering 2016 will be livestreamed to a global audience from March 8, starting at 10.10am (UTC) at www.NEF.org
Supporters of science, innovation and technology, as drivers of growth in Africa, can join the NEF movement by pledging their signature at www.Iam Einstein.org Nathalie Munyampenda