/ 19 August 2008

African science on the rise

Engineers, oceanographers and chemists in eight African countries will benefit from three grants of $800 000 each from a new science and education initiative.

The Regional Initiative in Science and Education (Rise) announced three-year grants to help three networks foster greater cooperation among African institutions and scientists. Among the recipients is the Southern African Biochemistry and Informatics for Natural Products (Sabina) initiative, headed by John Saka, a chemistry professor at the University of Malawi.

Sabina, which includes the Malawi-based Tea Research Foundation of Central Africa and South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, aims to improve food security, health and exports using Africa’s biodiversity and scientific advances.

The second grant was awarded to the African Materials Science and Engineering Network (Amsen). The network aims to produce homegrown engineers to exploit Africa’s mineral wealth, with a target of 15 doctoral and masters students annually.

Lesley Cornish, from the University of the Witwatersrand and Amsen’s academic director, says much of the money will be spent on expenses for students to visit tutors at participating universities, including the University of Botswana, the University of Nairobi in Kenya and the Federal University of Technology in Nigeria.

The third Rise grant was awarded to the Western Indian Ocean Regional Initiative in Marine Science and Education. Alfonse Dubi from the University of Dar es Salaam will lead the initiative and partner with Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique and the University of Cape Town.

Carol Campbell is South African correspondent for the Science and Development Network at www.SciDev.Net