/ 24 July 1998

Driving science in Africa

David Shapshak

South Africa’s strength in science gives it a prime position to help drive scientific development and research in Southern Africa, says one of the United Nations’s top science officials.

Professor Maurizio Iaccarino, assistant director general for science of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), was in South Africa this week to launch the 1998 World Science Report, which is published every two years.

Unesco decided to launch the report here to support the Year of Science and Technology, a significant milestone for the country. “South Africa can become the leader in Southern Africa, and help its neighbouring countries with their problems, such as developing vaccines which are badly needed,” says Iaccarino.

“South Africa is strong in biotechnology, health and molecular medicine, which are very much needed in all developing countries.”

He praised the country for having “centres of excellence” in science and says South Africa is privileged compared to other countries in Southern Africa.

The report identifies a number of trends in science, especially the cost involved in funding research and the dilemma this places on developing countries which have pressing social- spending concerns.

It also highlights emerging trends in science education and research, referring specifically to various countries and regions. “The rising cost of scientific activity is one of the causes of the seemingly ever-widening gap in knowledge and scientific capacity between the industrialised and developing countries,” Iaccarino says.

But while the globalisation of scientific research in general has a major role to play in developing countries – by accelerating socio- economic development and enabling greater international co-operation – it also places pressure on science to be more cost-effective, sometimes to the detriment of basic research.

Iaccarino stressed the need for science education and praised the Year of Science and Technology, run by the Department of Arts Culture, Science and Technology.

Many developing countries are faced with the high cost of science education and university research, and the difficulties in renewing equipment and training skilled personnel, he says.

“It’s very difficult for a developing country to develop its science. But this is not true of South Africa, which has centres of excellence that can feed into different parts of the education system. The big challenge is science education for the blacks.”

But he acknowledges that the government needs to focus its resources on social spending. “These priorities are so urgent. The government may have to decrease expenditure in research in order give more to education.”

The report’s South African chapter, identifying trends and the state of science and technology in the country, was written by Dr Khotso Mokhele, president of the Foundation for Research and Development, who also sits on Unesco’s executive board.

Iaccarino this week held useful meetings with the science ministry, including Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Lionel Mtshali and Director General Errol Jardine, partly to discuss policy analysis.

Iaccarino would also like to see South Africa aligned with world scientific standards, which Unesco oversees. In geological research, for instance, Unesco plays an important role in organising global standards by getting “scientists together and co-ordinating their work … ensuring they use the same protocols and methodologies”.

But because of the country’s previous political order, South African scientists in several fields have had little contact with their colleagues in other countries, he says. Unesco can make the difference by enhancing the collaboration.