African
Media Agency (AMA) The Next Einstein Forum (NEF), an initiative of the African
Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in partnership with Robert Bosch
Stiftung, today announced the launch of NEF Africa Science Week in Nairobi, Kenya.
Sylvia Mukasa, NEF Ambassador, ICT &
Telecommunications Consultant and entrepreneur with a special focus on emerging
enterprise technologies and Cloud Computing, together with local
academic, science and technology champions, will lead the event.
The
event aims to recalibrate innovation in Kenya with the right
investments and incubator environment can lead to real economic dividends. The
goal is to raise public awareness on the importance of science and technology
(school age kids, general public, gatekeepers are most targeted). As well, is
to foster collaboration among various research actors and initiatives so that
there is coordinated public engagement around science and tech in Africa.
“We want to provide that platform for
relevant discussions and monetary commitments towards research and development
in Kenya”, say Sylvia Mukasa, NEF
Ambassador.
According to Mukasa, no country has every developed without
heavy long term investments in science research and development. Most African
countries haven’t committed more than 1% of their GDP to research and
development except South Africa, which has committed to reach 1% by 2020. This
hampers Africa's ability to sustainable transform itself on a socio-economic
level and compete globally.
“The
NEF Africa Science Week is the first coordinated science week across Africa.
Our primary objective is to develop tomorrow’s scientists and technologists by
engaging children and young people in scientific activities like hackathons.
Our activities will also demonstrate the critical impact of science to the
general public. By bringing together key stakeholders from all sectors, we hope
to catalyse investment in research and development and discuss best practices for
attracting and retaining young people, especially girls and women, in the
sciences,” said Thierry Zomahoun, AIMS President and CEO and NEF Chair.
Africa
Science Week in Kenya will witness exciting sessions such as hackathons, a
Women in Science Day, hands-on demos but also panels on Agriculture and
Technology and entrepreneurships with mentoring on financial planning.
“The
weeklong signature event will also strengthen research networks and communities
of scientists across Africa and we hope that the next few editions will see
technology facilitate coordinated regional activities. We would like to thank
our partners in the public, academic and private sector for supporting this
initiative. Africa will only compete globally if there are coordinated
sustainable investments in building the pipeline of researchers and
innovators,” said Mr. Zomahoun.
Africa
Science Week in Kenya is the first of a 13-country series. Looking to the
future, the NEF will expand the reach of its Africa Science Week to 30
countries in 2018 and all 54 by 2020. Beyond numbers, the NEF hopes that Africa
Science Week will grow to include major activities in schools and universities,
and result in concrete collaboration between the research community and private
sector.
In line
with the NEF’s Dakar Declaration,
issued at the first biennial NEF Global Gathering, held in in Dakar, Senegal in
March 2016, Africa Science Week will place public engagement at the heart of
advancing Africa’s scientific agenda. The next edition of the NEF Global
Gathering will be held in Kigali in March 2018 under the patronage of H.E. Paul
Kagame, President of Rwanda.
Africa Science Week is funded by Johnson
& Johnson Innovation, Google and local sponsors
in the each country.
Find out more on Africa
Science Week in Kenya at http://nef.org/asw/Kenya/
No comments:
Post a Comment