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A Next Einstein Forum (NEF) conference was held at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda in late March:
[A malaria-diagnosing scanner] prototype was among the research projects highlighted at the Next Einstein Forum conference last month in Rwanda to encourage the development of young scientists across Africa. Organizers called it the largest-ever gathering of scientists on the continent. "We can go from a dark continent to a bright continent," said Nigerian chemistry professor Peter Ngene, who described how he plans to use nanotechnology to store solar energy efficiently in hydrogen batteries.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, the current chair of the African Union, opened the gathering by linking scientific progress to Africa's development at large. "Knowledge economies are prosperous economies," he said. "Today, more than ever before, adequate math and science proficiency is a prerequisite for a nation to attain high-income status and the gains in health and well-being that go along with it." The president added: "For too long, Africa has allowed itself to be left behind." As the continent catches up it cannot afford to leave out women and girls, Kagame said, urging Africans not to accept the global gender gap in science as inevitable.
"The movie 'Black Panther' gives positive role models of African women in science," said Eliane Ubalijoro, a professor at McGill University in Montreal, who pointed out the large number of women at the conference. "We are creating Wakanda right here!"
At the beginning of the conference, NEF, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, and Elsevier announced the launch of Scientific African, "a pan-African, peer reviewed, open access publishing journal, dedicated to boosting the global reach and impact of research by Africans."
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday April 09 2018, @03:02AM (10 children)
Perhaps true, but if so they'll be quite proficient in Mandarin soon.
This is to say US started to lose the status of destination for brain-drain to China [insidehighered.com].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by Whoever on Monday April 09 2018, @03:16AM (7 children)
Another win for Trump!
[The above is humor. It's not a recent issue caused solely by Trump -- previous administrations have ignored Africa too, with the exception of flying drones over various countries in the continent]
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Monday April 09 2018, @03:52AM (6 children)
Ignoring Africa is kind of their job. Unless the US people have something to gain by it, they have no business spending tax dollars overseas. I'm not saying there aren't worthwhile goals around the world, just that it is not the US government's job to fund them with tax money. It is simply outside their mandate.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by c0lo on Monday April 09 2018, @04:33AM (4 children)
Given US track of record in regards with the results of "tax dollars overseas spending", one may get the idea of actually being happy with that stance.
Korea and Vietnam spring in mind.
However, I have a hunch it's not gonna happen any time soon: see Afghanistan - nothing to be gained by the American tax payer there and yet...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Monday April 09 2018, @04:55AM (3 children)
I am not inclined to disagree with you except initially on Afghanistan. Nation building is not my cup of tea but if a nation is intentionally providing shelter and aid to enemies of the US, something needs to be done about it. There does come a point where you're sticking your head in the sand rather than minding your own business.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday April 09 2018, @05:12AM (2 children)
Mmmmm... you reckon all those hundreds of billions are well spend? You really happy to pay that price?
How many enemies of the US did you manage to eliminate from Afghanistan so far?
What's the risk for the American citizens if you just let them alone there and beef up your defenses?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Monday April 09 2018, @06:22AM (1 child)
Oh I didn't say it was done well. Something did need to be done though.
How are you enjoying the beefed up defenses that we did get, if I might ask? Having fun knowing the NSA is spying on you 24/7? Enjoy standing in line to get groped at the airport?
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday April 09 2018, @06:30AM
For really serious stuff, there's always Tor with a circuit configured to exit in Russia (lately, I doesn't work), Ukraine or Bulgaria.
For anything else, I'll let NSA know my taste in porn, I don't care.
So far, I avoided that. The more I age, the more probable it will stay this way.
But that's personal stuff, man, not gonna change my world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 09 2018, @01:50PM
Liberia, where they can treat the Americanized Liberians as they are still treating the native tribes in a series of forced resettlements, religious, and political conversions, while finally having the pro-christian, anti-lgbt, and anti-abortion country they have always wanted!
:)
Do your part today to repatriate conservative leaning Americans to their utopia! :)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 10 2018, @04:09AM (1 child)
The reduced brain drain could also be because the smartest Chinese left as soon as they could. Now the flow is reduced to a trickle, because fewer Chinese visiting academics are exceptional, and they don't get job offers abroad. Not saying this is true, but it's possible.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday April 10 2018, @04:21AM
Not saying that's impossible, I'm saying that's improbable. It's not like "the smartest Chinese" is a seriously limited resource from one year to another.
I'd better go for an explanation with the proportion of GDP allocated to R&D [worldbank.org] - while US stayed almost flat in the last 20 years, China's grew 3 times and now is close to catching up with US.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford