NASAC activities over the past few years ... - IAP: the global network of science academies

Activities in 2006

- Focal Point Meeting - Nairobi, 11-12 December 2006
Participating academies are expected to develop proposals for activites to be undertaken in 2007 under the Regional programme for the Teaching of Science and Technology (S&T) that was launched at an IAP-NASAC symposium held in Dakar, Senegal in March 2005 to improve quality of S&T training and foster sustainable development in Africa. One of the goals of the focal point meeting is to encourage development of a national approach to teaching of science in Africa as a first step towards subsequent development of a regional approach. The national approach would comprise of:

a. Intensifying capacity building in S&T through mobilizing human resources;
b. Modernizing infrastructure and equipemnt for accessibility of S&T information; and
c. Securing sustainable financial support.

Beside NASAC members, participation will include also Academies from outside Africa, including the Inter-Academy Network of Academy of Science (IANAS), the National Academy of Chile, the US National Academy of Sciences (US NAS), the Academy of Science of France, the US National Science Resource Center (US NSRC) and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).
For more information contact: aas@africaonline.co.ke.

- Working Visit at the Royal Society - London, 9-13 October 2006
Following the successful “study visit,” organized by The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) in Amsterdam in January this year (see IAP Bulletin 24), the Royal Society, UK, planned another event for members of the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC), which took place in London, 9-13 October 2006. NASAC members learned about the workings of The Royal Society and its relationship to government and society. Scientific advisers of the British government discussed the UK’s efforts in international science and innovation collaboration. For information, contact: joann.fong@royalsoc.ac.uk.
A report of the visit is available HERE.

- Working visit at the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) - Amsterdam, 29 January - 6 February 2006
From 29 January to 6 February 2006 the thirteen academies that comprise the Network of African Science Academies, NASAC, paid a working visit to The Royal Netherlands Academy (KNAW). The working visit was organised by the KNAW in the context of the Academy’s decision, made in 2005, to develop an African science and technology (S&T) capacity building drive.

Activities in 2005:

- 2nd Scientific conference on energy in Africa at the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) - Nairobi, 12-15 December 2005
The second scientific conference held by NASAC and hosted by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) was on the theme: “ENERGY SITUATION IN AFRICA”: What contributions can African Scientists and Engineers make towards resolving the energy issues in the continent? This Conference was held in Nairobi, Kenya on December 12-15, 2005 during the AAS 20th Anniversary Celebrations.

Conference Resolutions, Nairobi, 12-15 december 2005

- 3rd NASAC General Assembly - Nairobi, 11 December, 2005
The 3rd General Assembly of NASAC was held immediately before the Conference on Energy in Africa at the AAS.

- 1st International Conference of the Africa Science Academy Development Initiative (ASADI) - Nairobi, 7-8 November, 2005
On November 7-8, 2005, the NASAC hosted the First International Conference of the Africa Science Academy Development Initiative (ASADI) on the theme: “Improving Public Policy to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in Africa: Harnessing Science and Technology Capacity”. This Conference was held in Nairobi, Kenya and was a collaborative initiative between the NASAC and the US National Academies. It was hosted by the Kenya National Academy of Science (KNAS) and the African Academy of Sciences (AAS).
The ASADI conference was attended by over 150 African academicians, government officials, and science experts from the Diaspora who deliberated on:
• The role of African Science Academies in improving public policy to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in Africa;
• Using science and evidence to improve decision making in Africa;
• How science academies can serve national interests; and
• How science can assist policy makers in providing solutions to specific programmatic or educational interventions aimed at improving child and maternal health and also alleviating hunger and policy.

For the ASADI Conference report, see here.

The Africa Science Academy Development Initiative (ASADI) is a 10 years initiative funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and supported by the US National Academies (US NAS), which has confirmed its support for initial capacity building partnerships with national academies of Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda. The initiative aims at strengthening the capacities of African national academies to provide science based advice to policy makers and the public as well as enhance regional cooperation among them. US NAS has also agreed to support NASAC annual symposia whose invitees will be members and staff and the representatives of national academies, African and international decision makers, science and health policy experts from around Africa and the world.

- NASAC/G8 statement on science and technology - 8 June 2005
NASAC and the science academies of the G8 countries issued a joint statement on science and technology for African Development. The statement was released to the media on 8 June 2005 as a prelude to the G8 Summit in Scotland in July. NASAC members transmitted the statement to African government ministries.

- Symposium on “Regional Programme for the Teaching of Science and Technology in Africa” - Dakar, March 9-11, 2005
NASAC launched its Science Education Programme by holding a symposium on “Regional Programme for the Teaching of Science and Technology in Africa” in Dakar, Senegal, March 9-11, 2005. The event was sponsored by the Inter Academy Panel (IAP) and co-organized by the Network of Academies of Science in Countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference (NASIC) and the African Academy of Sciences (AAS). The Academie des Sciences et Techniques du Senegal (ASTS), which was appointed by NASAC members to act as the Lead Academy for the Science Education Programme, hosted the event.
The Symposium resolved that developing a Regional Programme for the teaching of Science and Technology (S&T) was of paramount importance in order to improve quality of S&T training and foster sustainable development in Africa. For information, contact: academ.sc@sentoo.sn

- Launch of NASAC e-bulletin
NASAC launched an e-bulletin containing news of its activities, conferences, and networking among science academies in Africa. To subscribe, write to aas@africaonline.co.ke.

Activities in 2004:

- 1st NASAC Science Summit - Abuja, 21-23 September 2004
NASAC held its 1st Science Summit in Abuja, Nigeria from 21-23 September 2004. The theme of the conference was "HIV/AIDS, its implication on human development in the continent and the critical issue in its control". The meeting was hosted by the African Academy of Sciences, the Nigerian Academy of Sciences, and the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Nigeria. IAP and the US NAS co-sponsored the initiative. More than 120 participants from the scientific community, policy makers in health, education, science and technology from Africa and the Diaspora, attended the conference. A ministerial roundtable and press conference by Ministers of Science and Technology, health and education from Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda respectively, was also organized to deliberate on HIV/AIDS in Africa.