Crusade for African Scientific Renaissance to Kick-off in London…

New Mauritius President to open the major conference on Africa’s scientific and industrial development.

•          Ministers for Science & Technology from across Africa will attend event

•          Event will bring together over 200 people as part of the Planet Earth Institute’s campaign to evaluate the role of industry in scientific development

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Newly appointed President of Mauritius, HE Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim

LONDON, United-Kingdom (APO): The newly appointed President of Mauritius, HE Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim will open a major conference on Africa’s science and technology agenda on July 21, 2015, hosted by the Planet Earth Institute, an international NGO working for the ‘scientific independence of Africa’.

African Ministers from across the continent and over 200 delegates working on science and technology will also be in attendence. The event will be held at Ravensbourne University in London and will be hosted by Rt Hon Lord Paul Boateng, Trustee of the PEI (http://www.planetearthinstitute.org.uk), and the organization’s Chairman, Dr Álvaro Sobrinho, .

In her opening address marking her first official visit to the UK, Dr Gurib-Fakim is expected to outline Mauritius’ efforts to boost scientific research, technology and innovation and to explore what role the private sector can play in driving scientific excellence.

Before her appointment as President of Mauritius at the beginning of June 2015, Dr Gurib-Fakim won multiple awards for her scientific work, including the African Union ‘Women in Science’ award in 2009. In 2015, Mauritius announced new plans to develop the island country into a regional knowledge hub for science and technology.

 A number of senior African policy-makers will also join the event, including Prof. Naledi Pandor, Minister of Science and Technology in South Africa, Prof. Sandy Tickodri-Togboa, Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology in Uganda, Mr Shiferaw Shigutie, Minister of Education in Ethiopia and Prof. Mary Tew Niane, Minister of Higher Education and Research in Senegal.

Leading businesses including IBM Research – Africa, Elsevier, TAAG Angola Airlines and Banco Valor will also participate alongside dozens of leading African and international universities.

Entitled ‘Africa’s scientific independence: no more business as usual’, the ‘UnConference’ will be a highly interactive and collaborative event to explore the linkages between industry and scientific development in Africa.

Bosquimano hunting, Namibia

Namibian bushman displays one of Africa’s widely used technology used in trapping small animals. Image Credit: Museo Africano Mundo-Negro

Through panel sessions, workshops and interactive working groups, issues raised will include industrial relevance of PhD training in Africa, supporting start-up businesses and entrepreneurship and funding and investment for science and innovation.

To contribute to the debate online please use the #ScienceAfrica hashtag on Twitter and follow @PlanetEarthInstitute

In the afternoon, a panel session will be devoted to the ‘Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET)’ programme, which recently launched a new Scholarship and Innovation Fund for Africa, led by the Governments of Senegal, Rwanda and Ethiopia, supported by the World Bank and the PEI. The Scholarship and Innovation Fund for Africa will contribute to 10,000 African PhDs in ten years, with a close focus on linkages to industry.

HE Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of the Republic of Mauritius:

“Mauritius has a proud history of investing in scientific excellence and creating research. Going forward, science and technology and sustainable development will be the key to create wealth and jobs for our young people, both in Mauritius and across the mainland African continent.

“I look forward to joining this important event hosted by the Planet Earth Institute and to contribute to the continued pursuit of Africa’s scientific and technological advancement.”

Dr Álvaro Sobrinho, Chairman of the Planet Earth Institute:

“While Africa continues to make economic progress at a rapid pace, the focus on investing in educational excellence for our future generations should never be overlooked. Excellence in science and technology can equip Africa with a workforce ready to compete in the 21st century, where we can lead the world as scientists, engineers and innovators, and the role of industry is absolutely crucial”