onic source of free news, views and analysis about SOUTH ASIA
TV Padma, South Asia coordinator
Sridevi Sunderarajan, South Asia consultant
Since the launch of the South Asia network in November 2004, its coordinator, TV Padma, has provided a steady stream of news stories, and developed a strong network of contributing journalists across the region.
The regional consultant, Sridevi Sunderarajan, ensures that the profile of SciDev.Net continues to grow throughout South Asia. As a result of the joint efforts of Padma and Sridevi, there were nearly 2,500 registered members of the network in the region at the end of 2005.
As a result, news coverage of South Asia increased significantly during 2005, much of this focused on research, policy changes and other developments in the aftermath of the tsunami.
We are seeking to build on these activities in 2006. Provisional plans include a science communication workshop and producing training material for science journalists in the region.
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Christina Scott, Southern Africa consultant
Increasing the impact of SciDev.Net in sub-Saharan Africa remains a major challenge. Limited internet access, for example, represents a major barrier for network development. Despite this, considerable progress has been made, particularly in building good relations with African institutions that share SciDev.Net’s objectives. Liz N’gan’ga, sub-Saharan Africa consultant, with Osita Ogbu, executive director, African Technology Policy Studies Network presents the African newsletter to Kilemi Mwiria, Kenya’s assistant minister for education, science and technology
Our profile has increased significantly in the region, particularly in East Africa as a result of the work of our regional consultant, Liz Ng’ang’a. In December, Liz gave a well received talk at the 20th anniversary celebration of the African Academy of Sciences in Nairobi, Kenya and our coverage of African issues has expanded considerably on the website. In Southern Africa, journalist Christina Scott is building connections with media outlets and increasing the amount of SciDev.Net articles they reproduce.
The latest issue of our African newsletter focused on science and technology within universities and the crucial role education has to play in realising socio-economic change in sub-Saharan Africa. Participants at the malaria This was distributed across the region and a copy reporting workshop in Cameroon interview a researcher from the was presented to Kilemi Mwiria, Kenya’s assistant University of Yaoundé minister for education, science and technology,
on Science Renaissance Day in June. One of the highlights of our work in Africa was a five-day workshop ‘Reporting on the science of malaria’, aimed at French-speaking journalists in West Africa, held in Yaoundé, Cameroon at the beginning of November 2005. Over 100 applications were received for the workshop, from which 18 participants were selected from seven West African countries. The workshop was delivered primarily in French, and led by SciDev.Net staff and consultants, and trainers from Cameroon Radio Television. Participants then put their training into practice at the 4th Multilateral Initiative on Malaria Pan-African Malaria Conference, an event that immediately followed the workshop, by reporting for their newspapers and radio stations, and also for SciDev.Net. The participants now keep in regular contact through email.
“Thank you for the article from SciDev. Net. It is interesting as we are currently drafting a paper on science and technology policy for Kenya. It will serve as a good input into the process.” Eric M Aligula, senior policy analyst, Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis