Africa has a lot to reap from science
Despite receiving lower budgets compared to other competing national demands, the science and innovation sectors had potential to turn around the fortunes of most countries, particularly in the developing world, Professor Michael Clegg said on Wednesday.
Vice-president of the International Council for Science told African News Agency that greater investment towards knowledge and research had far-reaching spin-offs.
“I think it is always a challenge. Government ministers always have to balance a lot of competing demands. Science is not a powerful constituency anywhere, even in the United States. It is always an uphill struggle to get more money for science,” Clegg said at the inaugural Science Forum South Africa taking place in Pretoria.
“Typically, however, business communities and those concerned with economic development do benefit by greater investments in science. The benefits of greater knowledge are in many areas including agriculture, health research, climate and economic development. This always improves the standard of life for people. However, science is not a powerful political constituency.”
He said in science, there was “a win for everybody”.
Clegg said there were many issues which needed improvement and that development could be accelerated through science and innovation.
“There are many things needed in Africa to elevate the standard of living of average people. There is need for better healthcare, research that delivers solutions for diseases like malaria and HIV, economic development that spreads benefits to the average person. Africa has the most to gain from science,” said Clegg.
The two-day forum, hosted at the CSIR International Convention Centre, ends on Wednesday.
Officially opening the conference on Tuesday, South African Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor, said despite receiving minimal attention from most governments across the world, the sector of science and innovation had the potential to solve numerous perennial problems like water scarcity.
“Africa cannot advance without investing in science. At present, there are efforts to enhance the status of science and to increase investment in research development and innovation,” Pandor told delegates.
“Unfortunately, science is still at the margins of government attention – seen as less significant than water scarcity, food security and disease burdens. Yet, all of these can be addressed through science.”
She said the forum was “not a platform for resolutions or declarations”, but when the two-day summit ends, delegates should call on their respective governments and institutions to invest more into science and innovation in Africa.
Some of the more than 1,500 delegates included cabinet ministers from African countries, civil society, think tanks and students.
Pandor said the summit would prove that Africa was seriously engaged in science and technology. It would also show that the continent was growing its capacity for research and innovation.
File Photo: National Academy of science website