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Next Einstein Forum looks for Africa's leaders

4 March 2016

The first global forum for science on African soil will take place in Dakar, Senegal, from 8 to 10 March 2016, and the Next Einstein Forum (NEF) has launched a global call for support for Africa's scientific and technological emergence.

Its video asks the question: "Can the next Einstein come from Africa?". It calls on game changers from Africa and around the world to support Africa's scientific renaissance.

Watch the video "Can the next Einstein come from Africa?":

The Next Einstein Forum Global Gathering 2016, the African global science and technology forum, is convened by the NEF, a global platform that brings together leaders in industry, policy, science, and technology. The first edition of this biennial event will set the stage for a conversation on transforming Africa and the world through a renewed and increased focus on science, technology and innovation.

Scientific talent

The NEF is an initiative of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in partnership with the Robert Bosch Stiftung.

"At more than 700 participants from 80 countries already registered, 52% of them young people and 40% women, we are expecting a truly global forum that discusses opportunities, innovations, and solutions," said Thierry Zomahoun, the NEF chair and president and chief executive of AIMS.

"The NEF Global Gathering will unveil Africa's global contributions to science and technology and as the forum opens on International Women's Day, we will specifically acknowledge the contributions and address the challenges faced by female scientists."

The NEF Global Gathering 2016 will showcase the innovations and contributions of the NEF's 15 Fellows – some of Africa's brightest young scientists who are on the frontline of Africa's science renaissance. Flying under the radar, these scientists have been tackling some the continent's most urgent technological and development challenges – from big data and cybersecurity to hypertension, heart disease, immunology and public health.

"A great idea can come from anywhere in the world, and there is no doubt that new and novel scientific ideas to solve global health challenges will come from Africa," said Seema Kumar, the vice-president of innovation, global health and science policy at Johnson & Johnson and a member of the NEF International Steering Committee. Johnson & Johnson is sponsor of the gathering.

"The scientific talent in Africa is outstanding with the potential to produce the next Einstein, Pasteur or Madame Curie. The world needs the best science from across the globe to solve the medical challenges of our lifetime like HIV, TB, and other infectious diseases like Ebola and Zika virus, and non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes."

Continent-wide initiatives

In addition, for the first time in history, all 54 African countries will come together to talk science and technology, each represented by NEF ambassadors who will work to raise awareness about science and technology in their countries.

With a programme that focuses on advances in basic and applied science and technology as well as an innovation pitching competition, a presidential panel with President Macky Sall of Senegal and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and sessions with ground-breaking scientists and inventors, the NEF Global Gathering 2016 will be live-streamed to a global audience through the Next Einstein Forum.

Supporters of science, innovation and technology as drivers of growth in Africa can join the NEF movement by pledging their signature at I Am Einstein.

Source: APO-Africa Newsroom