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Annual Meeting of the ASADI – Science Academies as Partners for Improving the Impact of Policies in Africa Session V: Partnership Themes for Development Critical Issue 2: Education November 5, 2008 Possible Role of an Intermediary Academy Partner Jutta Schnitzer-Ungefug Secretary-General On the Role of National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine • They are merit-based autonomous institutions, – – – – – – in which peers elect new members in recognition of their distinguished and continuing professional achievements, that perform programmes of independent work, transform relevant research results into non-technical language, use rigorous, apolitical procedures for objective and unbiased analysis, inform the general public and national decision-makers on science and technology aspects of public policy, and are politically, economically, and ideologically independent. Some Activities of the Academy Leopoldina • Advice to policy-makers in Germany – – – – – – Future Energy Supply Stem Cell Research Combating Infectious Diseases Drug Therapy in Childhood Vaccines Chances and problems of an ageing society (in preparation) Leopoldina‘s Involvement in Academy Advisory Activities at International Level • European Academies Science Advisory Council, EASAC – Infectious Diseases - Importance of Co-ordinated Activity in Europe (2005) – Vaccines: Innovation and Human Health (2006) – Tackling Antibacterial Resistance in Europe (2007) – Impact of Migration on Infectious Diseases in Europe (2007) – TB resistance (2008, in preparation) Recommendations by the National Academies of the G8 + O5 states • • • • Science and technology for African development (2005) Avian influenza and infectious disease (2006) The promotion and protection of innovation (2007) Global health (2008) • • • • Global response to climate change (2005) Energy sustainability and security (2006) Sustainability, energy efficiency and climate protection (2007) Climate change adaptation and the transition to a low carbon society (2008) Why Science Education is Important • The economic viability of all nations ultimately depends on people with a fundamental training in the fields of science and technology. • To develop and retain the talent needed in every nation, building and supporting effective merit-based institutions for sciences & technology are the key goal for development. • An increase in aid for Africa must have the long term goal of helping Africa to help themselves. Why Science Education is Important (continued) • Many of the serious challenges that Africa faces today (supply of food, clean water, overcoming the spread of infectious diseases like malaria and AIDS) require solutions that fundamentally depend on science. • African nations can only tackle the serious problems they face now and in the future with a new generation of skilled African scientists, engineers and medical doctors eqipped with the tools of modern science. Science & Technology (S & T) Capacity Building is a Shared Regional and Global Responsibility Academies‘ Recommendations to Decisionmakers on Education • InterAcademy Council (IAC) – Inventing a Better Future (2004); Realizing the Promise and Potential of African Agriculture (2004) • InterAcademy Panel (IAP) – Programmes and Initiatives – Capacity building for young academies; Science education • Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) – Building Scientific Capacity • G8 + O5 academies – Science and Technology for African Development (2005) • International Council for Science (ICSU) – Regional Office for Africa Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine from Developed Countries Can Help • • • Participate in national efforts to identify national S & T goals and priorities (agriculture, health, environment, industrial development). Help the government to assess strength and weakness of national capacities for achieving national S & T goals. Provide S & T advice to government. Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine from Developed Countries Can Help • • • • Encourage new centers of excellence that address issues of national need. Promote upgrading of ongoing research programmes that address issues of national need. Promote the upgrading of educational programmes and institutions Provide information on S & T issues of importance to the public.