A super-enriched banana genetically engineered to improve the lives of millions of people in Africa will soon have its first human trial, which will test its effect on vitamin A levels, Australian researchers said Monday. The project plans to have the special banana varieties – enriched with alpha and beta carotene which the body converts […]
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Last month, while in East Africa for interviews about higher education — watch out for our Spotlight on the topic later this month — I picked up a book from the handful of English titles stocked by the hotel. It was a personal account of child soldiers by the Canadian senator, humanitarian, author and retired general, Roméo Dallaire. His […]
Read More… from Technology’s part in the tale of Rwanda’s child soldiers
The information and communication technology (ICT) device with greatest potential for education and training is laptop, whereas Facebook is the most popular social media, according to a new survey of e-learning professionals in Africa. Researchers from Integrated Communications, Worldwide Events (ICWE) in Germany surveyed 1,444 e-learning professionals from 55 countries in Africa through e-mail between March and May this year. Read […]
Read More… from Laptop ‘tops other ICT tools important for e-learning’
Scientists have created mosquitoes that produce 95% male offspring, with the aim of helping control malaria. Flooding cages of normal mosquitoes with the new strain caused a shortage of females and a population crash. The system works by shredding the X chromosome during sperm production, leaving very few X-carrying sperm to produce female embryos. Read more […]
A revival in huge hydro projects may cut carbon emissions, but proponents’ use of the term ‘renewable’ is misplaced. Hydroelectric dams are the quintessential expression of human control of nature. As well as power, they create reservoirs of clean water, which to some are both pleasing to the eye and a place for tranquil recreation. They […]
Read More… from Should hydropower truly be described as renewable?
African countries need to help smallholder farmers access technologies that will enable them increase farm yields, achieve resilience and better nutrition to address poverty, food security as well as economic growth, a conference has heard. Kanayo Nwanze, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, says this will only be possible through a paradigm shift that enables smallholder farmers, particularly in rural areas, […]
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A University of Cape Town professor has become the first Africa-based researcher to win the prestigious World Lung Health Award. Heather Zar, who heads UCT’s department of paediatrics, accepted the award at a ceremony in San Diego in the US on 21 May. The American Thoracic Society gives the award for outstanding contributions to the field of […]
Read More… from World Lung Award comes to Africa for the First Time.
New evidence shows that arguments against GM crops are unfounded, says Margaret Karembu. The year 2013 marked the 18th consecutive year of commercial cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or now commonly referred to as biotech crops. And in just under two decades, the volume of land on which biotech crops are grown has increased from 1.7 million […]
Read More… from The problems with the arguments against GM crops
A sensor which can be used to screen for diabetes in resource-poor settings have been developed by researchers and tested in diabetic patients, and will soon be field tested in sub-Saharan Africa. Read more A low-cost, reusable sensor which uses nanotechnology to screen for and monitor diabetes and other conditions, has been developed by an interdisciplinary […]
Africa has achieved exceptional economic growth over the past decade, averaging 4.5% a year and underpinned by prudent macroeconomic management. Now we must achieve economic growth that is accompanied by poverty reduction and greater value addition on the continent. Read more […]
Read More… from Bold education action to drive economic transformation