African science, African future

Discovery

BBC

Science

4.3 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 31 January 2022

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Professor Tom Kariuki has spent his career battling for science in Africa, both as a leading immunologist and as the former director of the Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa. Now, as the world comes to grips with the coronavirus pandemic and a global movement for social justice, could this prove an opportunity for the transformation of African science?

Tom talks to leading scientists in Africa about the successes they have achieved as well as the profound challenges they face, from the complexities of international funding to keeping the lights on. He asks who African science belongs to and benefits, and what needs to happen if its future is to be prosperous.

(Photo: A team of scientists in a lab. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcript

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0:00.0	Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to tell you why I love podcasting.
0:04.4	I'm Sasha Johansson, I'm an Assistant Commissioner for the BBC and I work on making podcasts.
0:10.9	My real passion is discovering unbelievable unheard stories.
0:15.6	I'm working with the biggest stars who can really bring those stories to life.
0:20.0	I love the whole process of making podcasts from the spark of an idea to hearing the final edit.
0:26.4	There's nothing like it.
0:27.6	What makes BBC podcast special is that we're working for you.
0:31.0	So whatever we commission has to reflect the things that you care about and love,
0:34.9	wherever you are in the UK.
0:36.8	So if you like this BBC podcast, there's so much more to discover.
0:40.4	Have a listen on BBC Sounds.
0:42.8	I want to inform you that the Ministry of Health has confirmed the first
0:49.4	coronavirus case in Kenya.
0:53.1	The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the spotlight on science across the world,
0:57.7	particularly health science.
1:00.0	It was no different in my own world, Narobi in Kenya or across the whole of Africa.
1:06.5	Africa is no stranger to viruses and their lethal effects.
1:10.7	Over several decades, it has fused up to the deadly challenges of Ebola,
1:16.2	a lots of fever and other viruses and diseases.
1:20.1	And while health has long been the focus of science here,
1:25.5	today it is a public and political priority like never before.
1:30.5	But another, more unexpected force is also shaping science in Africa.
	...

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