African Scientists Research Articles

Illuminating the Contributions of African American Nurse Scientists Despite Structural Racism Barriers: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

Illuminating the Contributions of African American Nurse Scientists Despite Structural Racism Barriers: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

Fostering transdisciplinary research for sustainability in the Global South: Pathways to impact for funding programmes

Advancing global sustainable development hinges on strengthening the connections between science, society, and policy, as well as addressing existing science inequalities. Research funding programmes play a pivotal role in this context, but little is known about how they can actively nurture required transformations of the science systems. In this paper, we investigate how science funders can actively promote science-society-policy interactions through transdisciplinary research (TDR) as a means to advance sustainable development in the Global South. Our primary focus is on the research funding programme “LIRA 2030 Africa”. Our research has revealed three closely intertwined pathways for cultivating TDR in this context: (1) Enabling African scientists to lead high-quality TDR projects, (2) empowering African scientists to pursue a career as TDR researchers, and 3) enhancing the context conditions for doing TDR in Africa. By scrutinising the advantages and challenges associated with these pathways and their associated activities, we conclude that fostering TDR in Africa necessitates a multifaceted approach. This approach entails a combination of measures, such as providing research grants, offering TDR and leadership training, fostering networks, developing institutions, and facilitating collaboration across various funders.

Value-Ethical System in Sub-Saharan Africa. From the Past to the Future

The article is devoted to the analysis of the value-ethical system in Sub-Saharan Africa in historical retrospect with the transition to modernity. The concept of “value-ethical system” reflects the specifics of the African worldview, in which all values have a moral meaning. The article analyzes the value foundation on which Africans want to build “the Africa they dream of” (as stated in the program document of the African Union “Agenda 2063”). The author examines African traditional values based on the research of modern African scientists, on her own African archives, on memories and personal impressions collected by the author during her stay in the countries of the African continent. In traditional Africa, there exist value-ethical complexes in which ancient folk wisdom is concentrated. This is, for example, Ubuntu of the Bantu peoples – humanity, equality of people, regardless of race, nationality, religion. It is also a community solidarity associated with the importance of family ties. The author proves that the culture of Sub-Saharan Africa belongs to the collectivist type. Collectivism in combination with Ubuntu serves as a barrier to the adoption by Africans of a Protestant work ethic that welcomes individual success, competition, and profit orientation (outside of the principle of fairness). “Western” values are the opposite of traditional African ethics and values. Currently, the countries of sub-Saharan Africa are looking for their own way of development within the framework of capitalism. African scientists want to develop a system of economic philosophy that includes traditional African values in order to make capitalism relevant to African countries and acceptable to the African mentality. Special attention is paid to the issues of dialogue, traditional democracy and African organizational and managerial principles.

Accelerating HIV vaccine development through meaningful engagement of local scientists and communities.

There is a need to conduct multiple experimental medicine trials in regions with significant burden of disease to ensure the global relevance of vaccines under development including the African context. African scientists can support accelerated HIV vaccine development by leading EMVTs in the region in a complementary fashion to global efforts and augment evidence generated to optimize and advance relevant vaccines towards licensure. The ADVANCE program enables EMVTs, where local scientists lead trial implementation and immunogenicity endpoint analysis of promising vaccine approaches. Concerted efforts towards scientific collaboration, enhancing specific clinical and lab capacity, and improving ethical and regulatory systems to review EMVTs in Africa will be catalytic. Appropriate engagement of local communities and stakeholders will be equally important, and the field needs to refine existing research literacy approaches to effectively partner with communities around current complex scientific approaches. Review of inclusion of relevant populations in early research is also needed. African scientists and communities can help accelerate HIV vaccine development through stronger global collaboration. Now is the time for bold investments to enable the conduct of innovative EMVTs in Africa where the eventual vaccines will have the greatest impact.

Status of African authorship among conservation research output from sub‐Saharan Africa: An African perspective

AbstractThe effectiveness of science to address conservation issues is linked to the inclusivity and diversity of its practitioners, but scientists from biodiverse tropical countries remain underrepresented in the conservation science literature. To assess the status of sub‐Saharan Africa‐based authorship in conservation science between 2015 and 2021, we analyzed the affiliations of primary authors of research conducted in sub‐Saharan Africa as published in 10 selected conservation journals representative of a range of conservation literature: from high‐impact international journals to Africa‐specific regional journals. Out of 1176 articles, we found that approximately one‐third of the primary authors were based at a sub‐Saharan African institution. African primary authors had a higher output in African than global conservation journals, which corresponded with relatively low overall impact factors and citations for studies led by African authors. African authors were significantly underrepresented in large, multicountry studies, accounting for only 6% of primary authors and 66% of these publications contained no African author. We discuss possible limitations and solutions for African participation and representation in the international conservation literature from the perspective of African conservation scientists.

African scientists call for research equity as a cancer crisis looms.

African scientists call for research equity as a cancer crisis looms.

The role of local colleagues in establishing international scientific collaboration: Social capital in emerging science systems

Abstract International collaborations are important for developing science systems. Using a dataset of South African university scientists, we ask whether social capital relevant to international collaboration held by one scientist spills over to local colleagues. Distinguishing between different ways of acquiring foreign ties, we find that 20% of our cases resemble the most-studied form of international collaborations, via the unique ties of an individual with specific characteristics, e.g., foreign research training. In all other cases, both personal and local peers’ international social capital is relevant for foreign tie formation. Underlining the systemic functioning of science, international social capital is activated through scientific collaboration among local scientists. The mediating effect of local scientific collaboration is present across all scientific fields and holds for scientists trained locally or abroad. Our findings thus imply that local collaboration is a relevant mechanism to strengthen international collaboration and the formation of international social capital.

Factors affecting African postdoctoral researcher capacity development within ‘learn-by-doing’ international research partnerships: findings from the ‘Partnership for Increasing the Impact of Vector Control (PIIVeC)’

IntroductionThe Partnership to Increase the Impact of Vector Control sought to develop the research and leadership capacity of 10 African postdoctoral vectorborne disease scientists via a ‘learn-by-doing’ approach. We identified...

Building twenty-first century agricultural research and extension capacity in Africa

Abstract This study explores the effectiveness of international efforts to build the capacities of national agricultural research and extension systems (NARES) in Africa and proposes actions to improve the performance of these systems. Analysis draws on agricultural research expenditure data in Africa, Asia and Latin America and key informant interviews of 26 senior representatives of international and African research organisations. We conclude that donors and international partners have increased the supply of professional African scientists while contributing relatively little to the institutional capacities of African NARES. We propose a transition to what we call a twenty-first century African-led agricultural research system and identify actions to manifest it.

Bridging the science-society-policy interface for transformational knowledge translation in Africa

Science generates solutions for the benefit of the society: creating new knowledge, improving education, and increasing the quality of lives. It is therefore important that African scientists focuses on generating inputs for policy and institutional innovations as well as technology-based innovations to catalyse, support, and accelerate systems and systemic transformations. Also, Government decisions and legislations should ideally be guided by latest scientific knowledge. However, science culture; how a society understands and uses scientific knowledge is still at its infancy in most part of Africa. A country’s science culture determines the scope of impact that the scientific enterprise can have in terms of improving lives and advancing development. A study in this edition titled “approaches to monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of knowledge translation platforms in low- and middle-income Countries” reported that generally, translating knowledge from research to practice takes a very long time. To this end, science communities ought to commit to enhanced collaboration among different disciplines of sciences in particular social sciences, natural sciences, and health-related sciences. Also, public understanding and engagement with science, and citizen participation is essential for research evidence uptake. Scientists must endeavour to make their research relevant and comprehensible to society (citizens and policymakers).

Navigating the challenges of neuro-oncology in Africa: addressing diagnostic and treatment barriers in the region: a correspondence

Navigating the challenges of neuro-oncology in Africa: addressing diagnostic and treatment barriers in the region: a correspondence

Barriers of West African women scientists in their research and academic careers: a qualitative research

Barriers of West African women scientists in their research and academic careers: a qualitative research

Vertebrate genomics and adaptation - status and prospects in Africa.

Africa is considered the "mother continent" from which the first hominins arose. The diversified wildlife and flora of Africa, which ranges from those in the scorching Sahara and Kalahari deserts to those in the vast Savannas and wet tropical forests, are also the most diverse of any continent. Although the continent's abundance and diversity of living resources have provided critical means of subsistence for its inhabitants, future utilization of this biodiversity will demand a fundamental understanding of genetic variation and its adaptive capabilities in the face of natural and man-made stressors. Molecular ecological insights have previously been gained from a variety of vertebrate species native to Africa, and some of these discoveries have larger evolutionary and conservation implications. Despite lagging in genomics research, African scientists are increasingly eager to use the increasingly accessible -omics technology to routinely sequence more animals and plants native to Africa. This overview, which focuses on Africa's vertebrate biodiversity, aims to provide a continental scale perspective on organismal and ecological adaptations discovered through prior genomics research, as well as what conceptually these findings suggest for future research.

A PowerPack of SuperScientists: An innovative concept by African scientists to address gender bias and inequity in science.

Underrepresentation of women in scientific leadership is a global problem. To understand and counter narratives that limit gender equity in African science, we conducted a public engagement campaign. Scientists representing six sub-Saharan African countries and multiple career stages used superhero imagery to create a diverse and unified team advocating for gender equity in science. In contrast to many traditional scientific environments and global campaigns, this "PowerPack of SuperScientists" was led by early-career Black female scientists whose perspectives are often under-represented in discussions about gender equity in science. The superhero imagery served as a powerful and fun antidote to imposter syndrome and helped to subvert traditional power structures based on age, race and sex. In an interactive social media campaign, the PowerPack developed insights into three themes: a) cultural stereotypes that limit women's scientific careers, b) the perception of a "conflict" between family and career responsibilities for women scientists, and c) solutions that can be adopted by key stakeholders to promote gender equity in African science. The PowerPack proposed solutions that could be undertaken by women working individually or collectively and interventions that require allyship from men, commitment from scientific institutions, and wider societal change. Further work is required to fully engage African scientists from even more diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds and institutions in these solutions and to enhance commitment by different stakeholders to achieving gender equity in science. Our experience suggests that creative tools should be used to subvert power dynamics and bring fresh perspectives and urgency to this topic.

New nomenclature for mpox (monkeypox) and monkeypox virus clades

New nomenclature for mpox (monkeypox) and monkeypox virus clades

Building Research and Implementation Capacity among Early Career African Scientists

Building the capacity of a new generation of scholars is both a necessary and an exciting quest. It is an opportunity to be intentional in passing on the baton of ‘know-how’ (knowledge and experience) and ‘know-do’ (competence and leadership) in a way that ensures that future generations of scholars will generate the scientific evidence to support policy and program decisions make the world a better place. This special issue of AJFAND includes output from scholars involved in capacity building activities that have been possible through more than 20 years of research and training partnership between the University of Ghana, McGill University, and rural institutions in Ghana. The two Universities have collaborated on multiple projects (the RIING, ENAM, Nutrition Links, and LInkINg UP projects) that have developed the capacity of young trainees while improving maternal and child nutrition in rural settings [1-3].

Richardson on moral innovation

Richardson on moral innovation

Biomechanics in Africa: current state and potential for growth

The potential of biomechanics for improving human health and performance is well established in many parts of the world. However, across most of Africa, biomechanics remains relatively underdeveloped. The discussion around biomechanics in the continent has increased in recent times and young African scientists are pursuing career opportunities in biomechanics-related fields within Africa and in other parts of the world. New institutions and programmes that focus on biomechanics teaching and research are also starting up around the continent. The advent of the National Biomechanics Day event, formation of the first formal biomechanics society in South Africa, along with many collaborations with relevant stakeholder organizations around the world underpin the expansion of biomechanics in Africa. This article aims to summarize the current state and describe aspirations for the future of biomechanics in Africa.

In memory of Judith Masters and Fabien Génin.

In memory of Judith Masters and Fabien Génin.

Harnessing Ecosystem Services from Invasive Alien Grass and Rush Species to Suppress their Aggressive Expansion in South Africa

Invasive alien species are regarded as one of the major driving forces of species extinction worldwide. To counteract the invasion’s spread and minimize species extinction risk, countries like South Africa are devoted to halting human-induced invasion using various means. The failed efforts to halt the invasion spread have forced South African scientists to start considering social controlling mechanisms, including utilization of these species without propagation as one of the alternatives. It is within this context that this review was aimed at making an inventory of invasive grass species that provide ecosystem services in South Africa. The required data were gathered through rigorous literature surveys and analysis. A total of 19 invasive alien grass and rush species, from 15 genera and two families that are associated with provision of ecosystems services, were documented. The reported species are associated with the provision of nine ecosystem services. The current study argued that although these species are associated with some ecosystem services, they can also threaten the ecological integrity of the ecosystems if not properly managed. Insights about ecosystem services associated with invasive alien grass and rush species are significant in balancing the complex environmental issues and livelihood requirements in rural South Africa.