Science, Technology and Policy leaders gather in Dakar for Next Einstein Forum (NEF)
From March 8th more than 700 participants from 80 countries will be gathering in Dakar, Senegal for the Next Einstein Forum (NEF), the first global forum for science on African soil.
The forum was launched by NEF, an initiative of the African Institute for Mathematical Science (AIMS) in partnership the Robert Bosch Stiftung to call on global support for Africa’s scientific and technological emergence. NEF is a global platform that brings together leaders in industry, policy, science, and technology and the first edition of this biennial event will set the stage for a vibrant conversation on transforming Africa and the world through a renewed and increased focus on science, technology and innovation.
52% of the registered participants are young people and 40% women, and the organisers say they are are expecting a truly global forum that discusses opportunities, innovations, and solutions. The Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Global Gathering will unveil Africa’s global contributions to science and technology and as the forum opens on International Women’s Day, Thierry Zomahoun, NEF Chair and President and CEO of AIMS they will specifically acknowledge the contributions and address the challenges faced by female scientists.”
The NEF Global Gathering 2016 is expected to showcase the innovations and contributions of the NEF’s 15 Fellows –some of Africa’s brightest young scientists that have been on teh forefront in tackling some the continent’s most urgent technological and development challenges ,from, big data and cybersecurity to hypertension, heart disease, immunology and public health. In addition, for the first time in history, all 54 African countries will come together to talk science and technology each represented by a NEF Ambassadors that will work to raise awareness about science and technology in their countries.
“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, Vice President, Innovation, Global Health and Science Policy, Johnson & Johnson who is also a member of the NEF International Steering Committee. “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.”
With a truly exciting program that focuses on advances in basic and applied science and technology as well as an innovation pitching competition, a Presidential Panel with H.E. President Macky Sall of Senegal and H.E. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and other exciting sessions like Meet and Greets with groundbreaking scientists and inventors, the NEF Global Gathering 2016 will be live-streamed to a global audience from 8 March 2016 starting at 10:10 am UTC at www.NEF.org.
