Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY

A28 SCIENCE
Monday 9 april 2018
Africa's scientists encouraged to become the next Einstein

By ANDREW MELDRUM of African women in sci-
Associated Press ence," said Eliane Ubali-
KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — joro, a professor at McGill
South African geneticist Vi- University in Montreal, who
net Coetzee held up a ma- pointed out the large num-
laria-diagnosing scanner ber of women at the con-
that she said can be devel- ference. "We are creating
oped for use in Africa's rural Wakanda right here!"
areas without the need for Africa lags behind the rest
blood samples or lab tests. of the world in scientific
"This can be rapid, afford- output, but research on
able and non-invasive," she the continent is growing
said. "It can reduce health rapidly and a few coun-
inequality and bring us one tries like Ethiopia, Kenya
step closer to a world free and Mali have increased
of malaria." their research and devel-
The prototype was among opment spending efforts
the research projects high- "to the level of a middle-in-
lighted at the Next Einstein come economy," accord-
Forum conference last ing to the UNESCO Science
month in Rwanda to en- Report . The Next Einstein
courage the development In this photo taken Monday, March 26, 2018, Rwanda's President Paul Kagame opens the Next Forum began in 2013 to
of young scientists across Einstein Forum conference in Kigali, Rwanda. help the continent move
Africa. Organizers called it Associated Press forward and now sponsors
the largest-ever gathering 19 African science fellows,
of scientists on the conti- teries. mies," he said. "Today, itself to be left behind." As along with an Africa Sci-
nent. Rwandan President Paul more than ever before, ad- the continent catches up it ence Week at schools in
"We can go from a dark Kagame, the current equate math and science cannot afford to leave out 30 countries. At the confer-
continent to a bright conti- chair of the African Union, proficiency is a prerequi- women and girls, Kagame ence the forum launched
nent," said Nigerian chem- opened the gathering by site for a nation to attain said, urging Africans not to Scientific African, a quar-
istry professor Peter Ngene, linking scientific progress high-income status and the accept the global gender terly, peer-reviewed journal
who described how he to Africa's development at gains in health and well- gap in science as inevita- to publicize new research.
plans to use nanotechnol- large. being that go along with it." ble. “My parents took pride in
ogy to store solar energy "Knowledge economies The president added: "For "The movie 'Black Panther' combatting injustice and
efficiently in hydrogen bat- are prosperous econo- too long, Africa has allowed gives positive role models they were thrown in jail.q

A new concern for African

vultures: bullet lead in carrion

scavengers also face an- the impact of lead poison- lead bullets. The Botswa-
other threat — toxic bullet ing on African vultures and na study acknowledged
lead that they ingest while a move to use alternatives past research indicating
eating the carcasses of an- such as copper ammuni- condors' particular vul-
imals shot by legal hunters. tion. "It has not really been nerability to lead and the
One-third of nearly 600 recognized as a possible relative tolerance of some
white-backed vultures threat in Africa," said Beck- vultures, though Garbett
caught and tested in Bo- ie Garbett, a researcher noted some surveyed vul-
In this photo taken on Feb, 3, 2016, and supplied by researcher tswana had "elevated lev- with the Raptors Botswana tures were listless.
Beckie Garbett on Wednesday April 4, 2018, white-backed and
hooded vultures feed on a dead elephant carcass in Chobe els" of lead in their blood, group and a PhD student "Sometimes after the cap-
National Park, Botswana. and higher lead concen- at the University of Cape tures, instead of flying off
Associated Press trations were found in vul- Town in South Africa. straight away they would
tures during the hunting Botswana banned hunt- hang around and act like
By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA other hazards have taken season and in hunting ar- ing on state land in 2014, they didn't know what to
Associated Press a heavy toll on Africa's en- eas, according to a study though it continues on pri- do," she said.
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — dangered vultures. New published last month in the vate farms. Neighboring Lead poisoning from bullets
Poaching, poisoning and research suggests that the Science of the Total Envi- South Africa generates the was hindering the recov-
ronment journal. most revenue from regu- ery of the critically endan-
African vultures are in peril lated hunting on the conti- gered California condor in
from livestock owners who nent. Kenya banned legal the United States despite
poison carcasses to kill hunting in 1977 as the coun- bans on the use of such
predators such as lions, and try lost wildlife to poachers. ammunition in condor hab-
from poachers who con- Lead ammunition can itats, according to a 2012
taminate carcasses to tar- fragment into many small report by Environmental
get the birds whose over- pieces after entering flesh. toxicologists at the Universi-
head circling might attract Scientists have previously ty of California, Santa Cruz.
rangers. The study's lead reported the health risks to Africa’s White-backed vul-
author, however, said there humans and wildlife from tures are listed as critically
should be more scrutiny of eating animals shot with endangered.q