Science & technology

The digital revolution has caught up fast in the world of African creativity! Over the last ten years, the increase in African Internet users has been 16 times greater than that of North American users. Alongside this, a growing number of African organisations and cultural operators are creating and participating in websites and social networks, offering an ever-increasing range of resources to allow people to keep up-to-date with African creativity, enjoy African art and contact African creators. Examples of this can be seen in various fields, but the philosophy is always the same: that of sharing content, involving users and facilitating participation and access.

Greece is not well known for its research into renewable energy, but it is a promising and growing field, and developing countries are set to potentially benefit from it. The CRES (Centre for Renewable Energy Sources), which operates as a national coordinator in this area, conducts groundbreaking research for Greece as well as the European Commission and third party countries.

Small-holder farmers, especially the resource poor in remote rural communities in Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific are not receiving adequate extension – application of scientific research and new knowledge to agricultural practices - and advisory services. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can support the realignment of these services.

The winning in 2012 of the bid to site the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) – the most powerful radio telescope in the world   would bring a plethora of benefits to South Africa and the African continent, says South Africa’s  Project Director for SKA, Dr. Bernie Fanaroff.

The first time many Samoans found out about the tsunami that hit the south coast of Upolu Island (the island where Apia, the capital of Samoa, is located) on September 2009 was through a call made from one of the survivors to the radio station. "My house is gone, this is unbelievable," the survivor cried.

Throughout the recovery operation, mobile phones were the lifeline for many in isolated areas who were able to call the Red Cross, other aid organisations, or the emergency services.

The populations of West Africa are among the most exposed in the world to desert dust. Yet interest in scientific research into this particular form of pollution is virtually nil. A team from Benin and Europe is now appealing for international institutions to pay more attention to the problem.