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Attempts to use nanotechnology in agriculture started with the growing understanding and realization that traditional farming technologies will not be able to increase efficiency any further or reestablish ecosystems that had been affected by current technologies to their original state; in particular, because of the long-term impacts of farming with Chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In this article, we will be covering the base of nanotechnology to its application, prospects, and future challenges.  What is Nanotechnology  Nanotechnology is the study and management of matter … Continue reading “NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE: A SHORT REVIEW”

The Biden administration on Friday announced policy changes to attract international students specialising in science, technology, engineering and maths – part of the broader US effort to compete against China. The State Department will let eligible visiting students in those fields, known as STEM, complete up to 36 months of academic training, according to a notice in the Federal Register. There will also be an initiative to connect these students with US businesses. Homeland Security will add 22 new fields … Continue reading “US UNVEILS CHANGES TO ATTRACT FOREIGN STEM STUDENTS AMID COMPETITION WITH CHINA”

In 2021, the African Union and Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) launched the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) aimed at leveraging pan-African and global partnerships to scale-up vaccine manufacturing in Africa. One of the specific goals of PAVM is to ensure that by 2040, African countries produce at least 60 percent of the vaccines they use instead of the 1 percent currently manufactured on the continent. Coming at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic and … Continue reading “THE UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF SCIENCE DIPLOMACY FOR U.S.-AFRICA RELATIONS”

Girls4Tech, a Mastercard programme to inspire middle-school girls to pursue careers in the STEM fields. The programme’s successes in reaching young girls in Kenya and Nigeria highlight why reaching five million girls by 2025 is so important. Algorithms, digital convergence, encryption and big data are all buzzwords of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, but on the African continent, this is a language not extensively spoken by girls. The STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) are not often pursued by girls, … Continue reading “INSPIRING FUTURE-READY STEMINISTS IN AFRICA”

Mr Monjero (third left) of KARLO Science Centre accompanied by Janet Kariuki (Second left) and Peter Wanuthi (second right), paid a courtesy call to the Director General NACOSTI Prof. Walter Oyawa (extreme left) on 18th January 2022. In attendance were Dr Benson Mburu (Extreme left) a Principal Analyst and Dr Mary Onsarigo (third left) a Senior Analyst at NACOSTI. The purpose of the visit was to brief Director General NACOSTI on the activities of the KARLO Science Centre which includes … Continue reading “STAFF FROM KARLO SCIENCE CENTRE PAY COURTESY CALL TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL NACOSTI ON 18TH JANUARY 2022”

Mr Albert Bunyasi (extreme left), IFBA East Africa Regional Coordinator and Dr. Patrick Okanya (second from Right) from Technical University of Kenya, member of Biorisk Management Association of Kenya (BMAK) paid a courtesy call to the Director General NACOSTI Prof. Walter Oyawa (extreme Right). In attendance was Dr Mary Onsarigo (second from left), Senior Analyst at NACOSTI. The purpose of the visit was to brief Director General NACOSTI on the upcoming project on developing a pilot biosafety and Biosecurity degree … Continue reading “MEETING EXPERTS FROM IFBA EAST AFRICA AND BIORISK MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION KENYA ON 18TH JANUARY, 2022, NACOSTI HEADQUARTERS”

A new consortium targeting research and development of COVID-19 drugs in Kenya has been birthed. The nascent consortium that brings together five local Universities and KEMRI has received an initial seed funding of over Ksh. 50 million from the National Research Fund (NRF) for this task. Members of the consortium who are also the Principal Investigators (PIs) include Prof. Isabel Wagara from Egerton University, Dr. Peter Kirira from Mount Kenya University, Dr. Meshack Onyambu from Kenyatta University, Dr. Martin Magu, … Continue reading “KEMRI HOSTS THE COVID-19 DRUG DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM”

Domain 5: Freedom and responsibility in science An ongoing social revolution in many societies is concerned with combating racism and gender stereotypes, recognizing the value of all and ensuring inclusivity. These issues are as important in science as they are in wider society. At the same time, political destabilization and the climate emergency have led to a new era of displacement of peoples seeking refuge in other countries. These pressures have also tended to inhibit freedom in the practice of … Continue reading “DIVERSITY, INCLUSIVITY AND FREEDOM IN SCIENCE”

Climate change will lead to a mental health crisis as people are forced out of their homes and witness natural disasters, it is feared. But acting to protect green spaces and areas with rich ecosystems can both protect the climate and improve mental health, experts believe. Extreme weather is expected to become more common because of global warming, with the recent flooding in Germany widely seen as an example. This is likely to cause particularly severe crises in places that are already … Continue reading “SCIENTISTS WARN OF ‘IMMENSE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT’ OF CLIMATE CHANGE”

As the world is still grappling with the pandemic and its devastating effects, the need for rapid and affordable means of communicating and accessing scientific knowledge is strikingly apparent. Earlier this year the international scientific community, as represented by the ISC membership, recognized the need for a change through a resolution committing to work to reform scientific publishing. In this blog, we explore how Africa – similarly to the rest of the world – has adapted to the pressing realities … Continue reading “THE PANDEMIC AND THE CHANGING PUBLISHING SCIENCE IN AFRICA”