[Todos] sequias, dengue, malaria, inversion en ciencia..... SciDev.Net Weekly Update (11 - 17 July 2011): Horn of Africa drought forecasting, Latin Americas push for science investment, Forward steps for Islamic collaboration, and more

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  Monday, July 18, 2011 1:09 PM
  SciDev.Net Weekly Update (11 - 17 July 2011): Horn of Africa drought
forecasting, Latin Americas push for science investment, Forward steps
for Islamic collaboration, and more

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News, views and information about science, technology and the
developing world

  Boosting S&T in Latin America

  Latin American countries must build on six decades of policy
experience and spend more on science. And .

Warnings were issued last year, say experts, and advances in
forecasting technology have outpaced advances in the ability to 
respond.


Ollanta Humala Tasso hopes to increase the country's science spend
seven-fold by 2016 and improve public universities.
  |

A simple mosquito trap using peppercorn could cut dengue and other
mosquito-borne diseases, say scientists.

Intercropping cocoa plantations with other plants may help reduce costs
and increase cocoa yields in Ghana, researchers have shown.

Better instructions for health workers would greatly improve the
accuracy of rapid diagnostic tests for malaria, a study finds.

The Peruvian Executive has intervened over a ten-year GMO import ban
that would supercede previous laws.
  |

The bill has been more than a decade in the making and will prevent the
exploitation of natural resources such as hoodia plants.

A drug commonly used to treat river blindness could help cut malaria
transmission by killing mosquitoes, a trial in Senegal has found.

Sudan formally split last week, but its universities — which were due
to accept students in May — are yet to open.
Source: Nature Middle East
  |

Almost every family has a child affected by nodding syndrome in parts
of South Sudan but scientists cannot find any obvious cause.
Source: Nature

The success of Latin American countries is held back by underinvestment
in science, says development policy expert _Francisco Sagasti_.
  |

Islamic nations should form a 'forward bloc' on science for development
to reverse a poor record of collaboration, argues _Athar Osama_.

Source: Science Progress

Romain Murenzi, the new executive director of TWAS, the developing
world's science academy, talks to _SciDev.Net _about his plans for the
organisation.

Mosquitoes are growing resistant to pyrethroids, the only WHO-approved
insecticides used in bednets.
Source: Nature

TWAS president Romain Murenzi talks about Rwanda, money, leadership and
the brain drain.

Keep up-to-date with how science and innovation policy can contribute
to sustainable economic growth

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Keep up-to-date with the latest news, views and analysis from the
region

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Closing date: 10 August 2011

Location: Rome, Italy untill 2011 - Bonn, Germany since 2012
Closing date: 22 August 2011

Location: United Kingdom
Closing date: 27 July 2011

Location: Paris, France
Closing date: 10 September 2011

Location: Hayama Kanagawa Japan
Closing date: 10 August 2011

Muslim nations need a compelling vision to work together on science for
development

A decade's moratorium on the entry of GMOs may hamper research

Improvements in drought prediction technology have outpaced response,
say experts

Our Spotlight examines how women and girls can beat the odds and
advance in the sciences

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