Scientists from around Africa gather to develop leadership capacity in the third round of the ASLP

Posted on March 14, 2017

Twenty-two outstanding scientists from all major regions of Africa will participate in the third round of the Africa Science Leadership Programme (ASLP). The scientists represent basic and applied sciences, and span a wide variety of disciplines including the social sciences and humanities.

The programme on 'Leading a new paradigm for African Science' starts on 22 March with a week-long workshop. The fellows will delve deeply into topics such as collective leadership and science communication. Leaders in academia and research, science communication, and leadership theory and practice will join the fellows for interactive sessions. The workshop will be followed by a year of application and mentorship, with a follow-up workshop planned for March 2018.

The 2017 ASLP fellows will meet with the 2016 cohort on 27 March, when the 2016 fellows start their second workshop.

'I am grateful to have had the opportunity to take part in the ASLP. It has given me a clear picture of what leadership entails. The programme provides important training for African scientific leaders and is also an excellent network-building opportunity that brings together scientists from across the continent. The ASLP addresses an essential need for Africa,' said Professor Sameh Soror, a member of the 2016 ASLP cohort.

'African science is brimming with potential, but is currently underdeveloped. The ASLP programme recognises the need for quality and collective leadership skills among the next generation of scientists, who are steering the development and expansion of this system,' added Professor Bernard Slippers, project leader from the University of Pretoria and past co-chair of the Global Young Academy.

The following fellows have been selected into the third round of the programme:

Dr David Dodoo-Arhin	University of Ghana, Ghana
Asst Prof Hamada Hassan	Cairo University, Egypt
Dr Emmanuel Odjadjare	Benson Idahosa University, Nigeria
Asst Prof Abebayehu Mekonnen	Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Dr Ayodele Morakinyo	University of Lagos, Nigeria
Dr Yvonne Ngwa	Higher Teacher Training College, Cameroon
Dr George Ayodo	University of Science and Technology, Kenya
Dr Dalia Saad	University of South Africa, Sudan/South Africa
Dr Sunny Abarikwu	University of University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Dr Thierry Hoareau	University of Pretoria, South Africa
Dr Gladness Temu	College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Tanzania
Dr Mzime Murisa	Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe/Malawi
Dr Marian Quain	University of Ghana, Ghana
Dr Samson Khene	Rhodes University, South Africa
Dr Akusa Mawa	Uganda Virus Research Institute, Uganda
Dr Barbara Burmen	Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya
Dr Chipo Mubaya	Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe
Dr Pauline Ngimwa	Partnership for African Social and Governance Research, Kenya
Dr Patience Mutopo	Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe
Dr Cindy George	Medical Research Council, South Africa
Dr Elias Matinde	University of the Witwatersrand, Zimbabwe/South Africa
Dr Rene English	Health Systems Trust, South Africa

The Africa Science Leadership Programme is part of the Future Africa initiative by the University of Pretoria in partnership with the Global Young Academy, and is funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung. It involves many collaborations with, among others, the Leopold Leadership Program at Stanford University and the specialist facilitation company KnowInnovation. The programme now includes 64 fellows from 48 institutions in 16 countries across Africa.

Learn more about the ASLP at www.up.ac.za/aslp.

For more information on the ASLP, contact:

Ms Smeetha Singh

Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +27 (0) 12 420 5036

For more information about the partners of the programme, visit the following websites:

Future Africa, University of Pretoria www.up.ac.za/future-africa

Global Young Academy www.globalyoungacademy.net

KnowInnovation http://knowinnovation.com

Robert Bosch Stiftung www.bosch-stiftung.de/content/language2/html/index.asp

Leopold Leadership Program http://leopoldleadership.stanford.edu/