We extend a warm invitation to join our focused panel session, jointly led by the African Academy of Sciences and the Frontiers Research Foundation. This session aims to provide the platform for dialogue and proposed action to revolutionize the modus operandi of research in African institutions through addressing the challenges of the academic community, providing the foundation of driving systemic change. The topic of discussion will be around ‘Planetary Boundary Science,’ its paradigm-shifting potentials, and how to overcome conventional siloes and obstacles within academia that hinder such transformative initiatives.
The discussion will also explore what fuels these radical changes in research and how advances in this vein are vital for Africa's transition towards a climate-resilient future. The session will spotlight case studies demonstrating these changes and elucidate the role that open access to scientific literature plays in publicizing and normalizing such transformative research.
The panel offers a platform for African scientists, policy makers in science and technology, and NGOs, who are at the forefront of these changes to engage in honest, constructive discourse. It seeks to navigate the challenges endemic in the field and demonstrate the value that initiatives like the Frontiers Planet Prize hold in recognizing and rewarding paradigm-shifting research. This confluence of esteemed academics, policymakers, and NGOs aspires to chart a viable path, empowering the African research community in forging its evolutionary journey towards environmental resilience.
Panelists:
● Lise Korsten – President of the African Academy of Sciences
● Remi Quiron – Chief Scientist of Quebec
● Daan Du Toit – Deputy Director General: International Cooperation and Resources
● Eugene Mutimura- Executive Secretary and Member of the Council of the National Council of Science and Technology of Rwanda
● Andrea Hinwood, Chief Scientist, UN Environment Programme (UNEP)