African Brains

New crop varieties can cut poverty, study finds

Vote

Posted by admin 531 days ago (http://www.africanbrains.net)

The thorny question of whether improved crop varieties do, in fact, lift peasant farmers out of poverty has been answered positively in a study of groundnut varieties, according to researchers at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), in Kenya. The new groundnut varieties are resistant to major pests and diseases Flickr/SwathiSridharanEvidence that new technologies improve

Read More | Discuss | Bury |

Africa -- all countries | Education & Career | new crop varieties cut poverty study finds All

Libya: 10 Percent of Seats Reserved for Women

Vote

Posted by admin 531 days ago (http://www.africanbrains.net)

Ten percent of the seats in a proposed Libyan constituent assembly will be reserved for women, a draft electoral law published on Monday said, triggering harsh reaction from a human rights watchdog. “The General National Congress (constituent assembly) is to be composed of 200 members elected freely and directly. 10 percent of the seats will [...]

Read More | Discuss | Bury |

Africa -- all countries | Education & Career | libya percent seats reserved women All

Zambia: Cervical Cancer – ‘A Battle We Can Win’

Vote

Posted by admin 531 days ago (http://www.africanbrains.net)

Cervical cancer is an aggressive disease which affects millions of Zambian women each year. But it is quickly being brought under control thanks to new vaccinations, screening programmes and possibly even George Bush. Cervical cancer has never been a top killer in Zambia compared to malaria which claims about 50 thousand lives annually, but it [...]

Read More | Discuss | Bury |

Africa -- all countries | Education & Career | zambia cervical cancer a battle win All

Kenya: IBM nets $7.3m in bank deals, eyes region

Vote

Posted by admin 531 days ago (http://www.africanbrains.net)

GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY firm IBM is seeking to close more deals in the region’s banking sector next year, after securing agreements worth $7.3 million with five leading Kenyan banks. As the financial sector increasingly turns to technology to grow profitability, new services such as mobile and Internet banking have taken a lead role in banking strategies [...]

Read More | Discuss | Bury |

Africa -- all countries | Education & Career | kenya ibm nets m bank deals eyes region All

Geothermal Energy On Rise In Eastern Africa

Vote

Posted by admin 531 days ago (http://www.africanbrains.net)

Eastern Africa has a real need for locally generated electricity, and the Eastern Africa Rift System offers huge opportunities for the generation of geothermal energy — but until now, companies have been reluctant to conduct exploratory drilling, due to the high costs associated with a lack of success. That may change, as Africa and Europe in Partnership recently announced a new facility [...]

Read More | Discuss | Bury |

Africa -- all countries | Education & Career | geothermal energy rise eastern africa All

Supercomputing: South Africa back in top 500

Vote

Posted by admin 531 days ago (http://www.africanbrains.net)

A major upgrade to the Centre for High Performance Computing’s (CHPC’s) Tsessebe Sun Constellation System has seen South Africa reclaim its place in the top 500 list of the world’s fastest supercomputers. The Tsessebe cluster has been Africa’s fastest supercomputer since its launch in 2009, when it was ranked 311th in the world. Supercomputing is [...]

Read More | Discuss | Bury |

Africa -- all countries | Education & Career | supercomputing south africa All

Engage with Wikipedia to share scientific knowledge

Vote

Posted by admin 532 days ago (http://www.africanbrains.net)

The online encyclopaedia can fill a resource gap for students, policymakers and the public, say Samuel A. Assefa and Alex Bateman. Access to educational resources online can encourage an inquisitive culture Flickr/Frerieke Wikipedia is the world’s largest online encyclopaedia and has become an important part of daily life on the Internet. A Google search on many topics is likely [...]

Read More | Discuss | Bury |

Africa -- all countries | Education & Career | engage wikipedia share scientific knowledge All

Developing world must lead on green economic policy

Vote

Posted by admin 532 days ago (http://www.africanbrains.net)

Yet more failure to make much progress on climate change in Durban means that developing countries must exert stronger political pressure. Climate talks have not fully delivered yet Flickr/~MVI~ For three years in a row, there has been a disappointing end to international meetings that should have agreed on the steps needed to prevent the [...]