The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) recently recognized 25 early career scientists who had been elected for the third cohort of the its Affiliates Programme. The exceptional scientists are PhD holders below 40 representing disciplines that include mathematical science, cultural sciences, humanities and social sciences, medical and health sciences, agricultural sciences, biosciences and geological, environmental, earth and space sciences.
This year’s Affiliates are from Ethiopia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Benin, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Tunisia, South Africa and Uganda.
“We welcome the new cohort who represent some of the brilliant minds from the continent. The AAS is committed to ensuring that they are provided with the opportunities they need to develop their careers and contribute to the development of the continent,” said AAS Executive Director Prof Nelson Torto.
The Affiliates will be part of the AAS membership pool from 2018 to 2022 during which they will be supported to attend conferences, symposia and workshops and other activities that will improve their skills in proposal development, grant writing and pitching innovations to help them win more grants, improve their publication records and ensure that their research impacts their communities.
The AAS set up the Affiliates programme in 2015 to recognise, mentor and help early career professionals develop into world class research leaders. Through a donation from AAS Fellow and Senior Advisor Kevin Marsh, the Academy set up a fund in 2017 to promote the professional development of Affiliates and other early career scientists to help attract and retain them on the continent. AAS headquartered in Kenya, aims to drive sustainable development in Africa through science, technology and innovation. (Contact d.ndlovu@aasciences.ac.ke)
