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CONNECTING MINDS AFRICA 2019
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Connecting Minds Africa 2019 (CoMA) is the first of its kind to convene young African scholars to share their research and connect with other scholars to build mutually supportive networks to drive the development of science, technology and innovation on the continent.
The outcome of this conference will be to build a vibrant community of young scholars committed to brokering connections that enhance their career progression, while also accelerating their contribution to Africa’s strategy for research and development.
The three-day conference is organised by The African Academy of Sciences in collaboration with the Royal Society.
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Elly Sabiiti
The African Academy of Sciences
Sabiiti obtained his MSc in 1980 from Makerere University (Uganda) and PhD in 1985 from the University of New Brunswick (Canada). He then joined Makerere University and rose through the ranks to became full professor in 1998. His research interests include agricultural sciences, livestock farming and sustainable range land management. He has served as member of the Advisory Committee for the Pastoral Information Network Programmes. He has several national, regional and international awards and recognitions and has published 100 articles.
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Connie Nshemereirwe
Global Young Academy
Speech title: The Africa we want
Nshemereirwe is an independent science and policy facilitator, acting at the science-policy interface as a trainer, writer and speaker. She is the current Co-Chair of the Global Young Academy, and also a member of the Steering Committee of the Africa Science Leadership Programme based at the University of Pretoria in South Africa.
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Vukosi Marivate
University of Pretoria
Speech title: Africa in the fourth industrial revolution
Marivate is the ABSA Chair of Data Science. A large part of his work over the last few years has been in the intersection of Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing (due to the abundance of text data and need to extract insights). He is a founder of the Deep Learning Indaba, the largest Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence workshop on the African continent.
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Catherine Kyobutungi
African Population and Health Research Center
The AAS Fellow
Speech title: The Health of Africa
Kyobutungi is the Executive Director of the African Population and Health Research Center. She holds a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from Makerere University, a Master of Science in Community Health and Health Management and a PhD in Epidemiology both from Ruprecht-Karls-University (Germany). She spearheaded the development of a research programme on addressing the linkages in the continuum of NCD risk reduction at APHRC.
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Cosmas Ochieng
African Development Bank
Speech Title: The Future of Land, Water and Environment in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges for the Next Generation of African Leaders and Scientists
Ochieng is the Director of African Natural Resources Centre at the African Development Bank. He is a scholar and practitioner of African development, with a specific focus on natural resource management, agricultural development, green economy, climate change, and science, technology and innovation policy. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies from Oxford University, a master’s in development studies from Cambridge University and a Bachelor of Arts from Kenyatta University.
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Funmi Olonisakin
King’s College London
Speech title: The Future of Africa
Olonisakin is Vice-Principal International and Professor of Security, Leadership & Development at King’s College London. She has been founding Director of the African Leadership centre (ALC). She is a member of the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Group of Experts for the Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security and a member of the International Advisory Council of the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute.
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Watu Wamae
Africa Oxford Initiative
Speech title: A dialogue on early career researchers’ professional development
Wamae is a senior social scientist with practical understanding of network coordination and the role of networks in supporting research capabilities in both Africa and Europe. She has over 15 years of experience in a wide range of research and policy making environments, and has substantive expertise in the dynamics of structural change in African economies, and a rich understanding of the mechanisms through which research is channelled into decision-making processes. Currently, she is Research Engagement Manager at the Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx), University of Oxford.
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Kholani Mbhiza
Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)
Speech title: Strengthening National Young Academies
Mbhiza is a Liaison Officer at ASSAf under the International Liaison sub-programme called African Collaborations which facilitate ASSAf’s relations with other academies and organisations in the system of innovation. He also coordinates the activities of TWAS-SAREP and advocates for the inclusion of emerging scientists in policy dialogues. He is an alumnus of the international training workshops on science diplomacy and science advice.
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Phyllis Kalele
Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)
Speech title: Science Diplomacy and Science Advice Workshop
Kalele heads the African Collaboration sub-programme at ASSAf. She is also the Africa regional coordinator for Gender in Science Innovation Technology and Engineering (GenderInSITE), an international initiative that promotes the role of women in SITE. She holds a BSc. in Botany and Zoology, MSc. in Environmental Sciences and is currently studying towards a PhD in Science and Technology Studies.
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Christoff Pauw
Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS)
Speech title: Walking Minds, a reflective session
Pauw is Programme Manager of STIAS, a high-level research institute dedicated to innovative thinking, the production of new knowledge and the nurturing of emerging leaders. He worked for the international office and the research office of Stellenbosch University where he supported African academic networking. He obtained a PhD (Theology) at the VU University Amsterdam (2007) and an MA (Philosophy) at Stellenbosch University (2002).
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Natasha Bevan
The Royal Society
Bevan is Head of International Grants at the Royal Society, the UK national academy of science. She oversees the direction and delivery of the organisation’s international research funding programmes and partnerships including for Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe. She has worked on numerous early career researcher programmes over the past 18 years including while working at the British Academy, UK National Commission for UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and Association of Commonwealth Universities.
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Rachael Taylor
The Royal Society
Speech title: FLAIR closed session
Taylor is the Programme Manager for the Future Leaders – African Independent Research (FLAIR) Fellowships Programme at the Royal Society, London. Prior to this role she has worked in research and project management for several organisations, including academic, non-governmental organisations, and research consultancies in West Africa and the UK. She has a background in research in environmental sciences in Africa, particularly focusing on agriculture and adaptation.
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