RSIF Weekly Vol.1 No.22

Vol.1 Issue 22

Welcome to the RSIF Weekly Newsletter, a digest of information, news and opportunities relevant to the African higher education, science, technology and innovation space. Please kindly share the newsletter with your network and encourage your contacts to subscribe here.

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NEWS AND EVENTS

(PASET-RSIF) The Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) Governing Council met on Monday 26 October, 2020 to discuss among others the Draft Report on the establishment of the RSIF endowment fund. The GC comprises Ministers from sub-Saharan African member governments, the World Bank and other contributing partners, including Korea. Dr. Segenet Kelemu, DG & CEO, represented icipe, RSIF’s RCU at the meeting.
(PASET-RSIF) The RSIF Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) at icipe held meetings with the French Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) in Kenya to explore partnerships for strengthening research and capacity building in the context of RSIF.
(PASET-RSIF) The RCU-RSIF met with Nestlé South Africa to discuss research internships for RSIF PhD Students.
The East Africa Community (EAC) calls for development of bioeconomy strategy in region to open opportunities for research cooperation
(PASET-RSIF) EVENT: The RCU-RSIF is hosting its fourth monthly webinar series. The guest presenter, Prof. Junseok Hwang, will speak on ‘The future of higher education in science & technology’. Join on Zoom (ID 681 907 5609) or watch YouTube livestream. Date: 29 October 2020 at 12 pm EAT
(PASET-RSIF) Student Story: Her Journey to the PhD: Petronille Dusingizimana

MEET OUR SCHOLARS

We will introduce three RSIF scholars each week. See the complete list of Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 scholars here.

Name: Petronille Dusingizimana
Nationality: Rwandan
RSIF African Host University: University Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Côte d'Ivoire, African Center of Excellence in Climate Change, Biodiversity & Sustainable Agriculture (CEA-CCBAD)
PASET Thematic Area: Climate change
Research Area: Analysis of impacts of future emission in Rwanda, an emphasis on major crops and their suitability in Rwanda

Name: Maxwell Wambua Waema
Nationality: Kenyan
RSIF African Host University: Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania
RSIF International Partner Institution: Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Korea
PASET Thematic Area: Food Security and Agribusiness
Research Area: Simultaneous detection of respiratory viruses using a controlled release system of thermos-responsive hydrogel microparticles based multiplex real time RT qPCR platform

Name: David Oluwasegun Afolayan
Nationality: Nigerian
RSIF African Host University: African University of Science and Technology, Nigeria
RSIF International Partner Institution: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Boston, USA
PASET Thematic Area: Minerals, Mining and Materials Engineering
Research Area: Optimization of Mineral Bioprocessing and Nano-based Strategies of Nigerian Barite Beneficiation for Utilization as Oil Drilling Mud and other Industrial Raw Materials

PUBLICATIONS

(PASET-RSIF) Hakizimana, J.N., Kamwendo, G., Chulu, J.L.C. et al. Genetic profile of African swine fever virus responsible for the 2019 outbreak in northern Malawi. BMC Vet Res 16, 316 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-02536-8
(PASET-RSIF) Maina, S.; Misinzo, G.; Bakari, G.; Kim, H.-Y. Human, Animal and Plant Health Benefits of Glucosinolates and Strategies for Enhanced Bioactivity: A Systematic Review. Molecules 2020, 25, 3682
(NEW) Sokame, B.M., Obonyo, J., Sammy, E.M. et al. Impact of the exotic fall armyworm on larval parasitoids associated with the lepidopteran maize stemborers in Kenya. BioControl (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-020-10059-2

COVID-19

FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS AND AWARDS

CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars- early-career research leaders Deadline: 30 October 2020
Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) 2021 in Environment/Energy, Bioresources, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. Deadline: 30 October 2020
ILRI Training Fellowships on 3rd-Generation Genomics Deadline: 31 October 2020
Jeanie Borlaug Laube Women in Triticum (WIT) Early Career Award Deadline: 31 October 2020
IITA - two (2) PhD positions in Molecular Biology/Genetics and Metabolomics of Chemical Ecology of Pests. Deadline: 31 October 2020
Georg Forster Research Award Deadline: 31 October 2020
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship : PhD, Post-Doc and Research fellowships Deadline: varies by nationality until December 2020
University of Liverpool PhD Fellowship: The Burden of Animal Disease in Working Equids – Ethiopia Deadline: 1 November 2020
Alibaba Cloud Global AI Innovation Challenge Deadline: 1 November 2020
Design Solutions for Responsible AI: CIFAR Solution Networks - AI governance in low-middle income countries Deadline: 2 November 2020
TWAS-SISSA-Lincei Research Cooperation Visits Programme Deadline: 2 November 2020
TWAS Research Professors in LDCs. Deadline: 3 November 2020
Global AgriInno Challenge 2020: Connecting youth-led innovation to agri-food sector by FAO and Zhejiang University Deadline: 8 November 2020
Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa) Funding Opportunities – Research Hubs Deadline letter of intent: 9 November 2020
Wege Prize 2021. Deadline: 9 November 2020
Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Program Deadline: 9 November 2020
GCRF AgriFood Africa Innovation Awards Competition (Round 2) – UK lead. Deadline: 10 November 2020
PhD Fellowships at Vienna International School of Earth and Space Sciences Deadline: 15 November 2020
(PASET-RSIF) Call for Applications from Universities/Africa Centers of Excellence in sub-Saharan Africa to become PASET-RSIF African Host Universities in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology Deadline: 23 November 2020
African Union Kwame Nkrumah Awards for Scientific Excellence (AUKNASE) Continental Award 2020 Edition Deadline: 25 November 2020
IARC Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021-2023. Deadline: 30 November 2020
Olam Prize for Innovation in Food Security Deadline: 30 November 2020
TWAS-UNESCO Associateship Scheme Deadline: 1 December 2020
Stanford Center on Food Security and the Environment Postdoctoral Fellowships Deadline: 1 December 2020
Hong Kong PhD Fellowship 2021/22 Deadline: 1 December 2020
(NEW) Grand Challenges Africa Innovation Phase 1 Seed Grants | Round 12 Request for Proposals on Food Security and Nutrition Deadline: 4 December 2020
(NEW) AGNES Grants for Junior Researchers Deadline: 5 December 2020
(NEW) ARPPIS – DAAD PhD Scholarships for Study at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) Deadline: 15 December 2020
(NEW) Olusegun Obasanjo prize for Scientific discovery and/or Technological innovation 2020 Deadline 22 December 2020
Immana Postdoctoral Fellowships Deadline: 31 December 2020
Hult Prize 2021 Challenge – Food for Good
EUTOPIA Science and Innovation Fellowships Programme – Postdoctoral fellowships Deadline: 11 January 2021
Shift Prize for Transformative Agroecological Research for Development Deadline: 11 January 2021
Louis Malassis International Science Prize Deadline: 11 January 2021
PhD Research Fellowships. IIASA Young Scientists Summer Programme Deadline: 14 January 2021
Building a low-carbon, climate resilient future: Research and innovation in support of the European Green Deal. (20 different topics in this H2020 call) Deadlines: 26 January 2021
Horizon 2020 - Accelerating the green transition and energy access Partnership with Africa Deadline: 26 January 2021
Global Grand Challenges - Smart Farming Innovations for Small-Scale Producers Deadline: 25 February 2021
Alexander von Humboldt International Climate Protection Fellowship Deadline: 1 March 2021
Volkswagen Stiftung Freigeist Fellowships Deadline: 1 April 2021
Einstein Fellowship by the by the Einstein Forum and the Daimler and Benz Foundation Deadline: 15 May 2021
SPIRIT – Swiss Programme for International Research by Scientific Investigation Teams
NRF One Call for Proposals in 2020 and 2021. Various categories, see general call guidelines
Seeding Labs Instrumental Access
Mobility grants for research stays at Danish universities and other research institutions

SCHOLARSHIPS AND TRAINING

(NEW) Landscape Ecology in Sustainable Development Summer School by Volkswagen Foundation Deadline: 30 October 2020
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program - University of Edinburgh Deadline: 30 October 2020
Southern Cross University International Women in STEM Scholarship Deadline: 30 October 2020
Chevening Scholarships and some Chevening Fellowships for study in the UK. Deadline: 3 November 2020
(NEW) CTCN SeedStars Climate Innovation Labs Deadline: 5 November 2020
University of British Colombia 2021/22 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Deadline: 6 November 2020
SciencesPo Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Deadline: 25 November 2020
(NEW) YALI Regional Leadership Center West Africa Emerging Leaders Program Deadline: 29 November 2020
Engineering for Development (E4D) Continuing Education Scholarship Programme at ETH Zurich. Deadline: 30 November 2020
Making Agribusiness Work – iCRA training from 30 Nov-11 Dec 2020, Kenya
Gates Cambridge Scholarship Deadline: 3 December 2020
Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project Deadline: 10 December 2020
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the Berkeley University of California Master’s degree. Varying deadlines from December 2020
French Government Eiffel Excellence Scholarship for Master and PhD studies in France. Deadline: 8 January 2021
ARES Master’s and Training Programmes in Belgium Deadline: 15 January 2021
Maastricht University Holland-High Potential scholarship Deadline: 1 February 2021
TU Delft Holland Scholarship for MSc students Deadline: 1 February 2021
VLIR-UOS Master Scholarship - Road Safety in the South. Deadline: 1 February 2021
STIAS Iso Lomso Fellowship. Deadline: 15 February 2021
University of Cambridge Scholarships Varying deadlines until January 2021
Japanese government MEXT scholarships for study in Japan 2021
Call for NRF Postgraduate Scholarships 2021
Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) • DAAD Deadlines: see list

CALL FOR PAPERS AND CONFERENCES

(NEW) The 10th Symposia of Green, Smart, Development, and Vision - “New Deal, New Innovation & New Normal Transformation” hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and organized by Seoul National University Global R&DB Center. PASET-RSIF is a partner. Digital Symposia. Date: 27-30 October 2020
Berlin Science Week, virtual, Date: 1-10 November 2020
7th ICSTR Singapore – International Conference on Science & Technology Research, 5-6 November 2020. Deadline for abstracts: 3 November 2020
The 2020 IEEE 92nd Vehicular Technology Conference, online only, 18 November - 16 December 2020. PASET-RSIF scholar Emmanuel Effah, UGB who is doing his sandwich programme at WPI will present.

ONLINE RESOURCES AND DISTANCE LEARNING

(NEW) Video highlights from the first Eastern African Bioeconomy Conference held on 21-22 October 2020 under the theme ‘Bioeconomy growth prospects for Eastern Africa’.
(PASET-RSIF) Solution Session: Continue Teaching Your Course Online during the Covid-19 Crisis
A Digital Edge: Essentials for the Online Learner, free interactive online course by Dublin City University
Korea Education and Research Information Service (KERIS), “Leapfrogging the Challenges of Higher Education During COVID-19: Early Lessons from Korea”
Susan McConnell (Stanford): Designing effective scientific presentations - Youtube
Structure of a 10-minute scientific presentation
UNESCO portal of distance learning solutions.

Please continue to follow local health regulations and observe physical distancing to keep yourself and others safe.

All the best,

The Regional Coordination Unit at icipe
PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund

Call for Information. Please share news, events or opportunities of potential interest to the PASET-RSIF network that could be featured in future newsletters.

Disclaimer. Reasonable care is taken to ensure that the information provided is accurate. However, icipe does not vouch for the accuracy of information provided on external websites to which the digest links.