Saturday, October 08, 2011

Q&A: Gretchen Kalonji on UNESCO's plans for science

SciDev.Net's Yojana Sharma interviewed UNESCO's Gretchen Kalonji about how a new panel of experts is breathing fresh life into the organisation's science plans.

The first ever UNESCO High Panel on Science for Development, tasked with strengthening the efforts of UNESCO (the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) in science, technology and innovation (STI), held its inaugural meeting in France earlier this month (15–16 September). The panel of eminent personalities — including former Pakistan science minister, Atta-ur-Rahman, and Jacob Palis, president of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences — will meet twice a year. Its first report, based on September's meeting, will be released in a few weeks.

SciDev.Net spoke to Gretchen Kalonji, UNESCO assistant director-general for natural sciences, after the meeting to discuss the formation of the panel, how it will put its recommendations into practice, and its plans for shaping science and innovation in the developing world, particularly Africa.

Read the interview...

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