Why Science?

At first glance, supporting scientific research may not seem like an obvious priority in countries where political instability is rife and food shortages are real. While we don’t diminish the importance of efforts to alleviate these immediate problems, we strongly believe that scientific research is an essential component in creating the kind of sustainable, diversified economies that help developing nations lift themselves out of poverty. Some of the benefits of scientific research in the developing world include:

Reversing the “brain drain”

Many scientists from developing countries migrate to the developed world for improved educational and career opportunities. Many remain; it is estimated that 30-50% of scientists from the developing world live and work in developed countries. In 2004, the National Science Foundation found that of the 1350 African doctoral students in the U.S., 70% planned to stay. One reason driving them to remain abroad is inadequate research facilities in their home countries.

Strengthening the capacity to solve local problems

The population of the developing world is plagued by diseases we don’t suffer from in the West, and dependent upon crops we don’t grow. We want to help the scientists working on these locally important issues, to make sure that they can help their communities.

Strengthening global public health and protecting our shared environment

The outbreaks of bird flu and swine flu in the last few years have proven just how closely connected we all are when it comes to our health. We are beginning to see the effects of climate change, manifested in tsunamis or droughts, impacting the lives of people worldwide. Scientists in the developing world must be equipped to detect and address outbreaks where and when they occur. And they must have the tools to predict and mitigate the effects of human activity on the environments in which they live.

Ensuring economic and social benefits

It is hard to quantify the economic impact of strong scientific educational and R&D institutions, but we live with the benefits every day. The presence of a highly educated workforce in-country and the discoveries resulting from strong research institutions will impact everything from the daily lives of communities to national economies in the countries in which we work.