SENEGAL hosted a landmark international science discussion board this week, the primary of its type in Africa, bringing collectively greater than 700 main scientists, mathematicians, entrepreneurs and different key figures from the world of politics and civil society.
The Next Einstein Forum desires to show Africa into a worldwide hub for science and expertise by bringing the continent’s high brains along with traders and policymakers.
As a part of their quest to make sure the subsequent Einstein comes from the continent, younger African scientists have been requested to provide you with improvements that might “solve a big problem for humanity”.
No stress, then.
Here is a abstract of the highest three concepts, as chosen by the NEF’s panel of knowledgeable judges.
Winner: Moses Bangura, Engineer, Sierra Leone (Innovation: Medical drone community)
Moses desires to make use of a fleet of electrically powered drones, which may very well be used to ship remedy to sufferers in hard-to-reach areas.
The unmanned aerial autos might serve a double goal, each delivering necessities like medication or emergency fluids, and in addition taking away blood or different samples for testing.
The drones would be capable to bypass visitors congestion, a significant downside in lots of African cities, in addition to attain rural areas with poor street networks.
They would be capable to fly with an 8 kg (17 lb) payload for 40 minutes, protecting a radius of 40km (25 miles).
Moses says: “We believe that the geographical location of someone cannot determine whether they receive an available life-saving drug.”
Runners-Up:
Moussa Thiam, Mali (Innovation: Transforming garbage into constructing supplies)
Moussa’s plan is take plastic waste, the build-up of which is a large downside for thus many cities throughout the continent, and switch it into one thing that can be utilized for the general public good, corresponding to constructing roads or pavements.
Many of the plastics that find yourself in African landfills or clog up city drainage programs take greater than 100 years to biodegrade naturally.
The challenge would construct on present analysis displaying that plastic waste can be utilized to create supplies that act instead or part-substitute for cement, when mixed with sand and gravel.
Moussa stated: “(The innovation would lead to] a healthier environment, with a reduction in both pollution and the cost of building materials.”
Sylvia Mukasa, Kenya (Innovation: Mobile well being info service for moms)
Sylvia’s thought, named Afya Mama, is to make use of cellphones to supply girls with higher details about well being points surrounding being pregnant, immunisation, household planning and HIV/Aids.
Pregnant girls, healthcare employees and others would get well being recommendation by SMS, or by making a cellphone name and deciding on pre-recorded audio content material.
The messages may very well be pre-recorded in any language and chosen utilizing Interactive Voice Response expertise, which means the service might cowl the greater than 40 ethnic dialects in Kenya.
Sylvia says: “Our objective is to consistently sensitise mothers with information on healthcare and best practices, linking them up with an expert in the case of emergency.”