Engaging science diplomacy for nanotechnology development in Africa

• Published in: IOP conference series. Materials Science and Engineering 2020-03, Vol.805 (1), p.12039
• Main Author: Ezekiel, I P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Africa; Capacity development; Climate change; Diplomacy; Diplomatic & consular services; Environmental impact; human capacity development; international collaboration; Nanotechnology; Nations; New technology; Platforms; Policies; R&D; Research & development; Research facilities; Science; Science and Technology; science diplomacy; Scientists
• ISSN: 1757-8981; 1757-899X
• DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/805/1/012039

The concept of science diplomacy is gaining ground as a global strategy in addressing global concerns such as global peace, insecurity, climate change and environmental impact. This study reduces science diplomacy to an effective means for the strategic development of nanotechnology in Africa. African nations are currently not encouragingly close to the leading nations in nanotechnology, yet there seem to be extant diplomatic relationship with many of these forefront nations. African diplomats are state actors in science diplomacy to propose foreign policies that will meet the domestic demand for science and technology development in Africa, especially for emerging technologies like nanotechnology. The necessity of inclusion of competent scientists with diplomatic skills as members of the diplomatic corps is recommended here as one of the ways to develop nanotechnology in Africa. The scientist diplomats will function to foster international scientific collaborations, drive platforms for national research facility development and for non-state actors to thrive in their domestic nano-research. Scientifically informed foreign policies are presented here to have potentials to significantly assist Africa in developing nanotechnology and provide pathways for overcoming the numerous constraints to nanotechnology development in Africa. Critical areas of intervention include human capacity development, national nano-research laboratory facilities, platforms for institutional collaborations, post-graduate student training and robust exchange programs. These machineries also benefit independent individual researchers by leveraging on the international networks created by science attachés through science diplomacy.