Deadline: 20-Jun-22
The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) in partnership with the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), is pleased to announce the first U.S.-Africa Frontiers of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Symposium.
The U.S.-Africa Frontiers program intends to bring together outstanding early-career scientists, engineers, and medical professionals (within 15 years of most recent degree) from the United States and member countries of the African Union for a series of symposia to discuss exciting advances and opportunities in their fields. The goal of these meetings is to enhance the scientific exchange and dialogue among early-to-middle career researchers in African countries and the United States, including the African science diaspora, and through this interaction facilitate research collaboration within and beyond the region.
Another unique aspect of the Frontiers events is the pluri-disciplinarity of the participants’ background and research interest. The first symposium will take place in partnership with the AAS and will be held on 12-14 October 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Objectives
One of the main objectives of this U.S.-Africa Frontiers symposium is to catalyze convergence research, innovation, and cross-pollination of ideas, unlike the traditional format of specialized conferences on a single topic. The upcoming symposium will address the following topics:
- Session I: Artificial Intelligence
- Session II: Materials Science
- Session III: Biodiversity
- Session IV: Climate Change and Food Security
- Session V: Infectious Diseases
Eligibility Criteria
- Be an emerging leader in science, engineering or medicine. Active researchers and professionals from industry, academia, public service, non-profit and other sectors with a terminal degree are eligible to apply (current students are not eligible).
- Have completed your highest degree less than 15 years ago. Selected members are typically within 10-12 years of their advanced degree at the experience level of assistant/associate professor or equivalent in a non-academic setting.
- Professional proficiency in English.
- Be employed in the U.S. or one of the African Union member countries, but citizenship of the country of residence is not required.
- Have demonstrated accomplishments in science, engineering, or medical research, or technical work with recognizable contributions to advancing their fields.
- Be interested in developments in other fields (and in engaging with people working on them) and be able to consider how advances, techniques, and approaches in those areas relate to the nominee’s own field.
- Conduct research with a strong potential for developmental impact in the US and/or Africa (participation in scientific projects,/scientific meetings/contribution to the promotion of S&T within society).
For more information, visit https://www.aasciences.africa/calls/first-us-africa-frontiers-science-engineering-and-medicine-symposium