Calestous Juma: Science, Engineering, and Economic Growth in Africa

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Public Lecture by Calestous Juma:
Science, Engineering, and
Economic Growth in Africa

National Academy of Sciences / Washington, DC
January 9. 2009

The overarching theme of the lecture (and subsequent discussion among attendees) was "think local, act global". Dr. Juma's lecture was prefaced by an overview by Minister Koji Omi (Former Minister of Finance, now Member of Japan's House of Representatives, and Chairman of Science and Technology in Society (STS) forum). Minister Omi's presence highlighted growing efforts at development cooperation and assistance between such technological forces as Japan, Brasil and China and less well-developed nations.

Dr. Juma articulated strengthening encouragement about prospects for a new era of United States technological cooperation based solidly in science (as evidenced by the President-elect Obama's recently assesmbled teamm of science advisors—each recognized for thinking globally and acting both globally and locally).

The ideas presented by Professor Juma will be reported soon—in summary—in an opinion piece in Nature. In that summary, he will say that "From now on, national and global interests will be one in the same."
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Calestous Juma is professor of the practice of international development and director of the Science, Technology, and Globalization Project at the Belfer Center for Scientific and International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

The lecture is co-sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences; Brookings Institution; George Washington University; Civilian Research and Development Program; Harvard Kennedy School; the United States Institute of Peace; and the Paul Nitze School for Advanced International Study, Johns Hopkins University.