Africa lab
Africa is losing its best and brightest scientists, crippling its efforts to boost achievements in science and technology.
The exodus of top African scientists to more lucrative and more satisfying careers abroad is causing a brain drain in Africa. Their skills are necessary to help Africa shed its status as the World's poorest continent. Researchers are exploring new ways to keep their peers from leaving.
The brain drain is obvious when top Nigerian doctors and researchers hold their medial school reunion in the U.S. Drawing young Africans to science and convincing them to stick around is the challenge.
Hugh Levinson reports on reasons many top researchers are leaving Africa, and speaks with researchers and scientists who are determined to stay and make a difference.
Africa is at a turning point. Instead of producing science, Africa consumes it. Its scientific expertise has been bleeding away for the last 40 years. Many of African scientists say the quality of research is worst than it was back in the 1960s.
South Africa is the continent's scientific giant. One study suggests it generates 9 out of 10 scientific research papers in reputable journals. But it's a big fish in a very small pond. There are massive challenges for scientists here.
One study found that the whole of Africa produces 1.8% of publications in reputable scientific journals. That's about 40% less than India alone. And the continent produces only one in 1000 patents registered at the U.S. Patent Office.
A special collaboration between BBC World Service and PRI's "The World," "The Changing World" is a series of powerful documentaries, each of which takes a long look at a single global issue, from geo-political hegemony to world health concerns.
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