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08/04/214, Science at the United States-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC

General Info

Start date:2014-08-04

End date:

On the 4th - 6th of August 2014, President Obama will host the 1st United States-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC. More than 45 African Heads of State, in addition to the Chair of the African Union, will participate in this high-level meeting. Under the theme “Investing in the Next Generation,” this landmark international event will provide an opportunity to establish a consolidated plan for future transcontinental cooperation across a wide array of areas, including:

  • Trade and investment

  • Development aid

  • Security and conflict resolution

  • Democracy and good governance

To contribute to this process, ISC will organize a seminar on the 4th August 2014 entitled “Science at the United States-Africa Leaders’ Summit,” which will explore the role of science, within the Summit objectives and broader Africa-US relations, as well as identify and promote methods for stimulating growth, driving cross-border exchanges and establishing an enabling environment for future generations.

With a particular emphasis on the importance of education, investment and human capital development, this panel-led discussion will cover the following thematic areas, amongst others, to promote science, technology and innovation in future Africa-US relations: 

  • Research infrastructures

  • ICT and Big Data

  • Health

  • Renewable energies

  • Science capacity building & outreach

This side event is scheduled to take place around the 1st United States-Africa Leaders’ Summit. For further information on the White House event, please consult the White House official website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/us-africa-leaders-summit 

 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

When: 4 August 2014

Where: National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20045

What to expect: A full-day panel series focused on promoting science capacity and cooperation initiatives to promote African sustainable development. The meeting will engage government leaders and ministers, members of industry, academics and scientists from both regions. 

Who should attend: Policy makers and officials, worldwide research community, representatives of academia, industry representatives, non-governmental organizations concerned with education, training and scientific research

Registration: http://www.iscintelligence.com/event.php?id=229

Contact/questions: Ms Sofia Geck

sofia.geck@iscintelligence.com 

Please complete your registration here: http://www.iscintelligence.com/event.php?id=229

 

07:45

Registration Opens

 

08:30

Media Briefing

 

09:00

Welcome

Mr Declan Kirrane, ISC

 &

Dr. Mae Jemison, 100 Year Starship

09:10

Panel I: Robust Science Policy for U.S.-Africa Innovation Frameworks

 

Keynote Addresses:

 

            - The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson

Ranking Minority Member of the House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space & Technology)

 - Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State (TBC)

        - Representative of the African Union Commission, Human Resources, Science and Technology (TBC)

 

09:40

Panel II: U.S.-Africa Collaboration against Infectious Diseases in a Global Context

 

Chair: Representative of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (TBC)

Prof.  Rainer Fischer

IME Fraunhofer

Investment in Research Infrastructures to Build a Knowledge-based Economy in Africa

Prof. Kurt Zatloukal

Medical University Graz

Representative of Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology (TBC)

Representative of Johnson & Johnson (TBC)

 

Coffee Break

 

 

11:15

 

 

Presentation on SKA Africa

Representative from the Department of Science and Technology, South Africa (TBC)

 

11:45

Panel III: Advanced Sustainable Electricity and Energy Technologies for All

Inclusive Policies and Transnational Initiatives

 

Chair: Hon. Bart Gordon, K&L Gates LLP

Dr. Julio Friedmann

DOE Office of Fossil Energy

 

Representative of  World Energy Council (TBC)

 

Representative of USAID-Power Africa (TBC)

 

 Lunch Break

12:30

 

13:30

Panel IV: The Value of “Accessibility” in U.S.-Africa Science Collaboration

Research Infrastructure & Data Management

 

Chair: Mr Declan Kirrane, ISC

Labs and Scientific User Facilities: Grounds for U.S.-Africa Scientific Infrastructure Cooperation

Mr Robert Bectel

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, DOE

Mr David Bray

Federal Communications Commission

Enabling Industry in the Era of Big Data

Representative from Intel (TBC)

Investment in ICT Infrastructure for Development: the Kenyan Perspective

Mr Isaac Nyabisa Oteyo

Pan-African University – Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation, Kenya

Representative of  IBM Research-Africa (TBC)

14:20

Panel V: “Investing in the Next Generation”

Collaborative Science for Human Capital Development in Africa

 

Chair: Representative of Infrastructure Consortium for Africa, African Development Bank (TBC)

STEM Education to Promote Transnational Human Good

Dr. Mae Jemison

100 Year Starship

Venture Capital in Africa: Challenges & Opportunities

Ms Barbara James (TBC)

Henshaw Capital Partners, Nigeria

Investing in Africa’s Future: Centers of Excellence in S&T

Representative of World Bank – Africa Region (TBC)

 

Coffee Break

 

 

15:15

 

 

Presentation on NASA SERVIR Global

Representative of NASA SERVIR Global (TBC)

 

16:00

Panel VI: Science Education for Society

Challenges and Opportunities

 

Keynote Presentation by Dr. Roosevelt Johnson , NASA

Public/private Sector Perspectives on STEM Education in Africa

Dr. Michelle Fox

Office of Energy and Renewable Energy (EERE), US DOE

Exploring Student/Faculty Exchanges between the U.S. and Africa

Dr. Eric Sheppard, Hampton University (TBC)

17:00

Conclusions & Discussion Wrap-up

 

Concluding Outcome

Representative of U.S. Department of Energy (TBC)

Problem-solving through Research and Innovation: Considering Policies for Future U.S.-Africa Science Cooperation

Member of U.S. Congress (TBC)

Next Steps

Mr Declan Kirrane, ISC