SRI2022 Theme: African Science and Innovation
Date: 22 February 2022 – 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm South Africa Standard Time (SAST)
To watch a recording of this session, please sign up for SRI Inkundla.
This Inkundla is the first in a series of four engaging and interactive pre-events leading up to the 2022 Sustainability Research and Innovation (SRI) Congress in Pretoria, South Africa, and online June 20-24, 2022. Inkundla is a South African English word originating from isiXhosa and isiZulu that refers to a gathering of the people of the village or area, held in the public courtyard at the gate of the cattle enclosure. By naming these pre-Congress events Inkundlas, SRI aims to highlight the collaborative, inclusive and engaging nature of the Congress, while honoring the traditions and culture of the 2022 host, South Africa.
We start off the series with a discussion devoted to African Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) and how advancements in this field are changing the way the world views Africa. Covid-19 has further highlighted this shift and provides a case study to understand the challenges, opportunities, and value proposition of STI within Africa and low-middle-income countries.
A group of leading experts with hands-on experience in advancing African STI will discuss an African-led and developed blueprint for science-policy engagement – a model that engages African scientists and policymakers in evidence-based decision making to identify African priorities that, if addressed, offer the highest return on investment. The model also drives resources towards discovering, developing, and delivering game-changing interventions that will transform African economies and people. Together we will discuss how this model was used during Covid-19, across policy, clinical trials, social science, and innovation to achieve positive outcomes to inspire similar approaches across the globe.
This theme of inspired transformation enabled by African Science, Technology, and Innovation will be a focus at the SRI2022 Congress in June, in high level interactive plenary sessions and throughout the Congress program.
Dr. Tom Achoki
University of Pretoria
Tom Achoki is a medical doctor (MD) trained in public health (MPH), infectious diseases and tropical medicine (DTM&H) at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. He has a PhD in health services research and pharmaceutical policy from Utrecht University, in The Netherlands and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Dr. Uzma Alam
Africa Institute for Health Policy
Uzma Alam is a global health professional, researcher, and entrepreneur, working at the intersection of infectious diseases and healthcare delivery in the international development and humanitarian contexts. She focuses on the use of evidence and innovation to inform strategy and policy. Her work has appeared globally across print and media outlets.
Prof. Lenore Manderson
University of the Witwatersrand
Lenore Manderson is Distinguished Professor of Public Health and Medical Anthropology in the School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. She was previously professor at Queensland (1988-1998), Melbourne (1999-2005) and Monash universities (2006-2013).
Dr. Richard Wamai
Northeastern University
Richard Wamai is an Associate Professor at Northeastern University where he co-leads the Integrated Initiative for Global Health. He has trained in European (Helsinki, Oxford, Uppsala, London School of Economics) American (Harvard, Johns Hopkins, World Bank) and African (Nairobi, Egerton, Kumasi) institutions. He works in global health research, training, implementation and policy focusing on HIV/AIDS, neglected tropical diseases, non-communicable diseases, and health systems and policy in multiple countries across sub-Saharan Africa.