Science in developing countries - new web service available
Sweden, the UK and Canada have collaborated with science journals 'Nature' and 'Science' to set up a website dedicated to reporting on and discussing the role of science and technology in meeting the needs of developing countries. The project, SciDev.Net was made possible as a result of funding from the Swedish International development cooperation agency, the UK Department for international development and Canada's International development research centre. The science journals involved are assisting by providing free access to selected articles. The website aims to bring up to date scientific information to the developing world, where subscriptions to scientific journals are often too expensive for most people. A broader objective is to empower individuals, communities and decision makers in developing countries, particularly by increasing their ability to ensure the effective contribution of science and technology to public health and economic well being in an environmentally sustainable way. The project is also supported by the Third world academy of sciences, which brings together more than 80 scientific academies from across the developing world. The website is directed by a board of trustees who span Europe, Asia, Africa and North and South America. A network of correspondents in developing countries will provide news on scientific and technological developments in developing countries. 'We [...] hope that, through its network of southern based correspondents, its policy briefing service and its web-based debates, SciDev.Net will become a voice for the South,' says Geoff Oldham, chairman of the website's board of trustees. Such a voice is urgently needed in the international debates on a wide range of science, technology and development issues cutting across health, agriculture, environment and industry.'