FABI member, Dr Eshchar Mizrachi is one of twenty outstanding scientists  from across Africa to be chosen as a Fellow of the Africa Science Leadership Programme (ASLP). The project, led by FABI’s Prof. Bernard Slippers, a past co-chair of the Global Young Academy, kicked off with a week-long workshop on “Leading a new paradign for African science”. 

The workshop was adressed by Prof. Cheryl de la Rey – Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Pretoria – and Sarah Wild – Science Editor of the Mail & Guardian. Discussion topics included collective leadership and science communication. 

The scientists from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe represent basic and applied sciences, and span a wide variety of disciplines including the social sciences and humanities. Members from will be mentored over a 12 month period before meeting again in April 2016. 

 “We are excited about this unique initiative that will support early to mid-career African academics in developing leadership skills,” said Eva Alisic, co-chair of the Global Young Academy. 

“The program will set an example for similar programs on the continent and elsewhere to follow, to prepare the next generation of scientists for a changing paradigm in science – more interdisciplinary, more globally connected and more relevant than ever before,” added Alisic.

The Africa Science Leadership Program is run by the University of Pretoria in partnership with the Global Young Academy, and is funded by the Robert Bosch Foundation. It involves many collaborations, including with the Leopold Leadership Program at Stanford University and the specialist facilitation company KnowInnovation.