Local scientists wow continental body in climate change research

According to CIRCLE Programme Manager, Benjamin Gyampoh, assessment of their academic contribution revealed commendable measures to mitigate effects of climate change as per required by the government and the community at large.“There are about 350 African Academy of Science (AAS) fellows and associate fellows who are proven science, technology and innovation leaders, policy advisors and thinkers, most of whom live and work throughout the continent,” Gyampoh explained.They will be inducted at a workshop taking place at the AAS headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, from 10-12 February. “CIRCLE is a five-year initiative to develop the skills and research results for early career researchers in climate change. As you know, climate change is a big threat to Africa and tackling it will require evidence based policymaking,” reads part of the statement issued by AAS headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. Twenty-nine early career scientists from 24 African universities and research institutes have been awarded Visiting Fellowships under the CIRCLE programme being implemented by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS).Eighty per cent of cohort 1 CVFs presented findings from their CIRCLE-funded research at international conferences across the globe in 2015. CIRCLE will offer a total of 100 fellowships in the five years of the programme. From the 63 CVFs awarded to date, 52 per cent are male while the remaining 48 percent are female. The 29 CIRCLE Visiting Fellows (CVFs) will spend a year in another institution outside of their own researching the impact of climate change in five main thematic areas namely Agriculture, Water, Health and Livelihoods, Energy and Policy.An induction workshop for the second cohort of CVFs will be held as part of a series that will run from 8 to 16 February 2016 at the AAS secretariat in Nairobi, Kenya.The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) is a pan-African organisation which recognises individuals who have reached the highest level of excellence in their field of expertise and have made contributions to the advancement of the field in the continent. These individuals are recognised on merit and designated as fellows of the Academy.