BY ALAZAR SHIFERAW
The Ethiopian Academy of Sciences (EAS) aims to stimulate the country’s evidence-based problem solving through technology transfer and development.
It fosters research, scientific knowledge, and its application in the areas of applied sciences, social sciences, art, indigenous knowledge, and innovative thinking with the ultimate aim of improving the quality of life of the Ethiopian people.
EAS mainly targets advising the government on science, education, and other socio-economic issues. It also networks with similar organizations at regional and international levels to enhance the role of Ethiopian scholars from all scientific research disciplines in addressing issues of national and global significance.
Moreover, EAS envisions creating a network among the Ethiopian science and art community around the world; promoting outstanding achievements of professionals to the world; creating appropriate channels to disseminate major findings in all disciplines, and ensure active and sustained engagement and benefits of women and other underprivileged and marginalized groups in all scientific works. Yes, being officially established by proclamation No. 783/ 2013 in March 2013, EAS has been conducting multifaceted research activities since its establishment.
In his recent interview with The Ethiopian Herald, EAS Executive Director, Professor Teketel Yohannes said that EAS has six working groups functioning in various areas of sciences including natural science, engineering, agriculture, health, social science and humanities, and fine arts.
Presently, EAS is executing several activities including the preparation of the English–Amharic science and technology dictionary, which had been initiated in collaboration with the previous Ministry of Science and Technology.
EAS, likewise, is engaged in national research journals accreditation duties. Locally, there are lots of journals that need to be evaluated and accredited. In this regard, various tasks are underway in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The Academy is also involved in the preparation of laboratory standards and manuals for undergraduate university programs in selected 10 disciplines.
EAS had already carried out over 50 different projects that conducted in research activities and studies on various issues like the establishment of a national research journals evaluation and accreditation system, research mentoring, and policy and strategy development in education, population, biotechnology, biomass use, and pesticide use management.
The Academy is also in the process of establishing a science center comprised of permanent exhibits in various fields, a STEM center, and a children’s section.
The activities of the STEM Center focus mainly on promoting the enthusiasm of high school students in science and technology through hands-on training.
The Academy is engaged in carrying out several studies that are of national importance. The studies are aimed at generating evidence-based policy advice and other technical inputs to the various government activities aimed at addressing issues pertinent to the public.
Therefore, what EAS has been doing so far can be said satisfactory although it has a far-reaching vision of bringing about a culture of science and advancement and application of science, technology, and innovation in the country. And the Academy understands that the public expectation from it as an association of accomplished scholars is immense.
On the other hand, the Academy has very good support from various local, international, and regional organizations. Hence the accomplishments of the Academy so far can be attributed to this strong support. However, there is still a lot to be desired from the partners both in supporting activities of the Academy and implementing its evidence-based policy advice and other professional outputs.
Besides from availability of a large number of highly qualified professionals in the EAS pool, its ability to easily mobilize high caliber professionals for a variety of tasks makes it in a better position for generating evidence based outputs. However, it should be noted that EAS’s research and study activities are not like the ones being conducted at the universities.
The fact that EAS works in close collaboration with the organizations like the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Ministry of Education, the FDRE Policy Study Institute, and other partners ensures the application and sustainability of its outputs. Of course, there are a good number of project outputs that have been implemented and are being considered to be put into action.
Professor Teketel further said that EAS has a Science Center with a STEM center located in its headquarters in Addis Ababa. The Academy has also an Ethiopian Academy Press and a Creative Arts center named afte the renowned scholar and Diplomat Blaten Geta Hiruy Woldesellase.
The STEM Center was established in collaboration with the STEM Synergy, an NGO promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in the country. It has two laboratories: electronic and computer labs. These labs are used by students from the nearby high schools.
“Last year, there was a National Science Week Competition, and one of the students that won the national praise was from our STEM center,” he said.
Besides, EAS provides students training in electronics and computer science, and related fields. Also, “we have a children center that has been working in collaboration with the Goethe-Institute”.But, presently due to COVID-19 students could not come and substantiate the theoretical aspect of subjects they learned about in their class.
But EAS has exhibition centers which could be visited by high school students, he said.
The Professor further said that prominently, EAS board members facilitate evidence-based researches. Besides, the academy also conducts consensus studies that consider evidence-based research and contribute to the policy-making of the government.
Significantly, whenever there is a project or research study, EAS uses its fellows to conduct studies. Certainly, fellows are the main resources. But at the secretariat level, EAS has few professionals who can coordinate the research processes.
However, EAS does not conduct researches on its own. It rather performs more duties through coordination. Nonetheless, it pulls into the fellows and they could involve in the research activities. There are certain procedures to be observed.
The task of the academy is conducting researches, basically, evidence-based ones which could be an input for the government. If the academy thinks of a problem that requires research and has national importance it will strive to troubleshoot it. Once the problem is identified, it will conduct such research useful for the development of the country.
Besides, the academy wants to strengthen the STEM center and the academic centers. “We also want to promote journal accreditation; One way of disseminating publication.
Most of the country’s universities have journals and these journals have to meet international standards. They have to be accredited. EAS also trains the editors of the journals and also works to develop the capacity of the editors and the publishers alike.
Every year, EAS selects additional fellows based on four criteria. The first one is based on his/her publication. The contribution of the individuals in their field to the country and to their community is entailed in the criteria as well. Based on the criteria, fellows were nominated by another candidate.
But then again, recently, EAS has started giving an opportunity or an option for any candidate for self-nomination. Also, it has a general assembly and board members who are elected by the general assembly. It has also an executive committee and a secretariat indeed.
However, finance is the major limitation that EAS has. It has a very little amount of money given as a grant from the government. The remaining portion has to be generated by ourselves. EAS’s human resource at a secretariat level is few. But the good thing is when EAS has projects, it pulls into its fellows.
They are the cream of the crop in the country. Most of them are professors drawn from Addis Ababa University and other universities. So EAS will lean on these highly qualified professors whenever the academy has projects that is researchable.
Above and beyond, “whenever there is a call for research or a sector institute asks us to conduct national studies, EAS will strive to set those researches in motion since, in all areas of sciences, EAS has potential researchers. We do all types of researches as we have professionals in all fields. And if there are cases that could be studied, the academy can handle it easily.
The Ethiopian Academy of Sciences is an autonomous, non-profit, non-governmental organization first established in March 2010 by a group of prominent scholars who wish to promote the Sciences and bring about development, prosperity, and improved health services for the people of Ethiopia.
The Academy aims to advance the development of all the sciences, including the natural sciences, mathematics, health sciences, agricultural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, fine arts, and letters.
It was founded by a group of scholars that came from various disciplines. In the beginning, its members were around forty. But snowballing in time their number has now reached 177 fellows and 60 associate fellows.
The Academy is committed to bolstering the national development agenda and advancing the natural and cultural heritage of the nation. As an important partner to the government, it involves relevant government institutions, ministries, universities, and other organizations in its effort to achieve its goals.
The Ethiopian Herald February 5/2013
