Sunday 27 July 2014

Roundup of weekly science headlines

World's first three-parent baby could soon be born in UK, as Government approves treatment
Three parent babies made headlines this week not so much for the possibility of preventing mitochondrial disease but because the third parent remains anonymous. However the scientific benefit of three parent babies is the prevention of mitochondrial diseases which can lead to severely disabled babies. I’ve got a blog post coming up on the ethics of this debate. Stay tuned.

Cancer blood test moves closer after promising results
Scientist at the University of Bradford have developed a technique to detect cancer from a simple blood test. This could lead to an end to current invasive diagnostics test such as biopsies and colonoscopies. Their technique is different to current cancer blood test in that it is universal. So far, the technique has been used on three types of cancer with promising results.

Africa 'missing out on biotech green revolution'
In line with the GM debate and climate change, another research report by Chatham house suggests the need to introduce new varieties of crops to boost yield and increase resistance whiles highlighting the challenge to attract funding for biotechnology projects on staple crops, such as cassava due to their limited market.

Trees save lives, reduce respiratory problems
If you ever wondered why forestry was so important, well basically the trees just saved your life.

Nigeria tests for first suspected Ebola case
Ebola continues to threaten the West African continent after reports suggest the virus has now reached Nigeria. The current death toll in the region has exceeded 600 according to WHO.

Shift workers at higher risk of diabetes, study finds
A study published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggests that shift workers have a 9% increased risk of type 2 diabetes with the risk higher in men. That goes for the hard working health care professionals, fire fighters etc.  Shift workers have previously been reported to be at higher risk of weight gain and increased appetite – both of which are risk factors for diabetes. I guess bottom line, if you work shifts, take extra caution. Expert reaction from the SMC here.
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jul/25/shift-workers-higher-risk-type-2-diabetes-study

Monday 21 July 2014

The Changing Landscape of Education in Africa

The president and director of the London School of Economics (LSE) Craig Calhoun, visited Ghana last month where he met with Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey to express LSE’s interest in collaborating with educational institutions in Africa. With Ghana tagged among the worlds fastest growing economies (although I’m not sure this still stands after recent development) LSE joins the list of western institutions/organisations looking to strengthen ties on the continent. Joy Seanehia, Master in Public Health student at Université Paul Sabatier currently on an internship program at the Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research gives an account of the evening.

“When Africa rises, a strategist wouldn’t want to miss out – Joy Seanehia”


On the 23rd of June, I was told that one of my Nigerian friends was going to be in town from London. Since I myself had only been in town for a few weeks and was still getting accustomed to the change that the last 4years had seen since my last visit, I thought we could be tourists together and discover Accra. So far, I had the reputation of asking questions like ‘where is Kaneshie? Is Kasoa next to Dansoman? Where is Abelemkpe? How much should I pay the taxi driver?’ Those I would consider proper tourist questions so why stop now?
Regardless, I was up for the challenge and I was to be the one showing her around. I spend a lot of my time in Legon (home of the University of Ghana) at the research institute, Noguchi where I do my internship so when my friend said she had a meeting with the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey I thought it perfect for us to meet up for lunch on or around campus. I did some homework so I don’t come across as completely clueless regarding eating places. It turned out that plan of mine wasn’t to be. What happened instead was my Nigerian friend, Sakina Sakina Badamasuiy of the London School of Economics (LSE) Alumnus who was in my home country ended up inviting me to the dinner with Prof Aryeetey, the LSE Director and his team, it wasn’t in Legon either. That is just typical of Sakina to make IT happen even on my own soil. She thought it a complement when she was being taken for a Ghanaian, so I guess that makes her one of us now!
Getting to the location, La-badi Beach hotel, took me out of my geographical comfort zone again, but I made my way there, gauging how much time to give myself using the expert advice of a friend, former colleague and partner in crime Jolene. In the taxi, the driver was surprised when I asked how far away we were from Labadi beach but I didn’t bother explaining why I spoke impeccable twi engaging him on issues in the Ghanaian cultures and religions but didn’t know one of Accra’s most popular hang outs. Once there, I got the cardie/tuk tuk ride to Sakina’s hotel building which was about 5 metres from the reception. I thought it a waste to be driven that distance but who was I to complain, instead I posed!

not enough time to focus camera for the picture and are here

The reunion was lovely and a chance to quickly catch up on shoes and scarfs (typical gals) before going down to mingle with the LSE team she brought along and wait for the invited guests to arrive.
In the presidential dining room, when Craig Calhoun LSE president and Director of the LSE arrived, the evening’s event kicked off. At the time, I had no idea who he was so yes I did put the kart before the horse and browsed LSE president Craig Calhoun’s blog AFTER dinner. This was even more necessary as I left the dinner table still unclear about what exactly LSE was hoping to gain from engaging with Africa on the educational front. I wondered about what the LSE stood to gain from investing 25% of its most impressive research on the continent.
With our plates covered with the condiments from the buffet, our glasses filled and introductions covered, Craig broke the ice with a joke of not needing the microphone as he came from a long line of preachers. He spoke of the LSE’s wish to collaborate with educational institutions in Africa, and rebuild the relationship which wasn’t a new one but dated back to the colonial times. He didn’t fail to mention our 3 presidents who were products of his university, including our very own independence fighter Dr Kwame Nkrumah. In the midst of all that seriousness, the only acclaimed politician among us succumbed to his edge to announce his blood link to the person on page 10 of the LSE brochure on our seats which no one had yet opened. It looked like he didn’t want to waste any time in informing that a former president and product of the LSE, Dr Hilla Limann was his uncle. I don’t know how useful that information was in advancing the evening’s proceedings, but it wouldn’t be a business dinner without such light moments, especially from a distracted politician. If you are eager to know who the 3rd Ghanaian president who also went through the LSE was, here you have it; Professor Atta Mills. Craig continues on to recount the reasons for the quiet periods that their relationship with the African countries saw. He made it clear that they were now back on the continent to rekindle the embers of the African fire that once went dim. He reminded us of what LSE is about; the betterment of society using world leading research. Aside from all the wonderful research they were about, he spoke of the need for these experts to connect with each other and share ideas. Partnership within the institution and with those beyond is essential if we want to connect with the local needs, he added.
At some point in the evening, the politician chipped in with some complaints about the polytechnics going on strike and resisting the change being applied to their allowance. What is more vivid to me was how proud he was of his alumnus, Reading University. To this Dr Abu Sakara Foster joined in though he was also in support of the LSE alumnus, among which was his son Seidu. Being the former CPP presidential candidate for 2008 he was very believable when he advised the university heads to keep politics to the minimum.
Professor Aryeetey took over the microphone and gave us the Ghanaian perspective on the Changing landscape of Education in Africa. He outlined the challenges the University of Ghana faces from the competition coming from private universities. He then expanded on the loss and gain of income from international fees paid by our fellow Nigeria students. He stressed on the partnerships that exists even with those who should otherwise be considered as competition, how this exchange was good and why it should be embraced by leadership in universities across Africa. An example of that is seen with the University of Ghana learning from the corporate principles from Ashesi University. This is an example of how to bridge the gap between the public and the private sector. He called on more of such partnerships among the different universities on the continent to allow for the development of new programmes to benefit us all.

Professor Aryeetey, the Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana on the left

I was particularly excited by the news of the search for Malaria vaccine. I later asked Prof Aryeetey for details and was told it involved the collaboration of 5 research institutes on the continent. He was optimistic enough to expect it to be found in as early as 5 years’ time, but he was realistic enough to talk about the financial burden that comes with it.  He added that it was a problem for the continent and needed a concerted effort among the research institutes on the continent.
Craig’s main message was on the need to diversify and not to do what everyone else is doing. He gave the LSE story as a classical example of differentiation in action. It has worked for them so far, producing exceptional rewards worldwide since its beginning in 1895. By doing something different, he was alluding to the need for education institutions in Africa to partner with them when it comes to research and producing leaders. He kept going back to the role LSE played in producing pan-Africanists who then came back to get independence for their countries. It wasn’t just the Ghana story. He added the African appeal with Kenyatta from Kenya, also an LSE alumnus.

Craig Calhoun, Director of London School of Economics sitting in between Esther Armah and Seidu Sakara Foster

As he empathised with challenges faced by Prof Aryeetey, he recounted his own experiences of interference and disruption from carrying out his job when politics and the lack of coordination got in the way. He said the staff in the universities were so used to working in silos that there were many incidences of him having to introduce faculty members to each other.

Non academics perspective on the theme
Fortunately the conversation didn’t stay among Academics. We got the chance to hear from Nigerian lawyer who also lectures once every month in a Nigerian university. He shared his grievance of students going through university but the university failing to go through them. He spoke of how the concentration of African universities on world rankings were not ideal for this moment. He thought the focus should be what Africa’s needs are, including the equipment of its students to come up with sustainable solutions to Africa’s problems. He wants to see African companies that could have a legacy of 50 years or 100years. He thought maybe in 20 years, we could be in the position to compete in the league tables.
When the Ghanaian LSE alumni lawyers came in fashionably late, they were put on the spot to comment so one appealed to the LSE team to replicate the work done by institutions like Yale among alumni across the world. According to her, Yale had a stronger network across more corners of the world and she wanted to see this become the story of her alma mater.
The journalist and teacher Esther Armah came in with her appeal for the African institutions to call on Ghanaians in the Diaspora who were ever ready and willing to help. She gave us an example of what Star100 was doing and what their recent meet-up in New York had brought up. This resource of professionals should be tapped into and used to build on the older model to have something that serves the local market, was her message. Problems are global but solutions local!
The issue of the gap between industry and educational institutions was further thrashed out when a fellow Queen Mary alumnus working for Guinness pointed out the slowness of the Public universities to engage with the industry. She expects the kind of proactivity that comes from the private universities. She said industry was busy focusing on what it does best, which is making money so it was up to the universities to make known their needs, and look for partners in producing graduates who could fit into industry. This called for funding and recommendations from the industry as to what kind of graduates with which skill set should be produced, those who will be relevant in the industry. According to her, universities like Ashesi who are so in tune with the industry send their students to companies like theirs for internships. The buck got passed around to the industry when the Nigerian lawyer came in to defend the universities by asking the industry to rather approach the universities and find out how they can support them and then offer it.
We had a more constructive response from Prof Aryeetey who acknowledged the importance of marketing and branding to the university and though it had a long way to go, it was putting things in place to correct these wrongs. The long and short of THE report that had surprisingly landed on the desk of Preba Greenstreet, the lady from Guinness was a step in the right direction. He assured her of the second which was to follow in their attempt to reach out to the industry. The media was then suggested as the means to fill this gap and that was where Esther Armah’s point on good journalism was crucial.

Sakina and I. Dont we look alike?

From me, the non-LSE alumni’s point of view, it is still unclear as to why LSE wants to partner with Africa. I get it that the presence of students from 156 countries in LSE meant the learning experience was more enriched for their students with different questions being asked. But there is still an unanswered question as to why the LSE was investing so much into creating an innovative Africa sustained by the education and research, only to get in return an enriched experience. But having one foot in another camp is always good, so when Africa rises, a strategist wouldn’t want to miss out. That is my interpretation of the evening and the aim of the LSE.

Joy blogs at joseanella.wordpress.com 

Saturday 19 July 2014

Weekly science news round up.

Stephen Hawking: Why I support Assisted Dying
The assisted dying debate was revived this week with the bill being debated in the house of Lords..  Personally, I’m against it. Here’s why Stephen Hawking supports assisted dying http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28337443

MH17 victims include former president of International Aids Society
A shadow was cast over this year’s International Aids Conference when the devastating news of the shot down Malaysian airline flight MH17 broke. The scientific community lost about six delegates who were travelling to the conference one of whom was Professor Joep Lange - a prominent and popular researcher and a former president of the International Aids Society (IAS). My condolence goes out to all who have lost loved ones in this tragic incidence. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/18/mh17-victims-president-international-aids-joep-lange-melbourne-conference

'Four-winged' dinosaur discovery suggests prehistoric beasts could fly before birds
I read this story and had to smile.  It reminded me of one of the many media workshops on journalist and sensational headlines. I won’t spoil the story for you. Read on…. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/fourwinged-dinosaur-discovery-suggests-prehistoric-beasts-could-fly-before-birds-9610243.html

Heart Cells Transformed into "Biological Pacemaker"
Patients suffering from abnormal or slow heart rate rhythms are currently fitted with an electronic pacemaker to normalise the heartbeat. This is not without its complications and side effects. Scientists at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in Los Angeles have developed a biological pacemaker by injecting a gene into heart muscle cells, which transforms these normal heart cells into special cells that can initiate a heartbeat. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heart-cells-transformed-into-biological-pacemaker/

New trigger for ovulation could make IVF safer
An alternative to hCG hormone stimulating injections have been discovered by Scientists at Imperial College London and the new method which involves injecting a natural hormone kisspeptin to make the eggs mature has been tested by clinicians at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140718214944.htm


UK science minister steps down
So parliament was busy this week with the cabinet reshuffle after David Willetts resigned as Science minister. Greg Clark has been named the new science minister. http://www.pharmafile.com/news/190159/uk-science-minister-steps-down. Expert reaction from the Science media center here

Why the immune system fails to kill HIV
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet may have found an answer to the cause of the delayed development of an HIV vaccine and cure. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140718095416.htm

Math can make the Internet 5-10 times faster
For the love of math and the internet, I had to share this. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140717094822.htm

Do women talk more than men? It's all about context
This one’s for the ladies. It’s all about context according to the experts. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140715214323.htm

Asthma drugs suppress children's growth, study suggest
The question of whether asthma drugs affect height is arguable. Previous reports have been published as far back as 1998, some disputed the claims, it was reported again in 2012 and here we are again. At this rate, I may have to conduct my own research into the effect of asthma drugs. Yep! I’m being a doubting Thomas. Read the expert reaction from the Science media centre here

Saturday 12 July 2014

This weeks (Bio) science headlines

             Mississippi Baby' now has detectable HIV
An unfortunate set back to finding a cure to HIV. A baby thought to have been cured of HIV has levels of the virus detected two years after the seemingly being cured and not taking antiretroviral therapy. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140710151951.htm

           The 1% of scientific publishing
Not exactly breaking news but don’t feel so bad anymore if those papers are getting rejected. Turns out that less than 1% of researchers manage to publish a paper every year. http://news.sciencemag.org/scientific-community/2014/07/1-scientific-publishing

      Cooling protects oxygen-deprived infants
In March this year animated suspension made headlines where gunshot victims will be cooled down in an emergencies to increase their chances of survival. Similarly, researchers at Kings College London have shown that cooling down babies at risk of brain damage lessens risk of long-term disability. http://www.nature.com/news/cooling-protects-oxygen-deprived-infants-1.15525

      CDC Botched Handling of Deadly Flu Virus
First dengue vaccine 'shows promise'       
Reported cases of dengue fever have been on the rise so news of the vaccine looking promising couldn't have come at a better time.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28243587
         
   Blood test breakthrough in search for Alzheimer's cure
      Scientists at King College London have identified a set of 10 proteins in the blood which can predict the onset of Alzheimer’s from a blood test. http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jul/08/blood-test-predicts-onset-alzheimers-disease



Wednesday 9 July 2014

Big Bang At The Imperial War Museum

The Big Bang Fair Eastern took place at the Imperial war museum, Duxford on 8th July 2014. This event is part of several other Big Bang Fair near me events taking place across the country. The Eastern fair was organised by SETPOINT Hertfordshire, an educational charity whose aim is to inspire young people about Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).
Set among the historic displays of iconic aircrafts, military vehicles and artillery from the world war, the day made for a great exhibition and high impact education for the schools and visitors at the fair. There were over 80 schools from across the East of England displaying their projects for a chance to win a prize. School projects were very creative, of high standard and covered a wide range of STEM subjects. I’m pretty certain the Judges had a tough time identifying the best projects.

Prize categories include: The Open University Math prize, MBDA Engineering prize, CREST prize, Society of Biology-Biology prize, Royal Society of Chemistry-Chemistry prize, Institute of Physics-Physics prize, EEESTA-club showcase of 2014 prize, TTP Group-most creative/Innovative prize and the RES-sustainable prize. All the above offered winners of the various categories £200 and £50 to the runners up. The National science and engineering competition offered 15 places to the best projects at next year’s national big bang fair in March and a glass plaque. Young engineers for Britain offered £150 for the Duke of York regional award for creative use of technology and £75 each for the engineering excellence regional award and for the engineering ethos regional award. Johnson Matthey offered a special prize of £250 to the best STEM communicator awarded to an individual or team with an impressive STEM knowledge and enthusiasm.

Exhibitors at the fair did a great job catering for the enthusiasm of the school pupils and visitors at the fair with their hands of activities. The Society of Biology stand where I was volunteering on the day entertained guest with the fortune teller / matching pair game which forms part of the “Biology -Changing the world” project. The project aims to celebrate Biologist of the past and inspire those of the future. The fastest time on the matching pair game was recorded and entries went into a prize draw with the help of our giant dinosaur for the chance to win a giant microbe. Pupils got competitive and had lots of fun trying to beat the fastest time.
Fun with biologist
Did you know Richard Owen invented the word 'Dinosauria'?

On the whole, Big Bang Fair Eastern was entertaining, rewarding and educative. If you missed us this year, look out for the next big bang fair near you and make a date with STEM for big bang 2015.

A lesson on catalyrtic converters
The secret to wind turbines lies in materials and angles