African Academy of Sciences
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| Formation | 1985 |
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| Headquarters | Nairobi, Kenya |
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Region served
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Africa |
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President
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Ahmadou Lamine Ndiaye |
| Website | www |
The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) is an Africa-wide scientists organisation. It serves firstly to honour African scientists who have become internationally renowned through their efforts in their respective fields, and secondly to encourage the development of the research and technology base throughout the continent.
The idea of founding the organisation was raised at a meeting of the Third World Academy of Sciences 1985 in Trieste, Italy.In 1986 33 scientists from across Africa founded AAS and elected Thomas Risley Odhiambo of Kenya as first President The meeting at which the Academy was inaugurated was held on 3–6 June 1986 in Nairobi, Kenya, during the International Conference on Drought, Desertification and Food Deficit in Africa. The mandate of the Academy includes mobilization and strengthening of the African scientific community, publication and dissemination of scientific materials, research development and policy and capacity building in science and technology.
At first the Academy was largely unfunded and run by volunteers. Between 1993 and 1996 Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Rockefeller Foundation helped the organization establish efficient institutional and financial systems. In May 2005 the Kenyan government gave official recognition to the Academy and extended to it diplomatic proviledges given to international non governmental organisations headquartered in Kenya. It also authorized construction of its headquarters on a 2 hectares (4.9 acres) site that it owns in the Karen area of Nairobi. A US$5 million endowment from the Nigerian government was used to cover the cost of construction. As of 2012 the AAS had 209 fellows from 33 African countries. Nigeria had over 33 fellows followed by Kenya with 25 and Egypt with 14.
On 28 February 2011 Ahmadou Lamine Ndiaye of Senegal was appointed President of the AAS for a three-year term replacing Mohamed Hassan of Sudan. He is the first francophone to hold this position since the AAS was founded. Ndiaye said he wanted to rejuvenate the AAS, and felt that conditions were favorable. He aimed to open up centers of excellence on the continent where French and English speakers could work on joint research programs.
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Wikipedia