Yes, it does exist

Barbara Hogin as Minister of Health is the best news those working in the health field have had for a very long time. The exile duo Min Manta Tsabalala-Msimang and former President Thabo Mbeki had done monstrous damage to our ability to manage the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

We thank Hogin for being willing to pick up the pieces and must help her where we can along the way. It will though take a monumental national effort to turn the HIV/AIDS pandemic around, in part because a monumental effort is required by government to use the best science available to deal with all manner of developmental problems.

Mbeki was a master at using and abusing science to serve ends other than promoting national welfare. He flirted with the pseudo-science of HIV/AIDS. His health minister Tsabalala lacked understanding of the virology of human immuno-deficiency, partly because she was miseducated in genetics in the former Soviet Union.

Charles Darwin is a giant in the history of biology. His idea that something called ‘factors’, the conceptual precursor to genes elaborated by the monk Gregor Mendel, were inherited from parent to child still stands incontroverted today. The intellectual architecture on all of modern life sciences knowledge today rests on Darwin’s idea.

Darwin visited the Cape between 31 May and 18 June 1836. This fact is not well known.

You will not find it in the history or life sciences secondary school curriculum. It is not part of the biology or medicine or history curriculum at universities, because history of science is not taught in an organised manner in our country. Here is my modest contribution to an introduction to an important theme in the history of science in Africa.

‘In the evening came to an anchor in Simon’s Bay’ Charles Darwin wrote in his notebook on the 31st of May 1836. The Beagle was on its way from Mauritius to Plymouth and stopped at the Cape for 19 days, the longest period of stay at any of the eleven ports other than the Galapagos Islands. ‘We lost a week near Cape Lagullas (sic) by contrary winds and a severe gale’ Darwin noted.

Next time, I'm bringing a cannon.

As the alien being landed he or she or it (lets give the alien being a name as any sensible human being would – and how about Dinges) was witness to the oddest sight: thousands upon thousands, Dinges could not, even with a much larger brain, count how many, were staring at 30 men all chasing after a strangely shaped object.

In fact, as Dinges would later learn, millions upon millions living as far away as two islands called New Zealand stared at rectangular shaped image-producing machines called televisions with the same level of interest as those at Newlands Stadium, as the place was called where Dinges first landed.

How is it possible, Dinges wondered, that 30 large men wearing odd coverings called clothes chasing after a rocket shaped object made from animal skin could hold the attention of so many human beings simultaneously? Indeed, not only hold their attention, but had them make their bodies and faces twist into such strange contortions?

Justice ought to do...

The Irish man of letters John Burke once wrote: ‘It is not, what a lawyer tells me I may do; but what humanity, reason, and justice, tells me I ought to do.’ (On Conciliation with America, 1775, p.31). I thought of van Zyl Slabbert, who recently was installed as Chancellor of the University of Stellenbosch, when I read this quote.

There are few people in this world who have, as van Zyl does, an instinct for reason and justice. You and I know of some individuals who have this quality, embedded in their very nature, a visceral inclination towards doing the right thing. Nelson Mandela has it. Archbishop Tutu has it. Helen Suzman has it. Beyers Naude had it.

South Africa's aspirations in health-related biotechnology

This was the basic question underlying discussions held by the newly formed Africa Genetics & Biotechnology Network during a two-day 'Colloquium on Building Interdisciplinary Support for Biotechnology and the New Genetics in Africa.'

The Colloquium was attended by representatives from East, South, and West Africa that included genetic scientists, social scientists, science journalists, science communicators, public education experts, as well as other experts with experience of multidisciplinary research. The attendees discussed: the most important ethical, legal, and social issues facing Africa in relation to biotechnology; how to enhance communications between scientists and science journalists; incentives for scientists to communicate their work publicly; and how the new network could act as focus for inter-disciplinary and public discussion of the issues arising from genetics.

A newly-created website will be launched shortly providing resources for genetic scientists, journalists, and the general public wishing to understand more about the significant challenges and opportunities facing Africa in relation to genetic science and biotechnology. The Colloquium was hosted by the AGEI along with Innogen, and was sponsored by the British Council as part of its English Africa Partnerships programme in Higher Education.

24-25 June 2008

Post Graduate Room 2,
Level 2 Bernard Fuller Building
FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES
University of Cape Town
Anzio Road, Observatory
Cape Town, South Africa

PROGRAMME

At the colloquium we will discuss (1) the ethical, legal, and social implication of genetics and biotechnology in Sub-Saharan Africa 92) how to communicate genetics and biotechnology issues in sub-Saharan Africa and (3) extend existing networks by forming new network for the communication of genetics and biotechnology.

24 June 2008 (Tuesday) [CHAIR FOR DAY – Jo Chataway]

09:00-10:00 Session 1 Welcome: Objectives of the Colloquium: Raj Ramesar, Jo Ann Chataway, Wilmot James.

10:30-12:00 Session 2 Panel Discussion: What are the significant ethical, legal, and social implications of biotechnology in Africa? Simon Outram, Gabriel Ogunmola, Raj Ramesar Anita

01:30-03:00 Session 3 Panel Discussion: Why is science communication important? Jo Chataway, Frederick Opuku, Peter Johnston

03:30-05:00 Session 4 Panel Discussion: The role of science journalism in communicating biotechnology issues in Africa? Elizabeth Ng’ang’a, Roger Trythall, Elsabe Brits

25 June 2008 (Wednesday) [CHAIR FOR DAY – Wilmot James]

09:00-10:30 Session 5 Panel Discussion: The role of scientists as public commu-nicators: Valerie Corfield, Gabriel Ogunmola, Elmien Wolvaardt,

11:00-12:30 Session 6 Experiences of working in a multidisciplinary environment: Michael Kahn, Wilmot James, Richard Calland.

02:00-3:30 Session 7 Framing session/group discussions of 5 areas of recommendations: All

• what are most important ethical, legal, and social issues facing Africa in relation to biotechnology
• how do we enhance communication between scientists and science journalists.
• how do we improve communication between scientists and the general public with respect to biotechnology and genetics.
• creating and sustaining a new communications network in Africa.

04:00-05:00 Session 8 Presentation on the idea of a new Africa wide genetics and biotechnology website network host.