SciDev.Net

Venezuelan science is falling foul of the government's agenda warns Claudio Bifano, president of the country's science academy.

Compulsory licensing of clean technologies will only be needed if developed countries duck UNFCCC obligations, says Dalindyebo Shabalala.

A lack of political will to create vaccines is causing millions of deaths a year due to infectious diseases, says Manuel Elkin Patarroyo.

We should heed researchers' findings that ceasing deforestation in the Amazon could boost its climate change resilience, says Andrew Mitchell.

Developing countries are making good progress on nanotech for clean water, say Paulo Sergio de Paula Herrmann Jr. and José Antônio Brum.

Sustainably developing drylands means balancing local knowledge, science and conflicting demands, says Elena María Abraham.

Forests are valuable assets, and reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) should be prioritised, says Virgilio M. Viana.

The Dominican Republic's science secretary said there is an urgent need to redesign academic curricula and train more competitive professionals.

Donors should fund the facilities needed to improve the conditions for research, as well as funding individual studies, says Berit Olsson.

African governments must invest in science training — but they don't have to go it alone, says Arlen Hastings.

Higher education in developing countries needs innovation infrastructure if it is to boost development, says Arnoldo Ventura.

When funders focus on market-driven and applied science they hinder basic scientific enquiry in developing countries, says Lemuel V. Cacho.

Short-term income-generating research can erode university capacity — the foundation for long-term economic growth, says Phuong Nga Nguyen.

Our obsession with top-rated universities is denying us a 'world-class' global higher education system, says Ellen Hazelkorn.

Researchers in developing nations must become 'communicating scientists', sharing their knowledge beyond academia, says Valerie Corfield.

Countries should measure themselves against a set of standards to assess the integrity of their research bases, says a Nature editorial.

Biodiversity negotiations will greatly impact academics, and scientists must speak up before it is too late, warn Sikina Jinnah and Stefan Jungcurt.

Eliminating schistosomiasis means using strategies that combine drug delivery, water management and snail control, says Charles H. King.

Scaling-up malaria interventions in Africa requires better surveillance and national commitment, say Laurence Slutsker and Robert D. Newman.

Nanotechnology should be used to develop Cuban pharmaceutical products to prevent them being pushed out of the market, warns an expert.