SciDev.Net

A bottom-up approach is making locally-appropriate pesticides available to India's poorer farmers, explains Daniel Puente-Rodríguez.

Investing in detailed maps of potential cyclone damage will save lives in Indian Ocean countries, says Shishir Dube.

Preparing for cyclones can save lives, but to save livelihoods nations must also help people adapt to cyclones' impacts, says Saleemul Huq.

Disaster research can help future interventions, but urgency should never excuse exploitation of survivors, says Athula Sumathipala.

Combining statistical and physical models offers the best hope of predicting changes in local cyclone risks in the Indian Ocean, says Mark Tadross.

Home to most of the Himalayas, Nepal must be at the heart of any regional climate change initiative, says Murari Sharma.

The Saptakoshi embankment collapse at Kusaha, Nepal, on 18 August was not a natural disaster, but a man-made tragedy, says Dipak Gyawali.

A new law to increase university patenting in India needs more research and public debate before being enacted, says Shamnad Basheer.

Pakistan's new government must continue to support science and technology, says an editorial in Nature.

Cancer care in Africa faces the same challenges as general healthcare, but also needs local data and targeted solutions, says Twalib Ngoma.

To stem the spread of obesity, we must study the web of commercial interests and strategies driving it, says Jonathan Wells.

We need better global monitoring for chronic diseases before we can really tackle the risks factors and prevent illness, says Colin Mathers.

Developing nations must stop aping the North's mental health services and use strategies tailored to their own needs, says Vikram Patel.

Super crops won't be enough — the planet will run short of food by 2030 unless we invest to avoid an imminent world water crisis, says Colin Chartres.

For its own international credibility, Indian science must be seen to deal with scientific misconduct, says N. Raghuram.

Small farmers could beat increasing prices in food and fertiliser by producing more of their own crops at lower cost, argues William Dar.

Developing-world scientists should make every effort to pursue careers at home – and their governments should help them, says Mohamed Hassan.

African malaria research networks have helped scientists combat the disease, but they need more stable support and longer-term funding, says Thomas Egwang.

Renewed political commitment means China and India could set the pace for bilateral South–South collaboration, say Purnima Rupal and Dinesh Abrol.

By tapping into the increase in developing country scientists, US innovators could reinforce their market positions, says G. Pascal Zachary.