What’s stopping young African scientists from achieving their potential

Abstract

It is estimated that 20 000 highly educated professionals leave the continent annually – with up to 30% of Africa’s scientists among them. A number of factors contribute to this trend. The extreme factors include war and political instability. But the more common ‘pushes’ are a desire for higher pay, better opportunities, and the search for a conducive research environment – one where infrastructure and management help drive careers and research potential. To identify all the barriers and develop strategies to address them, the Global Young Academy – an organisation of 200 talented young scientists and 200 alumni from 83 countries – established the Global State of Young Scientists Africa (GloSYS) project. Working with local research partners and international higher education experts, the project aims to identify the challenges and motivations that shape young scientists’ career trajectories.

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