Recipients of the 2020 FLAIR fellowships announced

Monday, May 11, 2020

The African Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society of London announce African recipients of 2020 FLAIR fellowships

• Early career African scientists receive up to £300,000 (US$391,500) each to conduct research over 2 years.
• Scheme supports African researchers to develop into science leaders while establishing independent research careers on the continent.
• African researchers address today’s global challenges in ways that are relevant to the needs of their countries.
• Researchers are drawn from diverse African countries including Sudan, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Cameroon, Uganda, South Africa and Ghana.

Nairobi/London - The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and Royal Society, supported by the UK’s Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), today announce the second cohort of FLAIR research fellowships. Outstanding early-career African scientists, whose research is focused on the needs of the continent, will be supported by the Future Leaders – African Independent Research (FLAIR) programme to develop independent research careers in African institutions and ultimately, lead their own research groups.

The 2020 cohort of FLAIR funded scientists were selected from a competitive pool of more than 400 applicants. Their research is diverse, ranging from new techniques for sustainable agriculture and fisheries, managing water shortages to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change, improved methods to store cleaner energy and targeting health conditions that are most acute for people living in Africa.

They join the 2019 intake of FLAIR fellows, who are already making a significant contribution to science on the continent in their fields.

Africa needs to pay urgent attention to growing and retaining scientific talent to keep improving the continent’s scientific input and its sustainable development. The FLAIR partnership with the Royal Society is one of several initiatives through which the AAS is addressing this need.

The Royal Society’s programmes are synonymous with excellence in science and its grants programmes play an important role in nurturing the next generation of researchers to be tomorrow’s scientific leaders. The FLAIR partnership extends the Royal Society’s support of science in Africa.

Professor Nelson Torto, Executive Director of the African Academy of Sciences, says, “The AAS welcomes the new cohort of FLAIR grantees to our growing postdoctoral family. Postdoctoral programmes are vital in training and developing early career researchers into research leaders whose scientific leadership will influence policies that will promote the socio-economic development of the continent.”

Dr Judy Omumbo, Programme Manager, Affiliates and Postdoctoral Programmes, says, “The announcement of this second cohort of FLAIR fellows is a significant milestone for the postdoctoral programmes team at the AAS. We anticipate that they will find the opportunities for networking and collaborations with other African scientists unique in supporting them in their pursuit of excellence in science for the benefit of mankind.”

Professor Richard Catlow, Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society, says, “On behalf of the Royal Society, I’d like to offer heartfelt congratulations to this year’s FLAIR fellows.Read more ...