The University of Cape Town (UCT), in collaboration with the Geneva Science Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) and the Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa (SDCfA), hosted a discussion at the World Science Forum (WSF) 2022 titled “Youth in Science and Diplomacy: From Anticipatory Science to Solutions for Humanity” on December 7 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The talk moved on from the idea that scientific breakthroughs are happening at a rate that has never been seen before but that their full effects are not always clear in the present.
The conference’s objectives were to debate the best ways to achieve intergenerational justice while ensuring that Africa’s youth fully utilised the promise of new scientific advancement. This is to fight against unfairness and make sure that everyone has the right to science. The event also intended to address how these findings will alter the human experience in five, ten, or twenty-five years and how we can make sure the impact is positive for all of mankind.
Although scientific breakthroughs are happening at an unprecedented rate, often, their full effects are not immediately apparent.
Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, Vice Chancellor of UCT, served as the event’s host. Dr Chris Trisos, director of the Climate Risk Lab at UCT’s African Climate and Development Institute; Legodi, a student of cinema and media studies; honors and Swanepoel, who earned an honours degree in political communication from UCT, were chosen to visit Geneva based on their submiforions of using the GESDA 2021 Science Breakthrough Radar. Together with Professor Phakeng, they went to the three-day gathering.
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Ntoni’s entry for the first competition that put him at the top looked at how satellites in low-earth orbit (LEO) and geosynchronous orbit (GEO) could be used to track geological and climate events.
Legodi described how she took advantage of the summit’s opportunity to expand on the idea she submitted for the competition. Her idea involved creating biogas—a renewable kind of natural gas—from cow dung and manure. Swanepoel spoke with experts in science and policy about his views on the technological prospects for human growth and his thoughts on the African data privacy framework.
A brief workshop that examined the implications of developing neurotechnologies and how they are currently being addressed completed the program. Participants were asked to discuss these technologies’ potential advantages and dangers immediately.
GESDA’s Foundation Goals
Meanwhile, GESDA’s President, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, explained that the foundation’s goal is to establish an institute within five years that would make quantum computers accessible to those working on projects to hasten the fulfilment of the MDGs.
According to him, “accelerating the use of these uniquely powerful computers could boost progress in some critical areas, enabling easier drug development, cheaper fertilizers, longer-lasting batteries and more efficient solar panels.”