The African continent has many of the richest minerals. As an example that in the Democratic Republic of Congo produces majority of the world’s cobalt; Rwanda, Ethiopia and Mozambique have a major role in world production of tantalum. Minerals like these are essential components for modern electronics.
In addition, the continent has most of the world’s resources of palladium and platinum Metals that are crucial for the ever-changing markets for sustainable energy as well as electric vehicles.
With these resources available, African researchers should be making a significant contribution to the discipline of earth science, which is the chemical and physical makeup of the Earth’s core Earth as well as the oceans as well as the atmosphere.
A solid earth science discipline produces positive results: The South African minerals industry employs more than 500,000 directly and adds R350 million to the nation’s GDP each year.
However, how much knowledge and experience in earth sciences has been acquired by Africans as a whole, and especially from Africa? We decided to determine in a paper published in the journal. The study examined 182,996 published articles in top-quality Earth science journals that are internationally renowned. These journals are respected and include work from world-class scientists in the field of research.
The results were shocking 70 percent of all research papers on a particular aspects of earth sciences in Africa don’t have any African author. It is a stark contrast with other areas. Five countries that produce the highest amount of earth science research include five countries: the US, China, Australia, Japan and Canada, and all produce more than 60% of all research pertaining to their respective countries.
Also, we discovered that the contribution average of earth science publications written by Africans to international journals is 2.3 percentage from 1973. It is a very low percentage as the US which has the largest share of Africans has produced 47 percent of all the published works.
It appears that the development of knowledge about earth sciences in Africa is not advancing at all despite global fascination with (and the exploitation of) the mineral riches of Africa.
The motives are preparation as well as research costs as well as “parachute” scientific research.
Preparedness
The majority of countries across the globe have a geological survey that’s job is to analyze and map fundamental minerals, geology and geohazards. It also manages databases that are related to geology and minerals.
But two research studies of Geoscience Australia as well as Geoscience Australia and the African Minerals Development Centre, found that the vast majority of geological studies within Africa do not have the capacity or data on geology. Six countries have the capacity to conduct geoscientific research in a continuous manner: South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Namibia and Tanzania. They are among the top 7 producers of Earth science research across Africa. It is possible that there’s an association between the country’s survey’s function and a country’s output in research. We don’t know regarding the reason these countries are having higher numbers of surveys, this may be related to their abundant mineral riches.
Another study related to research publication in the developing world has revealed that a relatively low research output may be linked to the perception of governments that research is not essential to meeting fundamental needs such as healthcare and food. Research usually requires laboratories and equipment that is specialized, as well as substantial budgets and skilled technicians.
There are many African scientists are also prone to write research pieces to African-focused journals with low impact and they are hesitant to work with high-impact research. One of the main reasons is that they are overwhelmed with the demands of teaching and other obligations as documented by several African institutions.
It is also well documented “brain exodus” of scientists out of Africa. It is reported by the International Organisation for Migration indicates that Africa has lost over 10,000 professionals who have been trained in the last decade, with 30percent of them are academics.
The Investment And Expenditure
The most insightful results of our study is the connection between expenditure on research and the outcomes from research as well as the impact.
In Africa the research expenditure has risen from $ 4 (1996) to 42 dollars (2017) per head. Globally, the average has risen between US$100 and US$300 per person in the same time frame. In high-income countries, these figures are much higher, averaging USD450 in the year 1996. This figure almost doubled over the last 20 years, reaching $1,064. When these patterns are mapped on top of trends in earth sciences research output, it is clear that lines of parallelism emerge between research funding inputs and outputs of research.
If there was not a great deal of Earth science research being conducted in African countries, it might explain the low figures. However, this isn’t the reality.
Through examining the individual papers We found that a large amount of research in earth sciences is conducted in Africa. However, a lot of it seems to have been “parachute” scientific research.
It happens when scientists from advanced nations are working in Africa (for example, performing research in the field and taking samples) but without the involvement of local researchers. African scientists can be completely excluded and/or left out of research articles are written to be published.
Within the health and medical science areas, doctors are becoming conscious of the negative effects these studies can cause. Some journals are becoming more stringent when it comes to accepting this kind of work because it is a continuation of colonial pattern in the field of science, and diminishes research conducted in countries.
Future Directions
If African economies want to increase their capacities in geosciences, build their own understanding and make use of their mineral resources in-house They must invest more money on retaining and developing earth scientists, and enhancing research capabilities.
Researchers who are visiting or working in Africa must work with their African colleagues, in order to build capabilities and produce outputs that have impacts. Universities and funding bodies in high-income nations should review their policies for funding and rewards to support this.
Journals shouldn’t condone the varieties of “parachute” research that devalue scientists from developing nations by publishing such papers.
In Africa It is crucial for research institutions and universities to recognize the value of research, and encourage international collaboration. It is also essential to retain highly-qualified employees and boost the investment.