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The Cambridge-Africa team continues to work remotely as we have done since March. The novelty has worn off and a bit more social contact would be welcome even if that appears unlikely in the short to medium term. Today we are waiting to hear what social distancing measures are to be reinstated as the second wave of virus is mounting in the UK. As a result, it is unlikely that we will have African fellows visiting for a while. Laboratories are currently functioning again although with very strict distancing arrangements in place and everyone who can work remotely is required to do so. In many ways, this was an easier transition for us than
for many others, as we are very familiar with working effectively with African colleagues via virtual platforms but we look forward to the day when we can welcome African fellows back to Cambridge. Universities
have been grappling with how they provide a high quality student experience safely where learning is not adversely impacted by this
pandemic and we will wait to see the effect as students start or return to their University experience. Our COVID-19 testing capacity is already being severely tested!
In Cambridge-Africa the annual cycle of activities continues. In my last newsletter article, I mentioned the COVID-19 specific ALBORADA call that funded over 15 COVID-19 related joint research projects between African researchers and Cambridge researchers. In the previous two months, we
have convened expert panels to select which proposals will receive ALBORADA funding for 2020-1. Most of the applications were not related to COVID -19 in recognition that it is important for non COVID-19 research
to continue also. Applications have ranged from those on archaeological research in Nigeria to fall army worm management to malaria and P.Vivax in Mauritania. We have also had applications from Cambridge and African researchers undertaking collaborative research in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
The research programme is heavily oversubscribed and so many of the proposals cannot be awarded funding. Part of the selection criteria is how collaborative the research is and whether there will be an ongoing impact on research capacity in Africa. This year around 30 proposals are
likely to be funded. During September the new cohort of Cambridge-Africa PhD students are arriving in Cambridge and we look forward to welcoming them. This will be the sixth group of 5 Cambridge-Africa PhD scholars.
Depending on the focus of their research, many scholars will spend their time in both Cambridge and Africa but are registered with the University of Cambridge. This year will provide particular challenges for the students
as they settle into the University in light of the pandemic. Although the Cambridge-Africa scholarship scheme has been a success, we recognize that we can always do things better. Currently Damilola Adebayo has joined the
Cambridge-Africa team. He is a Cambridge- Africa PhD scholar who has recently submitted his thesis and is undertaking a review of the scholarship scheme with current and graduated Cambridge-Africa scholars. Over the summer, Dr Carol Ibe also joined the team for 3 months to look at
how a similar scheme could be developed for Cambridge-Africa post-doctoral researchers. Currently applications are invited for the seventh cohort of Cambridge-Africa PhD scholars – please see our website for more details on this and the other activities of the Cambridge-Africa programme.
