This article by Abraham Mamela, an engagement specialist based in Botswana, outlines his argument for the need for African cities to be carefully organised to allow them to become hubs of social innovation and science advancement. He also outlines his engagement project, Heartstrings & Heartbeats.
Project Report: Scrutinized: Harnessing adolescence advocacy to end TB in Botswana
by Lucy Mupfumi, Mesh Editorial TeamThis project from Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, supported by the DELTAS Africa CPE Seed Fund, used storytelling and film to explore perceptions and attitudes to HIV/TB in schools in Gaborone, Botswana
Project Report: Community Engagement in the Collaborative African Genomics Network (CAfGEN)
by Thato Regonamanye, Dr. Mogomotsi MatshabaThe Collaborative African Genomics Network (CAfGEN) is a H3Africa affiliate and National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded study coordinated at Botswana-Baylor Children’s Clinical Centre of Excellence. This article describes their approach to community engagement.
Arting Health for Impact: Botswana engaged the public on HIV/AIDS, mental health and hypertension using street art
Arting Health for Impact: Street art engaging communities in Botswana, South Africa and India
by Abraham Mamela, Mesh Editorial TeamAn international collaborative public engagement partnership using street art to engage local communities in Botswana, India and South Africa.
Art is a powerful medium for communication and engagement with science. To create a collaborative project that melds art with research creative practitioners and scientists must be brought together, but these individuals may think differently, have different priorities and work in different ways. This account of Genome Adventures, gives a little insight into the process of bringing different disciplines together and the challanges and benefits that result.