Official Google Africa Blog: February 2014

Africa Blog

Google in Sub-Saharan Africa: news, stories and thoughts

Kicking off the 2014 Google Science Fair: It’s your turn to change the world

Thursday, February 13, 2014

What if you could turn one of your passions into something that could change the world? That's just what thousands of teens have done since the first Google Science Fair in 2011. These students have tackled some of today’s greatest challenges, like an anti-flu medicine, more effective ways to beat cancer, an exoskeletal glove, a battery-free flashlight and banana bioplastics. Last year’s Africa finalists and winners of the Science in Action prize Sakhiwe Shongwe and Bonkhe Mahlalela from Swaziland were recognized for their project, which explored an affordable way to provide hydroponics to poor subsistence farmers.

Now it’s time to do it again: we're calling for students aged 13-18 to submit their brilliant ideas for the fourth annual Google Science Fair, in partnership with Virgin Galactic, Scientific American, LEGO Education and National Geographic. All you need to participate is curiosity, and an Internet connection. Project submissions are due May 12. The winners will be announced at the finalist event at Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., on September 22.
In addition to satisfying your curious mind, your project can also win you some pretty cool prizes. This year’s grand prize winner will have the chance to join the Virgin Galactic team at Spaceport America in New Mexico as they prepare for space flight and will be among the first to welcome the astronauts back to Earth, a 10-day trip to the Galapagos Islands aboard the National Geographic Endeavour and a full year’s digital access to Scientific American magazine for their school. Age category winners will have a choice between going behind the scenes at the LEGO factory in Billund, Denmark or an amazing experience at either a Google office or National Geographic.
For the 2014 competition, we’ll also give two new awards to celebrate even more talented young scientists:

The Computer Science Award will be given to a project that champions innovation and excellence in the field of computer science.

Local Award Winners—students whose projects have attempted to address an issue relevant to their community—will be honored in select locations globally.

And the Scientific American Science In Action award will once again honor a project that addresses a health, resource or environmental challenge. The winner will receive a year’s mentoring from Scientific American and a $50,000 grant toward their project.
Stay updated throughout the competition on our Google+ page, get inspired by participating in virtual field trips and ask esteemed scientists questions in our Hangout on Air series. If you need help jump-starting your project, try out the Idea Springboard for inspiration.
What do you love? What are you good at? What problem have you always dreamed of solving? Get started with your project today—it’s your turn to change the world. It is time for Africa to change the world.
Posted by Clare Conway, Google Science Fair team

Coup d'envoi de l'édition 2014 de la Fête de la science Google. Africains : à votre tour de changer le monde projetsoumettreVirgin GalacticScientific AmericanLEGO EducationNational Geographic

Le prix de la Science informatique (Computer Science Award) sera décerné à un projet qui se fait le champion de l'innovation et de l'excellence dans le domaine informatique.

Le prix de la proximité (Local Award) qui sera décerné à une sélection de projets issus de certaines localités et destinés à résoudre des problématiques locales.

Science en Actionnotre page Google+ explorations virtuellesHangout sur on Ai

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African organizations win 2014 RISE Awards to support computer science education

Friday, February 7, 2014

"We need more kids falling in love with science and math.” That's what Larry Page said at last year's I/O, and it's a feeling shared by all of us. We want to inspire young people around the world not just to use technology, but to create it. Unfortunately, many kids don’t have access to either the education or encouragement they need to pursue computer science. So five years ago we created the Google RISE (Roots in Science and Engineering) Awards, which provide funding to organizations around the world that engage girls and underrepresented students in extracurricular computer science programs.

This year, the RISE Awards are providing $1.5 million to 42 organizations in 19 countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda. These organizations provide students with the resources they need to succeed in the field. For example, Africa ICT Right in Ghana is helping to address the need for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and training in underserved communities. Another awardee, Uganda-based Mbarara University of Science and Technology has been helping to bridge the gender gap by focusing on community outreach programs that encourage girls to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) courses. Visit our site for a full list of our RISE Award recipients.

Lagos-based Audax Solutions Ltd has been carrying out programs aimed at bridging the opportunity divide between African children and their age mates around the world. Click on the photo to learn more about this and other RISE Awardees.

This year, we’re also expanding the program with the RISE Partnership Awards. These awards aim to encourage collaboration across organizations in pursuit of a shared goal of increasing global participation in computer science. For example, more than 5,000 girls in sub-Saharan Africa will learn computer science as a result of a partnership between the New York based program ELITE and the WAAW Foundation in Nigeria.
We’re proud to help these organizations inspire the next generation of computer scientists.

Posted by Hai Hong, RISE Program Manager

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Des organisations africaines remportent les RISE Awards 2014 pour soutenir la formation en informatique

"Nous avons besoin que davantage d'enfants tombent amoureux des sciences et des maths.” C'est ce qu'a déclaré Larry Page lors des I/O de l'an dernier, et c'est un sentiment que nous partageons tous. Nous voulons inciter les jeunes du monde entier, non seulement à utiliser la technologie, mais à la créer. Malheureusement, de nombreux enfants n'ont accès ni à la formation ni aux encouragements dont ils ont besoin pour découvrir l'informatique. C'est pourquoi nous avons créé, il y a cinq ans, les Google RISE (Roots in Science and Engineering) Awards, qui assurent un financement aux organisations du monde entier encourageant les filles et les minorités sous-représentées à entreprendre des études en informatique.

Cette année, les RISE Awards représentent 1,5 million de dollars, distribués à 42 organisations dans 19 pays, dont le Ghana, le Nigéria et Ouganda. Ces organisations fournissent aux étudiants les ressources dont ils ont besoin pour réussir dans le domaine. Par exemple, Africa ICT Right au Ghana aide à répondre aux besoins en infrastructures pour les TIC (technologie de l'Information et de la Communication) et à la formation des communautés peu desservies. Autre lauréat, l'Université Mbarara de Science et Technologie (Ouganda) aide à combler le fossé entre les sexes en se focalisant sur les programmes de sensibilisation incitant les filles à poursuivre des cursus en STEM (Science, Technologie, Ingénierie et Maths) courses. Consultez notre site pour découvrir la liste de tous les lauréats des RISE Award.

Audax Solutions Ltd (Lagos) a mis en œuvre des programmes visant à réduire l'inégalité des chances entre les enfants africains et leurs camarades du même âge dans le monde entier. Cliquez sur la photo pour en savoir plus et pour connaître les autres lauréats des RISE Awards.

Cette année, nous étendons encore le programme, avec les RISE Partnership Awards. Ces prix sont destinés à encourager la collaboration entre les organisations qui poursuivent un but commun : développer l'accès mondial à l'informatique. Par exemple, plus de 5000 filles d'Afrique sub-saharienne vont suivre des cours d'informatique grâce à un partenariat entre le programme ELITE basé à New-York et la Fondation WAAW au Nigéria.

Nous sommes fiers d'aider ces organisations à inspirer la nouvelle génération d'ingénieurs en informatique.

Publié par Hai Hong, RISE Program Manager

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